Dilapidated and occupied RVs and OVs illegally park on both sides of Washington Boulevard between Marr and Ocean. 

They  often  park in front of signs limiting parking and expired parking meters. Most constitute nuisances.  

There is ample authority to end this problem under the California Vehicle Code and the Los Angeles Municipal Code, but in Traci Park’s Council District 11 the City has failed to use this authority against occupied vehicles.

On Nov. 5, 2025, The Argonaut published my Open Letter to LAPD Pacific Division Capt. Eric Eppolito, entitled “To Capt. Eppolito: An open letter requesting the city ticket and tow RVs and OVs.” My letter, which is on The Argonaut’s website, sets forth verbatim the provisions of the California Vehicle Code and the Los Angeles Municipal Code which authorize the City to ticket and tow the illegal RVs and OVs.

But  in CD 11 the City has not enforced these laws against occupied vehicles. Owners and managers of businesses and residents on Washington Boulevard have told me that representatives of Traci Park’s office have told them the reason the City does not ticket and tow the illegal RVs and OVs is that they are occupied. This excuse is without merit for at least three reasons.

First, there is nothing to support this excuse  in any provision of the California Vehicle Code or the Los Angeles Municipal Code which I set forth in my open letter to Capt. Eppolito.

Second, in Councilman John Lee’s CD 12, the City does enforce the Vehicle Code and the Los Angeles Municipal Code against illegally parked RVs and OVs even if they are occupied, but as a last resort. On March 21, Joshua Yeager, the CD 12 legislative director, stated in an email to me:

• 4. Inoperable vehicles. Vehicles that cannot be safely or reasonably operated, such as vehicles that are clearly disabled, missing engine, windshield, tires, or other components critical to operating a vehicle will be removed after an officer provides sufficient notice to the owner/occupant.

• 5. Unregistered vehicles. Vehicles that are not registered may not lawfully operate on City streets and may be subject to tow following sufficient notice to the owner/occupant.”  (Emphasis added.)

On March 21, Mr. Yeager added by a second email:

“The only thing I’d like to add is that for a program like this to be successful, all departments need to be willing partners — that includes LADOT, LASAN, CAO, LAHSA, LAPD and the council office (which I know wants to see progress in this area desperately).”

Third, it is against the express wishes of the people who live and work in Venice and the Board of the Venice Neighborhood Council. In  June 2025, and in response to a petition signed by 102 residents and businesses on Washington Boulevard, the Board of the Venice Neighborhood Council passed a “Motion for  Prompt and Effective City Action on Unhoused Persons, RVs and OVs on Washington Blvd Between Abbot Kinney and Beach.” The Motion stated, “The City should forthwith aggressively ticket and tow all vehicles parked on both sides of Washington Boulevard between Abbot Kinney and Beach which are continuously parked over 72 hours in violation of posted signs or do not  bear current license tags or which are unsafe.”  (Emphasis added)

CD 11 should follow CD 12 and tow all illegal and illegally parked RVs and OVs even if they are occupied following fair notice to the occupants. 

 

Clark Brown is a Venice Neighborhood Council board member.