Q: Multiple parking meters have illegible displays preventing their intelligent use — you can no longer decipher the message in the little window. One of these is on Ventura Boulevard near Fulton Avenue and the Casa Vega restaurant in the Sherman Oaks area. Are we supposed to feed the meters for a green light anyway? It appears that the repair service isn’t keeping up. I’m afraid to not put money in, because the red light still flashes showing that it hasn’t been paid. But you never know how much money you need to put in, because you can’t read the display to know how much time you have paid for. Legally, what are my options? Is it legal to put a bag over the meter and write on it, “Can’t read,” and I wouldn’t get a ticket? Just don’t park there, or what?
– Dean Berkus, Encino
A: Thanks to your missive, Dean, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation is looking into the meters in the area you mentioned and will repair any broken ones, said Colin Sweeney, an agency spokesman.
“While LADOT has regularly scheduled maintenance of meters citywide, motorists should report issues such as illegible screens to 311 and an LADOT crew will respond to fix the issue,” he said in an email to Honk.
Long term, the city is going modern.
“LADOT is in the process of expanding smart-phone payment options to all metered spaces which, when complete, will allow motorists to view remaining meter time on their phone and get notifications if a meter is about to expire,” Sweeney said.
Flagstaff, Arizona, has a smart-phone option that Honk is familiar with, and it is sweet. If dinner is running a bit late, you can tell how much time is left on the meter and extend your time via the cell from your cozy restaurant chair.
LA has the newfangled option in Little Tokyo and in Larchmont Village, and officials hope to have it in downtown L.A., Westwood and Miracle Mile within six months, and throughout the City of Angels in a year or two perhaps.
The bag idea seems practical, but you might just want to find another place to park, Dean.
“Vehicles parked at an expired meter are subject to citation,” Sweeney said. “A meter with a functioning light indicator remains active and requires payment. … Motorists should either pay or move to an alternate location.”
Q: Hello, Mr. Honk: Recently one of your readers had a question about traffic at Los Angeles International Airport, which reminded me of this: Why hasn’t the FlyAway bus service to Hollywood been restored? It was canceled during the COVID lockdown.
– Vincent Hamon, Los Angeles
A: So was the Long Beach route for FlyAway buses.
Because of low ridership, it was decided to not bring back either line.
According to data of the Los Angeles World Airports, the city department that owns and runs LAX, ridership per trip was nine passengers on the Hollywood line before the route was suspended; for Long Beach, it was four.
In comparison, the Van Nuys route averaged 28 a trip, and the Union Station one came in at 19 — so those services live on.
HONKIN’ FACT: The Dodgers, who begin the season in Tokyo, will lead the major leagues this year by traveling 48,649 miles for regular-season games, according to baseballsavant.mlb.com. They will edge out the A’s by 300-plus miles. The Angels will come in sixth, at 43,323. The top six teams are West Coast teams. The Guardians are projected to come in last among the 30 clubs, at 25,453.
To ask Honk questions, reach him at honk@ocregister.com. He only answers those that are published. To see Honk online: ocregister.com/tag/honk. To see him on the social media platform X: @OCRegisterHonk
