I received a ticket at the 2600 Beach Lot in Santa Monica yesterday. It enraged me, as well as many other Santa Monica residents who were standing nearby enjoying the beautiful sunset. They all told me to “write an angry letter.” I did. I’m sending it with my check for $47. I thought other residents and/or people who received tickets in a lot that has been free for everyone to enjoy for years might enjoy it.
To whom it may concern: I wanted to express my complete and total disgust at the ticket I was issued yesterday at the 2600 Beach Lot. I have been parking in that lot after hours for six years without one mention of a problem and without seeing one ticket issued. The fact that this policy, of many years, was changed without issuance of warnings or at least the posting of a large sign is completely unacceptable. I know that there is a very small sign on the side of the parking booth — clearly the city of Santa Monica has no interest in properly informing people they want to fine for monetary purposes. Instead they prefer to sneak around and change policies without any dissemination of the necessary information essential to living life in Santa Monica ticket-free.
I understand that this ticket was issued to generate more funds for the city of Santa Monica. I understand how much money Santa Monica makes from the combination of preferential parking, after-hours parking meters and parking lots. I can see that this is clearly not enough revenue to keep the behemoth that is Santa Monica running. I’ve rented in Santa Monica for four years, before that in Venice for two. This area becomes more difficult to traverse without incurring the ever-present fines around every corner. I consider myself a law-abiding citizen and a reader of the small print,
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 10, 2004. Read the original PDF.