By Jeff Bender Santa Monica
As a homeowner living near Santa Monica College, I read with great joy the article in the Daily Press about the non-handicapped parking sting (Jan. 29, 2003). Daily, I witness students parking in front of my house (a preferential parking zone), putting grandma’s handicapped permit on their cars and walking, with heavy backpacks, over a block to school. Maybe this new enforcement of the law will deter some of these violators.
The next sting operation needed for the SMC campus area is one targeting the people who drive around with car stereo’s playing loud enough to shake the windows out of houses. How this is allowable in a city that fines airplanes $5,000 for flying into Santa Monica airport louder than 100db is unbelievable. Station an undercover police officer near Pearl and 20th Street on any school night to write noise pollution violations and we could probably solve the city’s budget crisis.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 31, 2003. Read the original PDF.