Letter to KCBS2 / KCAL9 Steven Mauldin Regarding Unpaid Parking Tickets

Letter to KCBS2 / KCAL9 Steven Mauldin

On April 29,2025 the Los Angeles Police Department held its annual Recognition Day Awards Ceremony.  Sworn and civilian men and women from the  Department were recognized for their dedication and commitment towards the people they serve in communities throughout Los Angeles.  It was at this ceremony that KCBS2 / KCAL9 reporter David Goldstein ambushed an assistant chief of the LAPD about unpaid parking tickets.  Below is a letter sent to the station's management, on May 4, 2010, explaining the facts as they relate to the citations.

Mr. Steven Mauldin

KCBS2/KCAL9
CBS Studio City
4200 Radford Avenue
Studio City, California 91604

Mr. Mauldin: 

This correspondence is to bring to your attention an investigative report which may contain some incomplete information.  Since the segment is reportedly scheduled to air on Thursday May 6, 2010, the scope of the omissions cannot be fully measured; however, the positive relationship and mutual respect that the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has fostered with the media, including KCBS2/KCAL9, dictates that we provide you with critical additional information. 

As you know, Investigative Reporter David Goldstein is preparing a report on the use of “confidential license plates” similar to the April 2008 report in the Orange County Register.

Mr. Goldstein has learned that some agencies responsible for processing parking fines have amassed significant numbers of unpaid citations for vehicles registered under the provisions of a confidential license plate program.  Since the late 1970s, individuals in qualifying occupations may request that their personal information be shielded in the California Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) database.  The program is designed to protect the individual and their families.  In many cases the vehicles registered under these protections are second and third vehicles used exclusively by family members.

Agencies processing citations on vehicles with confidential plates must go through a labor-intensive process of identifying the registered owner, their employer, and a name and address of the person authorized by that employer to receive confidential notifications.  To meet the California Vehicle Code standard, the agency processing the collection must issue a letter or other official notification before a report of non-payment can be made to the DMV for further action such as registration renewal holds. 

According to the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, in the City of LA, citations issued to vehicles with confidential plates are paid promptly at a rate of 70 percent.  That far exceeds the 45 percent prompt pay-rate of the general public. 

On April 29, 2010, Mr. Goldstein and other members of the media were invited to and attended the LAPD Recognition Day where a number of LAPD command and staff officers were honoring the recipients of the Department’s highest awards.  It was at this event that Mr. Goldstein chose to confront an assistant chief with documents indicating that he had 18 unpaid parking tickets.  

Based on our inquiry into the matter, the assistant chief in question had never been notified about the citations for a vehicle that a member of his family had operated.  Our Internal Affairs Division has begun to conduct an investigation and has thus far determined, that beginning in February 2010, the City of Los Angeles and a vendor issued letters for the first time since 2002, to agencies employing users of confidential plates who have unpaid citations.  It has been determined that the letters received by the LAPD were not forwarded to the concerned employees.  This administrative oversight is being investigated and appropriate action will be taken.                         

Considering the excellent working relationship that we enjoy with KCBS2/KCAL9, I am hopeful that in the future, your reporters and producers will not feel the need to ambush LAPD personnel.  Had your reporter requested an interview in advance, the assistant chief would have spoken to the reporter once he had an opportunity to investigate the facts.

The concerned assistant chief has paid the outstanding fines and two other LAPD officers have been put on notice to make payment without unnecessary delay.  Finally, we are taking steps to ensure that notifications regarding confidential plates are acted upon promptly.     

Very truly yours,

CHARLIE BECK                  
Chief of Police

MARY GRADY, Public Information Director
Commanding Officer
Public Information Office   

Comments

[ARCOman]

I respect the manner in which COP Beck would like to be informed about such incidents. I'm sure COP Beck did not know of this situation, but he should have. Or at least someone should have. I think the assistant chief provided admiral feedback and ultimately resolved the issue as did COP Beck.

