A study based on a recommendation from the Long Beach City Council to look into possible revenues from wheel-clamping vehicles with five or more unpaid tickets was released yesterday, with City Auditor Laura Doud finding that between $1.1 million to $2.5 million would be produced annually. The recommendation was made on the basis of a looming city deficit and reports of up to $11.7 million in uncollected parking tickets.
“With these recovery rates, the City will generate between $1.1 million and $2.5 million annually,” noted City Auditor Laura Doud. “This would offset between 7% and 15% of our current budget deficit by just collecting on unpaid parking tickets from those who have so far refused to pay them. The money collected in this program could protect vital services for our community. I look forward to discussing this initiative with the City Council.”
The additional revenue is possible based on recovery rates of 10%-20%. Only violators with five or more unpaid parking tickets – which may number up to 18,900 vehicles city-wide – would be targeted for wheel-clamping. A lock is placed on the vehicle’s wheel that makes it impossible to operate until all tickets are paid and the clamp is taken off.
Auditor Doud will present her findings to the City Council at the August 19 meeting.