Lawmaker Seeks 'Parking Bill Of Rights' For California Drivers
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – Figuring out when and where you can park your car, particularly in urban areas, can be a major hassle and sometimes a very costly one. A new bill aims to eliminate some of the state's most head-scratching parking rules.
Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) has introduced what he calls the "Parking Bill of Rights."
"Parking has transformed from something that used to be relatively easy to just another big hassle, where the government tries to squeeze money from its citizens," Gatto told KCBS Radio in an interview Wednesday morning. "And so, what we want to do is end some of the most unfair and unjust parking practices throughout the state."
If approved, Gatto's proposal would prohibit cities from ticketing drivers who park at broken meters. Cities would also be prohibited from hiring private companies to act as so-called "bounty hunters" for parking violations.
"It is to the point where cities are using these tickets as another source of revenue, almost a hidden tax. I think cities can be a little more straightforward," Gatto said. "But gouging people with these outrageous fines, I think is the wrong way to go."
Gatto's bill would also require cities that install high-tech parking meters to allow for demand-based pricing.
