Because life in L.A. is already expensive. You’re already paying for gas, rent, and that one overpriced avocado toast you had last week. Adding a late fee to a parking ticket is like pouring hot sauce on an already annoying wound. Plus, unpaid tickets can eventually lead to a boot on your car or even impoundment. Do you really want to explain to your boss why you’re late because your car got clamped on Vermont Avenue?
There’s also a community benefit to paying up. Those ticket dollars help fund street sweeping, traffic signals, and pothole repairs—the same things that make your commute slightly less awful. Think of it as a small tax on your forgetfulness. A tax that keeps the city from looking like a post-apocalyptic parking lot.
'I made every effort,' fumes driver given $63 ticket even though meter
How to Make It Less Painful
Set a reminder on your phone the day you get the ticket. Treat it like a dentist appointment—unpleasant but necessary. Consider the payment as a one-time oops fee rather than a punishment. I like to imagine I’m donating to the “We Made a Mistake Foundation” and move on with my day. It’s better than carrying that orange envelope around like a guilty secret.
If you have multiple tickets, the city actually offers payment plans for low-income drivers. You don’t have to beg—just call or check online. They’re surprisingly human about it. And if you’re a glutton for punishment, you can even set up automated payments so future violations are handled instantly. But hopefully, you won’t need that feature again.
