I had to go to the beach to take pictures for a story on a sewage spill that closed shore from Alamitos to 72nd Place. After shooting pictures I was sitting in my car making a few calls and the meter expired. As I prepared to back out of the spot a meter maid parked behind me blocking me in. Apparently you can't sit in your car with the motor running at an expired meter or you will get a ticket. Any help Tony?
Budget Problem Solved - Parking Enforcement is the Answer
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About
This blog is a journal of Southern California, through the lens of Jeff Gritchen. It's updated frequently with pictures, photo tips and musings from the various assignments he covers as a staff photographer for the Press-Telegram and Torrance Daily Breeze.
Gritchen has been documenting the diverse city of Long Beach since 1998. He covers everything from the Cambodian community to prep sports to gang ridden neighborhoods to the annual running of the Long Beach Grand Prix. He covered destruction Hurricane Katrina brought to Long Beach, Mississippi and traveled to Southeast Asia to document a rural Cambodian girl's as she traveled to the U.S. for life-altering heart surgery. He has won numerous state and national awards, including an international NPPA Best of Photojournalism award in 2003 and Best News Photo from the Los Angeles Press Club in 2010. In 2011, the photo staffs of the Long Beach Press-Telegram and Torrance Daily Breeze merged. Now he covers all of Southern Los Angeles County. He can be contacted at
jeff.gritchen@presstelegram.com
Gritchen has been documenting the diverse city of Long Beach since 1998. He covers everything from the Cambodian community to prep sports to gang ridden neighborhoods to the annual running of the Long Beach Grand Prix. He covered destruction Hurricane Katrina brought to Long Beach, Mississippi and traveled to Southeast Asia to document a rural Cambodian girl's as she traveled to the U.S. for life-altering heart surgery. He has won numerous state and national awards, including an international NPPA Best of Photojournalism award in 2003 and Best News Photo from the Los Angeles Press Club in 2010. In 2011, the photo staffs of the Long Beach Press-Telegram and Torrance Daily Breeze merged. Now he covers all of Southern Los Angeles County. He can be contacted at
jeff.gritchen@presstelegram.com
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Actually yes. I think that you need to file a complaint with the city of Long Beach. I recently had a similar instance with this very parking maid (as seen in the photo). I parked for nearly 1 minute to drop off some supplies at a business in downtown Long Beach with my hazard lights on. This parking maid did the same thing...blocked me into the spot where I would have to reverse to get out. When I approached the parking maid, not only did he give me attitude, but he also used profane language with me and another lady nearby. Is this the way a uniformed officer that represents the City of Long Beach should be acting? I am also a uniformed professional and that would never happen in my county. By the way...is the Officers name on your citation "Young"? This looks like him in the photo. You need to file a complaint. This is entrapment.
Why would you leave your car in a parking spot and not pay? A dime would have saved you a 40 dollar ticket. lol
JEFF'S REPLY: I did pay. Did you read the post? It clearly says that the meter expired while I was sitting in my car making phone calls.
This isn't "entrapment". The Parking Enforcement Officer was simply doing his job. Everyone who gets a parking ticket seems to have an excuse. Follow the rules. Don't park in a metered parking space unless you can afford to pay for the entire time you plan to be parked.
JEFF'S REPLY: Who said "entrapment"? Did you even read the post? It clearly says that the meter expired while I was sitting in my car making phone calls. Also, EVERYONE does not have and excuse. I'm sure some people do, or maybe even most people, but not EVERYONE.
Here is a copy of a letter I sent to various city departments recounting an incident I witnessed between a parking enforcement officer and two residents in the neighborhood.
____________________________________________________________
Yesterday, November 30th, an unsettling as well as an alarming incident occurred involving a Parking Enforcement officer and a resident of my neighborhood. In my 22 years as a resident of Long Beach I have had nothing but positive experiences in dealing with employees of our city, but the behavior and actions I witnessed yesterday from the officer were so upsetting and of such concern I felt prompted to write this letter.
I was in my garage yesterday afternoon getting out the Christmas decorations when I heard a vehicle pull up and park. The garage door was closed so I couldn’t see who it was. A few minutes afterward I heard the familiar and friendly voice of Greg Peterson. I heard him say something about a parking citation being issued to a vehicle belonging to my next door neighbor Alex Blanco. Alex has a classic early 60’s Chevy Corvair that he parks on the neighbor’s property (with Permission) across the alley from my garage.
Mr. Peterson asked the officer issuing the ticket a few questions concerning the ticketing policies. He asked why the officer chose to ticket the vehicle belonging to Mr. Blanco and chose not to ticket the other vehicles in the alley. The officer said Mr. Blanco’s car was half way parked in the alleyway. I heard mr. Peterson say “so are these other cars..” The officer responded to Mr. Petersons reasonable questions with increasing hostility. The officer threatened that if Mr. Peterson didn’t stop asking questions he would have Mr. Blanco’s car towed instead of just issuing a ticket! Mr. Peterson said the car was parked on private property (with owners permission) and can’t legally be towed away let alone cited. Again the officer stated angerly that a percentage of the vehicle was in the alley and that the ‘alley belonged to the City and not you!”
The conversation increased in friction with the officer being the aggressor. Mr. Peterson asked for the officers name and the officer refused! Mr. Peterson mentioned that he had the officers badge number “8411” and that was all he needed.
The officer responded with an uncalled for insult saying that Mr. Peterson was too stupid to be able to even remember his badge number.!
At this point Mr. Blanco’s wife came out to the alley and heard the commotion.
I heard the officer drive off as Greg was explaining what had happened to Mrs. Blanco. I thought that was the end of the issue. Minutes later I hear a truck pull up and park with its engine idling. I peeked out the garage door and much to my surprise there is a tow truck loading Mr. Blanco’s car!
I heard Mr. Peterson's voice again. He was upset and mentioned that he believed the officer was abusing his authority to punish an innocent citizen (Mr. Blanco) because another citizen (Mr. Peterson) questioned his actions. The Officer responded by saying he would have Mr. Peterson arrested if he continued. Mr. Peterson said "for what? Standing in my alley?" The Officer stated once again, "its not your alley, this alley belongs to the city!"
Mr. Peterson decided to call the police. I heard him on the phone with the police department trying to get a Long Beach Police officer to the scene. Eventually NUMEROUS LBPD units arrived on scene, not because Mr. Petersons request, but because the Parking Enforcement Officer radioed in a report with false allegations that Mr. Peterson was being hostile!
I was and still am flabbergasted! I personally was there and overheard the whole incident. Mr. Peterson acted reasonable and rational. It was the officer who was making threats, being hostile, and misusing the authority entrusted to him by our city. What would have been a questionable parking ticket grew into Mr. Blanco losing his car, and an attempt to have Mr.Peterson falsely arrested.... for simply asking questions! Not to mention the time and resources spent by our city to send several police units to the scene. Knowing such abusive conduct exists within the workings of our city is upsetting and unnerving.
The comments and insults that came from the officer were uncalled for , unprofessional and quite frankly, shocking. I omitted the profane threats the officer made to Mrs. Blanco This officer works for the City of Long Beach, mind you OUR city. I am embarrassed and offended by the behavior exhibited by this individual employed by our city.
I have sent this letter in hopes appropriate, corrective, and hopefully positive action can be taken.
Thank You,
Barry B.
Follow up: Mr. Blanco no longer owns his classic Chevy, as he could not afford to bail it out of the tow yard. The car sold at auction 1/09/10