It's been all the rage and everyone is talking about it -- today is day one of the new cell phone law. No more putting that phone to your ear unless it's an emergency. Otherwise, it's all about ear pieces or in-car systems (for more info on help buying the system for you, check out this post from LAist). And if you choose to break the law, it will be depend on where you are,......

If you plan on breaking the hands-free cellphone law tomorrow and in the future, your chances of being pulled over will be determined by where you are the LA Times finds. The California Highway Patrol plans to be the most aggressive about it and with the annual beef up (80% of officers on the roads) in staffing around the 4th of July, the two will go hand-in-hand well together. As for the LAPD, enforcement will......

Using your cell phone after July 1st could get you a $20 ticket (up to $100 in LA County after fees and the such). But if you cause an accident that ends in someone's death, a misdemeanor manslaughter charge could come with that, resulting with a year in jail for each death, reports the LA Times. That's because driving while talking on a cell phone (except for when using a hands-free device) can more easily......

To help balance Los Angeles' massive budget for the next Fiscal Year, parking fines are to be increased $5 across the board. The move begins July and will raise an additional $6.6 million towards filling the $406 million gap in the budget, according to the Daily News. Originally, City Council looked into increasing the fines $10 to $15, raising up to $20 million extra, but had worries it would lead to voter anger and violence......

On July 1st, after a two year warning, driving while talking on your cell phone, unless it is with a hands free device, will be illegal. There's some confusion, however, on how it all plays out and it depends on whether you are a teen or adult. Adults (that's 18 and over) can hold a phone, dial a number or answer a phone, but must converse hands free. Teens cannot do any of that, including......

One of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's traffic fixes has been these anti-gridlocked zones. But do people actually listen to signs? No. But with a threat, more will. So then came the Tiger Team, a specialized team that would patrol a heavy rush hour traffic artery to enforce the no parking signs by ticketing and towing away any vehicle parked there. Today, the fourth such team was deployed on Sunset Blvd. Five traffic control officers and seven......

The city of Los Angeles is struggling over a $406 million dollar shortfall, forcing them to look at ways to cut costs and increase revenue. One obvious idea on the revenue side of things: parking tickets. It was mentioned two weeks ago that the city could raise an extra $20 million by adding 8,600 miles to the street sweeping schedule, therefore allowing more opportunity for parking enforcement. But the Daily News' most recent coverage of......

Photo by marcbenton via Flickr On LAist's "Contribute" page, there are three ways you can participate: submit a link, join the LAist Featured Photos group on Flickr or leave us an anonymous tip. And one reader did more just leave a tip, he submitted an entire rant. It's a good rant and it raises good questions regarding policing for sidewalk smokers, local economies and police resources: Last month I was in downtown Burbank for......

Getting a parking ticket just downright blows, agreed? It can be the ultimate day-ruining moment, especially if you're having the proverbial "one of those days" to begin with. However, LAist Featured Photos Pool contributor faerymkh submitted a shot of the ticket they found on their windshield recently, that had an added message from a thoughtful and anonymous individual. To explain:A stranger left the message "Bummer that you got a ticket but they suck and......

The Los Angeles Fire Department has announced a Red Flag Parking Day that will begin tomorrow morning at "08:00 AM to Wednesday, January 2, 2008 08:00 AM or until further notice." Those who violate Red Flag Parking sign restrictions risk getting ticketed, but more likely being towed. This is not good timing for the Holidays, but fire knows no tactful way of saying "hello." Image provided by the Los Angeles Fire Department......

- State trooper pulls over a female blogger in Tennessee. She has been drinking, has drugs and was speeding. He throws away her drugs and watches porn with her on the patrol car laptop before engaging in sexual acts. She blogs about it. Oh yeah, she's pornstar Barbie Cummings who is moving LA and somehow, she still ended up with a $159 ticket she has to pay for not showing up in court. - He......

Maybe we shouldn't be emphasizing this tip so we can keep our parking spots open in busy areas of the city. But we're feeling generous to those who read LAist on Sundays and we still seem to shock a new person everyday with this parking tip that the LACityNerd taught us so long ago. Yellow Loading Zones are only in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. So take advantage all......

"In support of Bike to Work Day, Thursday, May 17th, cyclists ride free on Metro and on other participating transit agencies listed below." said Metro's website. "Board with your bike or helmet and enjoy the ride… it’s on us!" According to many cyclists including this LAist writer, it was sometimes a fight to get that free ride. Many cyclists at the Rally told stories of them informing the bus driver that they get to......