On Oct. 29, my wife and daughter took me to lunch at a local landmark, Lupe's Restaurant, on Thousand Oaks Boulevard. As usual, the parking lot was full. There is an area on Oakwood Drive immediately adjacent to the parking lot that appears to have been designed for cars to park head-in, and this space was being used by five vehicles, all parked heading in.
As we ate lunch, I observed two Ventura County Sheriff bicycle patrol officers go past the restaurant. I made the comment to my wife, "Boy, they have a dangerous job riding on that street." As it turns out, these officers went down Oakwood Drive and ticketed all five of the vehicles, my daughter's included, with a $45 citation for being parked more than 18 inches from the curb. All of the vehicles cited were safely parked and were not blocking the street in any manner.
I just wonder how many people have been ticketed in this "trap." A simple sign stating "Parallel parking only" would serve the public better than the obvious indifference displayed in this abuse of authority.
-- John Squire, Newbury Park