City of Santa Monica Planning & Community Development Department

No line and super friendly for a parking permit.

Couldn't find a parking place by the Holiday Inn, so crossed the freeway and parked on Colorado at a meter, walked back across the freeway to the 1717 address. When I arrived and was going to take a number, a prominent sign told me that I could no longer renew my permit there and would need to go online to get it. What email address to send to was not explained.

I received an unfair parking ticket back in January so I immediately appealed it online. A little over a month goes by and I didn't hear anything so I called the line listed on the website. The woman on the line was rude and told me my case still hadn't been reviewed and wouldn't be until March. I asked if I should call back and she said there was no need as they'd send me the result in the mail so just wait for that.

Fast forward to April: I still hadn't heard anything. So I decide it had to be time to call in.

It turns out they denied my appeal back at the end of February and my payment was overdue. I asked if I could appeal it and this woman said no because I only had 21 days to do so after the ruling. She did have a record that I called in but that didn't matter and said the first person must've told me that it was my responsibility to check back. That wasn't true, in fact I was told the opposite.

She said that if I paid the ticket today that I'd only have to pay the original amount, which under duress I did.

But what an illegal tactic. The first time I called they told me they didn't make a ruling on my first appeal when it appears they did but were either unorganized and didn't know or just wanted to trick the caller.

Ultimately, because they didn't mail the result of my appeal, I missed the chance to file a second appeal which according to them is state law.

When I pointed out that I really didn't receive it, she just stated as long as they have down your correct address on their file, that's proof enough.

Be very careful folks if you decide to appeal. They won't mail you the result and will say they did. I don't think they ever grant any appeals anyway and the window of time to submit one is tiny, so if you want to file a second appeal, keep calling in.

I decided to fight it and another reviewer here said we could do just that with the California Department of Consumer Affairs -- but we can't. I contacted them and they referred me to the Los Angeles Department of Business and Consumer Affairs.

Well, since this is a government entity you can only file for mediation.

That means it'll only go as far as they want it to. The Parking Violations Bureau knows this so ultimately they'll ignore any facts you list and still rule against you.

We really should file a class action lawsuit. It'll be the only way to put an end to this injustice.

Good luck everyone and keep your car clear out of Santa Monica! Better yet, keep yourself and loved ones out of Santa Monica!!!

No humans and question not answered