An investigation found LADOT issued thousands of street sweeping citations on days when no cleaning was scheduled. Here is what Los Angeles drivers should know about possible refunds.
If you received a Los Angeles street sweeping ticket and paid the standard $73 fine, it may be worth taking another look. A new investigation found that the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) issued thousands of street sweeping citations on days when no street sweeping actually took place, despite the city’s promise not to ticket drivers during weeks without scheduled cleaning.
LADOT Issued More Than 12,500 Wrongful Street Sweeping Tickets
According to an investigation by L.A. Material, LADOT issued more than 12,500 street sweeping tickets on days when streets were not scheduled to be cleaned between March 2021 and the present.
The city switched to every-other-week street sweeping in March 2021 because of budget cuts. At the time, city officials assured residents they would only receive parking citations on weeks when street sweepers were operating.
However, the investigation found that commitment was not consistently honored.
Although the erroneous citations account for a small share of the more than 2.4 million street sweeping tickets issued during that period, they still represent approximately $910,000 in fines collected from motorists.
For drivers who received a Los Angeles parking ticket for street sweeping, the findings raise questions about whether their citation was issued in error and whether they may be eligible for reimbursement.
South Park Residents Were Hit the Hardest
The investigation found that South Park was among the neighborhoods most affected by the wrongful street sweeping tickets, with nearly 1,900 erroneous citations issued over the past six years.
Those tickets totaled an estimated $141,500 in fines in a neighborhood where the U.S. Census reports a per capita income of just $16,769.
Many residents said the tickets created serious financial hardship.
“I can’t buy food if I have to pay a ticket,” said Rufina Estrada, 64, who earns money collecting recyclable cans and bottles.
Others described parking tickets as an unavoidable expense.
“They find a way to get you, even when we’re on top of it,” resident Juan Carlos Lopez, a maintenance mechanic, told the publication. “It takes from your groceries, gas—everything is expensive.”
LADOT Says It Dismisses Tickets Issued by Mistake
After reviewing the investigation’s findings, LADOT said it “proactively dismisses” street sweeping citations issued in error and provides reimbursement instructions to motorists who have already paid.
However, according to the report, the department declined to provide data showing how many of the identified citations had actually been canceled or refunded.
That has raised questions about whether every affected driver received reimbursement.
Expert Says Some Drivers May Have Been Missed
Michael Manville, a UCLA professor of urban planning who studies parking enforcement, said it would not be surprising if some incorrect citations slipped through the system.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if they missed some,” Manville said. “A lot of tickets get written, and there’s no such thing as a total failsafe.”
Residents also reported that many neighbors simply pay parking tickets without contesting them, particularly those with limited English proficiency who may not be aware of the city’s appeals process or payment assistance programs.
How to Check if You Qualify for a Street Sweeping Ticket Refund
If you received a Los Angeles street sweeping ticket during a week when your street was not scheduled for sweeping, review the date of your citation and compare it with your neighborhood’s street sweeping schedule.
According to LADOT, citations issued in error are dismissed, and drivers who have already paid may be eligible for reimbursement. If you believe your ticket was issued by mistake, you can contact LADOT or file a parking citation review to determine whether you qualify for a refund.
While the investigation found nearly $1 million in wrongful street sweeping fines, it remains unclear how many drivers were ultimately reimbursed. If you received a ticket between March 2021 and the present, checking your citation could help determine whether you’re owed money back.