But should any official be above the law? How would you have treated me in the same situation.
Would I have had to pay the full amounts with penalties. You're darn right I would! I've seen officials take liberties and it's just not fair.

Due diligence and controls for all city and county employees.

Aren't we getting tired of the waste in our government.

I'll help you if you want it. Just ask.

[Mr. Elmer]

We are ALL equal, some are just MORE equal than others, I suppose.

[Umberto]

They issue tickets for tinted windows, yet they themselves drive cars with tinted windows. Jaywalking, then they themselves jaywalk to court in downtown. The list goes on and on, til the early morn'.

[Mr. Police]

Wait you left out some.... We have the highest divorce rate, we get shot at, we get killed, we get no respect from the public, we get to handle all your problems because you can't, we get to raise and discipline your kids, we get fight the very same criminals your afraid of, we get to neglect our own family and kids, we get to work long hours, so if you want the same perks come sign up and join the LAPD.

[Reality Bites]

Mr. Police,

Not our problem you can't keep the wife happy. No one forced you to be a cop. People get killed every day. Respect is earned. These days government defines what's a problem and what's not, before government we took care of it ourselves--so you're the problem. Whose kids are you raising, unless you're DCFS, you don't get to claim this, you guys just drop them off in Juvee as quickly as possible? By disciplining, you mean beating them up? You guys get 4 days off a week, Mr. Police, if you're still neglecting your family and kids on your 4 days off, then that's your fault, not ours. Yeah, you guys use to work long hours and get paid a lot of money, too much milking off of taxpayers money. With all that complaining, why not leave the LAPD?

[citizen]

Mr. Police you forgot you get a pay check. If you don't like it then QUIT!!

[A fellow officer]

I am sorry Mr. Police, but that is an old lame excuse. Nobody made us take this job. We are not above the law. When we violate the law, it validates public criticism of us. In 35 years, I have received one parking citation and I paid it. When an officer illegally parks and puts his business card over the vin, that is abuse of the badge. We represent the Department even when we are off duty. If you cannot hold yourself to that standard, please find another job. We do not need you, and the public will not want you.

[Mark jane]

Can you imagine for a minute Bill Bratton posting a letter like this on a web site?

[Rick T.]

Citizen, I love all the perks I get from being an officer. Those perks are usually from good law abiding people, who really appreciate what we do. Oh, the perks I love, waived at as we drive by,not flipped off by people who dislike us because we had to arrest them for their mistakes, sure blame us. Given a sincere/honest hello and thank you for helping out in their time of need. Not a "well its your job" from someone who thinks they are entitled to it no matter how they treat us. We know its our job, thats why we love what we do. Seeing a smile on the face of a child who still has not been corrupted by a parents hatred towards us for their own mistakes. Those are the perks I love. If you have such disdain for law enforcement maybe you should look at yourself first. Obey the laws, be a responsible human being and teach YOUR children to do the same. Yes respect is earned, but it works both ways.

[Ex-cop]

Mr Police, you should quit like I did. Really, it's not worth it. I never did anything wrong nor treated people with anything but respect when I was a cop. Even a few times after I was locking them up they would thank me for being nice to them. But A LOT of public hated us. More than once I have come out to my PD car after lunch and found green spit on the windshield. I have had people I didn't know or stop curse at me and give me the finger. There was a little boy who wave at my partner and the mom smacked the kid saying, 'don't you ever wave at them after after what they did to your uncle'. Respect is earned, but it only takes one bad cop, once priest, one teacher, to ruin it for their entire profession. I hate bad cops, though in 10 years I never worked with one or personally knew one. I was the good cop who wouldn't jay-walk or tint his windows because he himself cited people for those things. My hat goes off to the good cops, but it isn't worth it. Do what I did, quit and become a firefighter. The difference between LAFD and LAPD is astounding. It's like parade every time we're in truck/engine with people waving and smiling. The neighborhood drops off treats for us and unlike PD, we can can actually eat the treats because we're not hated like the PD so they don't put feces and stuff in the treats. The difference in how the public treats police and firefighters is so great that I feel embarrassed by the positive attention. So Mr Police, if you like excitement and still want to put your life on the line, quit and become a firefighter where you don't have to make split-second shoot/don't shoot decisions. There are no drive by fires after all. But what we don't want is all the 'good' 'smart' cops leaving the force.

