The Los Angeles Police Department’s
Report on
The Net Effect of Los Angeles’ Vehicle Dwelling Ordinance, Los Angeles
Municipal Code (LAMC) Section 85.02, From January 7, 2017 Through June 30, 2018

y

Prepared By:
Commander Dominic H. Choi
Department Homeless Coordinator

MICHEL R. MOORE
Chief of Police
August 16, 2018

 The Los Angeles Police Department’s Report on
The Net Effect ofLos Angeles ’ Vehicle Dwelling Ordinance,
Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 85.02, from January 7, 2017 through June 30, 2018

PURPOSE

On May 30, 2018, the City of Los Angeles (City) Council Committee on Homelessness and
Poverty passed a motion directing the Los Angeles Police Department (Department or LAPD) to
report to the Public Safety Committee on the net effect that Los Angeles Municipal Code
(LAMC) Section 85.02, Vehicle Dwelling, had on communities in the City of Los Angeles (City)
from January 7, 2017 through June 30, 2018. The motion asks the Department for an overview
of the aspects of the ordinance that have worked, and the aspects of the ordinance which have not
worked. Additionally, the motion requests the Department provide any suggestions to improve
the ordinance. This motion is found in council file (CF) number 14-1057-S2.

BACKGROUND

On January 7, 2017, revisions to LAMC Section 85.02 became effective. However, the
Department did not begin enforcing LAMC Section 85.02 until February 6, 2017, allowing for
the City to engage in public outreach. The revisions to LAMC Section 85.02 established new
regulations governing the use of vehicles for dwelling on public streets, and the Department
provided these new regulations to personnel via internal systems.

DATA

The Department utilized the Consolidated Crime Analysis Database (CCAD) to report on all
LAMC 85.02 citations issued from the commencement of enforcement, February 6,2017 until
June 30, 2018. All citations are included in the tables that follow.1 Three distinct tables are
included as an illustration of the total number of citations issued during the period mentioned
above, and their location.2

1 The Department currently utilizes the address field, 1942 Transient, to report on persons experiencing
homelessness. For this report, all addresses were included since the primary focus is LAMC 85.02, the Vehicle
Dwelling Ordinance. Therefore, other Department reports that include LAMC 85.02 information may convey data
that is different than the data presented in this report.
2 For the second quarter of 2018, non-traffic citations for LAMC 85.02 may still be in the process of being entered
into the system. Subsequently, the total number for this period is subject to change.

Page 1

 The Los Angeles Police Department’s Report on
The Net Effect ofLos Angeles ’ Vehicle Dwelling Ordinance,
Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 85.02, from January 7, 2017 through June 30, 2018

Table 1: Citations Issued for Los Angeles Municipal Code 85.02. Vehicle Dwelling
Ordinance - February 6. 2017 to June 30,2018 - by Quarter
Citations Issued for Los Angeles Municipal Code 85,02, Vehicle Dwelling Ordinance 'February 0. 2017 to iune 30, 2018- By Quartet
Department-Wide Citations
1Q2DJ?
Total Citations by Quarter1
39
Department Division issuing Citation
IQ 2017
Oparations-West Bureau

West Los Angeles
Pacific
Hollywood
Wilshire
Olympic

Ogerations-Central Bureau
Central
Rampart
Newton
Northeast
Hollenbeck
Operations-South Bureau

Southeast
Southwest
Harbor
77th Street
Operations- Valley Bureau
Foothill
Topanga
West Valley
Devonshire
Mission
North Hollywood,
Van Nuys

2Q2017

IQ2017

4q ZQ17

IQ 2018

ZQJ01B

29

44

14

30

29

2Q2Q17

3Q2017

4Q2017

IQ 2018

2Q2018

0

u

0

2

0

0
0

0

0
7

6
1
0
1
0
0
0
0

9

0
0

0
0
1

2
24

2

6

2

0
0
0
0

0
0

3
5

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

2
8

4

0

0
0
0
0
0
4

0

4

0
0
0

0

1
0

0

0

0
0
0
1
0

0
0
0

Total

IBS
__ Total

0

0

0

1

1
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0

1
1
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0

4

3

11

8

30

0
0
1
0

0
0
0

0
0
0

0
0
0

0
0
1

0
2

0

0

1

0

1

0

0
0

3

2

1

12
8

1
1
6

4

9

9

2

0

1

3
9
4
38
30
18

3

0

2

7
4
6

9

0
11

0
0
3

0

Page 2

 The Los Angeles Police Department’s Report on
The Net Effect ofLos Angeles ’ Vehicle Dwelling Ordinance,
Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 85.02, from January 7, 2017 through June 30, 2018

Table 2a: LAMC 85.02, Vehicle Dwelling Ordinance, Citations Issued by Reporting
District for the Period of February 6.2017 to June 30,2018 - by Quarter
(RD 0216 to 114813
LAMC 85,02, Vehicle Dwelling Ordinance, Citations issued by Reporting District

tor the Period of February 6, 2017 to June 30, 2018 - by Quarter
Department Reporting
IQ 2017
202017
3Q20J7
4Q2017
IQ 2018
2Q201B
________ District (RD)
216
218
248
503

