title
CC-ACTION ITEM: Adoption of a Resolution Adopting a Civil Penalty Bail Schedule for Parking Violations Under the Culver City Municipal Code, Fire Codes, and California Vehicle Code, and Rescinding Resolution No. 2012-R087.
body
Meeting Date: July 27, 2026
Contact Person/Dept.: Captain Andrew Bellante/ Police Department
Phone Number: (310) 253-6394
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [X] No []
Attachments: Yes [X] No []
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (07/22/2026)
Department Approval: Jason Sims, Chief of Police, (06/02/2026)
_____________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council adopt a Resolution adopting a Civil Penalty Bail Schedule for parking violations under the Culver City Municipal Code, Fire Codes, and California Vehicle Code, and rescinding Resolution No. 2012-R087.
BACKGROUND
California Vehicle Code Section 40203.5 authorizes local legislative bodies to establish civil fees and surcharges for parking violations within their jurisdiction. The City’s current parking fine Civil Penalty Bail Schedule has not been comprehensively updated since 2008. Over the past 18 years, neighboring jurisdictions have periodically adjusted their penalties to account for inflation, rising administrative costs, and evolving parking management needs.
Parking enforcement plays a critical role in promoting turnover, preserving access to commercial areas, and supporting public and traffic safety. When fines are set well below regional norms, their deterrent value diminishes, often resulting in higher violation rates and lower overall compliance.
Recently, the Culver City Police Department conducted a detailed review comparing the City’s parking fines with those in Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, and Los Angeles. The findings indicate that the City’s fines are substantially lower than those in comparable jurisdictions.
Attachment 1 provides a side-by-side comparison of Culver City’s civil penalties and those of surrounding jurisdictions.
DISCUSSION
A review of parking fines in nearby jurisdictions including the cities of West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and Los Angeles shows that the City’s current penalties fall below regional averages. This gap may weaken compliance, as lower fines can be viewed as a manageable cost rather than an effective deterrent. Bringing the City’s fines in line with neighboring jurisdictions would improve consistency and support stronger enforcement outcomes.
State law provides clear authority for updating the City’s parking fine schedule. Under California Vehicle Code Section 40203.5, local agencies may establish parking penalties and issuing agencies within the same county are encouraged to standardize them where feasible. Adjusting the City’s fines to reflect regional norms aligns with this guidance and promotes a more uniform approach across jurisdictions.
In addition, inflation since 2008 has been substantial, significantly increasing the cost of operating a parking enforcement program. Expenses related to personnel, equipment, citation processing, and adjudication have all risen. Without corresponding updates to fine amounts, the City’s ability to recover these costs and sustain effective enforcement is reduced.
Well calibrated parking fines are critical to achieving key policy goals, such as encouraging turnover in high-demand areas, preventing long-term vehicle storage in public spaces, and supporting local businesses through improved parking availability. Updating the Civil Penalty Bail Schedule would strengthen deterrence and enhance overall compliance.
In order for parking penalty amounts to be more consistent with the surrounding areas, to better act as a deterrent to illegal parking and to increase the City’s cost recovery, Staff believes that it is in the City’s best interest to restructure the parking fine schedule. The proposed Civil Penalty Bail Schedule, including increased fines, as well as additional or updated categories and fines, are reflected in Exhibit “A” to the proposed Resolution (Attachment 2). The proposed Resolution will rescind Resolution No. 2012-R087 (Attachment 3), which includes the current Civil Penalty Bail Schedule.
The proposed adjustments are expected to boost citation revenue, help offset rising operational costs, and potentially reduce violations over time as compliance improves. Staff also recommends maintaining existing customer protections including payment plans, administrative review options, and consideration of equity impacts on low-income residents, along with clear public communication prior to implementation.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
In the calendar year of 2025, there were 51,416 parking citations issued. Assuming the proposed Civil Penalty Bail Schedule had been implemented during this timeframe, gross revenue would have increased by approximately $310,000 or 8.5%. For further information, see Attachment 4. Therefore, if Council approves and adopts the new parking violation schedule and associated resolution, the new fines will become effective January 1, 2027. Staff will monitor actively revenues and include updated revenue projections in the Midyear FY 2026-27 Midyear Budget Update to City Council.
Additional costs to the Police Department would be a one-time purchase of handwritten parking citations for $3,763.54. There are sufficient funds in the Police Department’s current budget to accommodate this purchase.
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2026-07-27 ATT 1 Current Parking Fine Comparisons to surrounding jurisdictions.
2. 2026-07-27 ATT 2 Proposed Resolution Adopting Civil Penalty Bail Schedule and Rescinding Resolution No. 2012-R087.
3. 2026-07-27 ATT 3 Resolution No. 2012-R087.
4. 2026-06-22 ATT 4 Estimated Gross Revenue.
5. 2026-07-27 ATT 5 Parking Fine Increase PowerPoint Presentation
recommended action
MOTION(S)
That the City Council:
Adopt a Resolution adopting a Civil Penalty Bail Schedule for parking violations under the Culver City Municipal Code, Fire Codes, and California Vehicle Code, and rescinding Resolution No. 2012-R087.