Legally Defining 4-Hour Parking
I've had at least a half dozen people stop by to complain that they have gotten tickets within the 4-hour zone, even though they moved their car before the 4-hour time limit had passed. Some have moved their cars across the street from where they were initially parked, while others have moved their vehicle to a completely different block.

Dan at Monohan Paper was nice enough to do more research (well, he's the latest one to get a ticket).

The violation number on the tickets that I have seen is 10.44.120 - it is a $70 ticket.

Here is the applicable text of 10.44.120:

A. It is unlawful and shall constitute a violation of this chapter for any person to stand or park a motor vehicle, without a current residential parking permit properly displayed, at a curb within a residential permit parking area for a period of time exceeding the time limitation established by the City Council for such area. Motor vehicles identified as used by disabled persons meeting the requirements of Section 22511.5 of the California Vehicle Code shall be exempt from this subsection.

Ouch! That completely goes against what the Parking Committee was told. On the other hand, a case could be made that this is not a RESIDENTIAL permit area.

I'm passing this info on to the current members of the Parking Committe & the JLDA Board for them to follow up with City Staff. If/when I hear more, I will pass along that information.

In the meantime, it appears that moving your car is not an option. (cringe - please, no hate mail! Or at least not directed at me.)

UPDATE 6/25/08 1:47pm PST:

Gary Knecht of JLDA informs me that 10.45.120 Violations & Penalty says, "The violations and penalty provision set forth in Chapter 10.44.120 shall apply to the Jack London District mixed use parking permit program. He also says that when he has asked parking enforcement about this, he has been told that it IS okay to move and you won't get a ticket. That goes against the above law and what two different parking enforcement officers told me and Dan today.

That answers that question, but here's another:

What about the 2-hour parking spots that are not open to permit parking? Can you move your car within those spaces without getting a ticket?
Posted 6/25/2008