1
2

1
0

504

0

509
517

1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

525
555

557
558
563
565
566
567
622
705
812
904
914
915
923
926
939
943

961
964

976
1008
1015
1025
1032
1034
1045
1118
1127
1133
1148

3

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4

0
1
0
0

0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
2

0
1
0
2

0
2

1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0

0

0

0

0

1

1
0

2

1
0

1
0

7

2

0
0

0

0

2

3

3

1
0
0
0
0

0
1

0
0
0
0

4

4

5

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0

0

4

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0

1
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0

1

0

0

0
0

0

1
0

0
0

2

0
0
0

0
4

2

0
0
0

0

0
0

1
1

2

Total

2

0
0
0

0
0
0
0

1
2

1
1
2

1
1

2
2

3
5

0
1
0

1
1
2

4

6

0

1

2

2

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

2

0
0

1
2

1
1
1
1
4

1
1
1
1
1
S

2

1
3

3 Reporting Districts also referred to as RDs are an index of a jurisdiction, in this case the reporting districts listed
above specify a geographic area of the City of Los Angeles per its geographic patrol division.

Page 3

 The Los Angeles Police Department’s Report on
The Net Effect ofLos Angeles ’ Vehicle Dwelling Ordinance,
Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 85.02, from January 7, 2017 through June 30, 2018

Table 2b: LAMC 85.02. Vehicle Dwelling Ordinance. Citations Issued by Reporting
District for the Period of February 6.2017 to June 30,2018 - by Quarter (RD 1401 to 21361
LAMC 85.02, v/chklr ChvvJlltig Ordinance, DtKiom Issued by Reporting DiUrrtt
for the Period of February 6, 2017 to June 30, 7018 hy Quarter
Dcp-vtineru Reporting
__________ DuttioJRO)

im
1402

1409
1412
1413

1414
1415
1416
1431
1441
1443
1444
1452
1471
1501
1502
1503
1513
1523
1524
1525
1531
1533
1533
1539
1547
1586
1588
1663
1743

1QX17

207017

3Q Jot J

00 33117

1QJ0I8

JO 701B

Tolar

2

0
0
1

o

u

0

1

0

0
1

u
0
0

4

2

1

o
0

0
1

1
0
0
2

0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2

1753
1779
1792
1844
1902
1304

0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
1

1906
1912

0
0

1913
1916
1921

0
1
0
1
0

1935
1941
1944
1958
1964
1967
1977
1979
1984

2062
2134
2136

3
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0

1

2

0

0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1

a
0

a
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

1

0
0

0

0

0

0
0
0

0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0

3

0
4

2

0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0
0
a
0
2
2
0
0

0
0
1
0
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
0
2

0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
3

1
1
0
0
0
3

0
0
1
D
2
0
1
0
2
0

0
0

1
0
0

a

0
0

0

0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

1

1

1

6

1
1
1
1
4

1
1
2

1
1
2

1
3

1
1
1
3
4

1
1
1

2

3

0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0

0

1
0
l

2

0
0

1
0
0
0
0
0

0
0
2

1
3
4
1
1
5
1

□

0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0

0
0

0
o

0
0
0
0
1
0
1
3
0

0
0

2

0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0

7
3

1
1
1
1
1
3
4
1
l

1
1
3
1
1

0

1

0
0

6

0
0

1

1

2

Page 4

 The Los Angeles Police Department’s Report on
The Net Effect of Los Angeles ’ Vehicle Dwelling Ordinance,
Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 85.02, from January 7, 2017 through June 30, 2018

FINDINGS

The net effect of this ordinance is that the Department issued approximately 185 citations for
LAMC 85.02 over the course of 18 months. This is approximately ten citations a month. The
Department is unable to evidence effectiveness or ineffectiveness through quantitative data, since
the number of community complaints for LAMC 85.02 are not captured. But, anecdotal
information collected from line personnel suggests there are more than 10 complaints from
community members a month.
What is Working
The ordinance provides line personnel with the opportunity to educate vehicle dwellers. When
an officer makes contact with the vehicle dweller, they often comply and move their vehicle in
accordance with the ordinance.
What is not Working
To issue the citation, an officer must make contact with the vehicle dweller, as the citation is a
conduct violation. When the vehicle dweller is not present or responsive, the officer cannot
educate the vehicle dweller regarding the ordinance or issue a citation. Additionally, the
elements of the ordinance become difficult to prove when an officer cannot examine the interior
of a vehicle because the vehicle dweller refuses to respond to the officer investigating LAMC
85.02. When an officer is able to make contact with the vehicle dweller and they agree to move
the vehicle, it is often moved to a nearby location, to assure temporary compliance with the
ordinance.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The Department’s experience with the vehicle dwelling ordinance, LAMC 85.02, guides the
following recommendations:
•
•

Increase off-street safe parking locations, inclusive of recreational vehicles; and,
Support the City Family in identifying new off-street safe parking locations, and guiding
vehicle dwellers to safe parking.

The Department’s recommendations do not relate to the language or design of the vehicle
dwelling ordinance.

Page 5