Audit uncovers secret 'Gold Card Desk' that allows dismissal of L.A. parking tickets at will

[Liberal_in_LA]

'Gold Card Desk' dismissed some L.A. parking tickets without justification, audit finds

A “Gold Card Desk” that allows the mayor, Los Angeles City Council members and other elected officials to expedite constituent appeals of parking citations -- and possibly have fines reduced or eliminated –- has been uncovered by city auditors, suggesting that some people may have received special treatment in the handling of contested tickets.

The special desk has been responsible for dismissing approximately 1,000 tickets in a two-year period alone, said City Controller Wendy Greuel, who learned of the program during a review of the L.A. Department of Transportation.

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Auditors found no consistent criteria for handling tickets referred to the Gold Card Desk, a resource that appears virtually unknown to most ticket recipients.

Some of tickets receiving expedited reviews were tossed out solely based on the violator’s self-proclaimed inability to pay –- a complaint Greuel’s audit portrayed as an invalid reason for dismissal. Other tickets were eliminated without the required paperwork and many requests for cancellation did not include any reason at all, according to the audit.

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Who used the service and the exact purpose of the program remains a puzzle even to auditors. Several council members said they had heard of the service but never used it. Other council offices did not immediately return requests for comments.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/05/los-angeles-parking-tickets-gold-card-audit-greuel-.html

[angstlessk]

1. DUH...those that contributed...or paid for exoneration DUH again