[Fellow Officer 2]

Reality Bites: You probably couldn't make it as an officer or your record prevents you from making it.

[Gmanlm]

To Mr. Elmer yes my windows are tinted. I did so after I was recognized off duty with my family and had my car vandalized. You dont face the same risks as we do. As for why I'm a police officer, because I believe in protecting the people of this city against real criminals, including people like some of you who do not appreciate our many sacrifices. FYI I have received and paid for parking tickets.

[Beentheredonethat]

Reality bites, your weak and probably hiding in some little cubicle wondering why you and your salary are expendable. You want to be the quarterback but never made it on the team. As for the fireman / ex-cop. Save it bro, nobody thinks your the man or smarter because your changed teams. I yawned about halfway through your pitch. We have respect for our firemen, lets keep it that way.

[FDNY]

Police officers exist so Firemen can have heroes.

[R Hillmann]

How many unpaid citations were issued to the news media for there personal cars? I didn't here that in the report.

[I see Your true Colors]

the Problem here is that Police see themselves as SheepDogs who are there to protect the Sheep from Wolves. the Paradigm naturally places them on top of the very people they are suppose to Serve. this is Why they feel they can get away with quite a lot.

[citizen]

Sounds like they are upset that they got caught. Oh no they were ambushed. Give me a break they got caught!

[Reserve Deputy]

Cops don't think they can get away with a lot. That's a myth that some who haven't a clue about police work just assume. Cops are held to a higher standard by their fellow cops and supervisors and are expected to act accordingly at all times, on duty or off. The last thing any cop wants to see is an off duty cop behaving like an idiot because we all get a bum rap for that. When cops do stupid things, they get arrested by other cops and often times fired very quickly. Some of you need to get a life. And for you Mr. Elmer, maybe you should go to medical or law school, since you are so much smarter than the average guy and the teaching thing isn't working out too well for you...

[Detective Sergeant]

Mr. Ex-Cop, sorry you couldn't hack it. You sound like someone I know. Just don't put out back-ups for "390 man down" sack up and handle the medical emergencies you are paid to handle. As for the rest of you. If you feel you don't need our response, don't call us. There are plenty of good people out there that do really need us, so don't waste my time and tax-payers money. Oh yeah what goes around come around. I will gladly continue to lock up the scumbags and any of their family members who choose to follow in their foot steps. I have spent 9 years of my 15 year career investigating gang crimes and gang members. The stuff of your nightmares. So continue to sleep well at night knowing I am out there fighting what all of you fear. Nighty night. Oh yea, say what you want I don't care. it's easy to hide behind a keyboard.

[the Man with the Plan]

Wow, I guess 'be polite, be professional' isn't LAPD policy anymore?

We knew what we signed up for, guys (and gals). The website is here for the public, not so much for us. So let's be polite and let's be professional.

Let the public think what it wants to think. We, the troops, don't have to be on here posting rude, defensive comments and play into the very depiction of us these people are trying to describe. We are playing into their little trap.

Let Ms. Mary Grady and her staff do their job and we do ours.

Let us serve and protect you. Thank you.

[the Man with the Plan]

To Mr. Elmer, Reality Bites, ex-Cop, Colors, etc. thank you for your input. We will do our very best to be better. Please accept our apologies for the many bad apples in the force, as you may already know the increase hire these past few years allowed us to hire quickly, but as you know haste makes waste.

Thank you for the opportunity of serving and protecting you, the proud people of Los Angeles.

[Anette]

Every profession/occupation has its own perks, sacrifices and fellings of fulfillment. I hold a high respect to police officers, firefighters and nurses like me who do not spend a lot of weekends and holidays with families to be able to serve the public.