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Slate magazine's Andy Bowers does a little poking around and discovers that in many cities — including Los Angeles, Santa Monica and Pasadena — SUV's exceed the tonnage allowed to use residential streets. Yes, they are illegal, except for occasional business trips, on any street with signs posted that ban trucks over 6,000 pounds. He engages councilwoman Janice Hahn on the subject, and she demurs on enforcing the law. What else is she going to say — her brother the mayor rides around town in an official SUV.
* And on NPR: Bowers chatted about it with Noah Adams on today's "Day to Day"
All the more reason to dump the one my wife bought before we were married. It's one thing to be a one-car family; it's quite another when that one car kicks us in the wallet every time we fill it up. Anyone want a '99 Land Rover Discovery II? Serious offers only, please.
Posted by: Adam Rakunas at August 5, 2004 12:30 PMWhat exactly is the recourse for something like this? It's obviously not the first instance of selective law enforcement we've ever seen, but honestly, it smacks of negligence.
If I don't need to obey this ordinance, why should I obey that 35 mph speed limit? It's not like the former doesn't have public safety implications, given that even a D physics student can tell you those stegosauruses kill at a much higher rate in collisions.
It would be the ultimate irony if the Governator plugged our fiscal holes with the fines on SUV's.
I hope this one doesn't go by the wayside, but sadly, it probably will. I'll do my part with Outlook to get the message to enough inboxes.
Kevin's article summary is misleading though -- the rules apply only to vehicles over 6000 lbs, which seems to be where (for driving purposes as well as tax-dodging purposes) cars leave off and trucks begin.
For instance, the 2004 model of your Land Rover Discovery 2 has a curb weight of 4576-4908 lbs, less than 3 tons, and thus can roam city streets at will.
But the truly monster SUVs, like the Excursion, are over 3 tons and are regulated.
Posted by: Michael Turmon at August 5, 2004 03:37 PMoops, forget the "Kevin misleading" part -- more like "Michael misreading"
Posted by: Michael Turmon at August 5, 2004 03:39 PMYeah, I was just passing along Bowers' take on it. He says the SUV's on the road are nearly all over 6,000 pounds. Which I did find surprising...
Posted by: Kevin Roderick at August 5, 2004 04:04 PM
of LA Observed
I don't think the law is enforced because the LAPD doesn't have enough blank citations forms to cite everyone.
Posted by: Bob Timmermann at August 5, 2004 12:04 PM