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City council approves transfer of abandoned-vehicle enforcement to Department of Transportation
Summary
The Los Angeles City Council voted to transfer authority to cite abandoned or illegally stored vehicles on private property from the Department of Building and Safety to the Department of Transportation, with amendments requiring coordination and report‑backs to oversight committees.
The Los Angeles City Council on an administrative motion approved transferring the function of citing abandoned or illegally stored vehicles on private property from the Department of Building and Safety to the Department of Transportation (DOT). Council members amended the recommendation to require report‑backs and coordination with other city agencies before implementation.
Councilmember Rita Chick, who called the item special, asked for additional detail about safety, training and whether the shift would actually improve service. She emphasized concerns about officers entering private property and the risks they might face, including aggressive animals or hostile residents.
Jimmy Price, chief of parking enforcement operations at the Department of Transportation, told the council his agency and Building and Safety have been working in a joint task force since November 1999 to prepare for the transfer. Price said DOT intends to respond to complaints, coordinate with LAPD and Building and Safety, and deploy a specially trained “elite corps” of officers who will receive training from Building and Safety and be equipped with defensive gear including pepper spray.
Members raised concerns about overlapping responsibilities: several speakers noted that the Housing Department already inspects multifamily properties and may report abandoned vehicles as part of systematic code enforcement. Councilmembers asked that DOT coordinate protocols with Housing and Building and Safety so the transfer does not create service gaps or duplicate inspections. Councilmembers also emphasized the need for clear public contact points so callers know which agency to contact.
After discussion, council approved the item as amended, with members directing DOT to coordinate with Building and Safety and the Housing Department and to report back to relevant oversight committees. The transcript records a 13‑vote affirmative tally recorded during the item.
