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Where Does the Money from Los Angeles's $190 Jaywalking Tickets Go?

You may be surprised to see who benefits from a $190 jaywalking ticket in Los Angeles.

Alissa Walker
By Alissa WalkerJan 13, 2011
Alissa Walker
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When officials said they were going to step up traffic enforcement on downtown Los Angeles's streets, most people learned for the first time that jaywalking could cost a pedestrian a whopping $190.

You'd think with tickets that high the city could make some sizable investments in sidewalk improvements or new crosswalks, right? Well, as it turns out, only 12 percent of the funds, $22.54 for each ticket, actually goes back to the city, according to a study by blogdowntown that calculates where L.A.'s jaywalking fees go. The rest goes to a long list of state and county agencies.

Of the amount that Los Angeles keeps—a paltry $13.2 million this year—blogdowntown reports that "$4.7 million will be spent on street services, $7.5 million will go to transportation needs such as traffic signs and control devices, while the rest will go to special transportation projects."

economycitiesticketsurbanismjaywalkingblogdowntownelections and politics

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