To adhere to parking signs or not to adhere?
SHOULD YOU FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS? East side of Windsor Square signs say not to park, but maybe you can.
Four years after the City of Los Angeles reduced its street sweeping schedule, outdated parking restriction signs continue to mislead motorists. Despite the change from weekly to biweekly street cleaning in 2021, parking signs still instruct drivers to move their cars on days when they can legally park.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Streets-LA, the City’s Public Works Bureau of Street Maintenance, reduced street sweeping frequency by half. At the time, the bureau’s director said that they were considering placing color-coded stickers on the existing signs to reflect the change. However, years later, the signs remain unchanged and there are no plans to update them. The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT), who is responsible for maintaining parking signs, has not been funded to make these updates, according to LADOT spokesperson Colin Sweeney. The outdated signs unnecessarily limit parking throughout Los Angeles as motorists rely on these incorrect signs to guide them.
That “No Parking” sign doesn’t always mean
you can’t park there
While the outdated signs still indicate weekly restrictions, LADOT has confirmed that parking is legal in these locations when street sweeping is not scheduled. The department has stated that it will not issue citations for violations on these days despite the language on the signs.
Since the signs no longer accurately detail when streets will be swept, StreetsLA offers a notification service that alerts residents via text or email both 24 and 48 hours before scheduled cleaning on a particular route. Drivers can register for notifications for their particular street of interest at streetsla.lacity.org/sweeping.
Will the signs ever
be updated?
STREET SWEEPERS clean our neighborhood twice a month.
Updating the outdated signage is not relatively costly in terms of materials, but the labor required to address signs citywide presents a significant challenge. In 2021, the city estimated that approximately 75,000 street sweeping signs need modifications according to media reports. However, the exact number remains unknown, as Los Angeles does not currently have a comprehensive system to track sign placement.
Despite opportunities over the years to update signs as they require routine maintenance and replacement, LADOT has not moved to do so. LADOT spokesperson Sweeney stated that in addition to the need for funding, “Posted signs will not be altered unless the biweekly schedule is codified as permanent.” StreetsLA says, “That would require action by the City Council.” According to LADOT, this is a necessary first step to correcting the signs.
For now, most Los Angeles drivers will continue to heed the outdated parking restriction signs while a savvy few sign up for email and text notifications to advise them when to move their cars.
By Bridget Smith
Category: News
