City of Costa Mesa Parking Ticket Trick

Every Tuesday about 9:55, a parking enforcement officer from the City of Costa Mesa arrives on Beach Street to issue parking tickets. It only takes about 10 minutes each Tuesday to generate more than $2,000 per month in income to the City from the dozen or more vehicles parked on this street each week.

Beach Street is located in a neighborhood directly behind the DMV on 19th street. Due to inadequate parking at the DMV, those doing business at the facility are forced to find parking elsewhere – and most find it the next street over – on Beach Street.

About 10 years ago, the residents on Beach Street petitioned the City of Costa Mesa to post no parking signs so that they could get their street swept. The City posted two on the left hand side, about a quarter mile apart, and one on the right hand side, midway down the block. The signs are old, faded, weathered, and unnoticeable. I certainly didn’t notice them when I parked on Beach Street and got a ticket on January 5th – and obviously neither did the other 12 people who parked there as well and were cited for illegal parking.

I wondered if the City of Costa Mesa was routinely ticketing this spot – aware of the poor signage – and taking advantage of it. So, out of curiosity, I returned to Beach Street the following Tuesday.

At 9:56 a.m., an officer pulled on to the street and began issuing citations. I watched and photographed him placing thirteen parking tickets on windshields in 10 minutes flat. One of the vehicles cited was actually parked on Meyer Place, facing a sign that said No Parking on Wednesday (begin).

If the residents in the neighborhood behind the DMV really want their street cleaned, well, it isn’t happening. But the city is making good money.