Los Angeles Issued Over 12,500 Erroneous Street-Sweeping Citations Over Five Years, Most Later Voided

Los Angeles issued more than 12,500 street-sweeping parking citations over the past five years on days when no street sweeping occurred, according to an analysis of city data reported by the New York Post. The city collected roughly $910,000 in fines from those citations, each carrying a $73 penalty.

Budget cuts in 2021 reduced street cleaning frequency to every other week in a majority of neighborhoods.

Street sweepers typically operate on either the first and third weeks or the second and fourth weeks of each month, leaving an off week when no tickets should be issued. The Los Angeles Department of Transportation stated it follows the Bureau of Street Services schedule and does not issue citations when service is canceled.

The department said discrepancies can occur when scheduled routes are canceled without prior notice and that it prepares a bi-weekly cancellation list to identify and void erroneous citations.

The department reported approximately 2,000 erroneous citations in 2025 and said the vast majority were voided. It stated it proactively dismisses citations issued in error and sends reimbursement instructions by mail to motorists who have already paid. The department did not provide data on how many erroneous citations were canceled or how many paid fines were reimbursed.

The California Post contacted the city for further information.