CAUGHT ON TAPE; POLICE VIDEO NABS BAD PARKERS.

Byline: Dominic Berbeo Staff Writer

School is back in session in Los Angeles, but students aren't the only ones who'll face discipline for bad behavior.

Parents often find themselves rushing while dropping off or picking up their children at school, which leads to illegal parking and unsafe conditions for pedestrians, officials say.

In response, the city has developed a surveillance operation - aimed mostly at elementary schools in the San Fernando Valley - to catch parking violators on videotape and nail them with tickets.

Since the program was started last year, officials say, more than 10,000 citations have been issued at 44 schools, including 30 in the Valley.

``People have to get some tickets and pay some fines before they know we mean business about school safety,'' said Bob Fishman, the principal of Lorne Street Elementary School in Northridge.

He said the city Department of Transportation's enforcement operation, in its second year at his school, has been effective in reducing unsafe conditions.

``It strikes fear into the hearts of parents when you tell them the video enforcement is going into effect. We may send out hundreds of home bulletins on safety, but they're just not as effective.''

He said attention was focused on pedestrian safety last year when a third-grader was slightly injured after running into the street between two illegally parked vehicles.

Most parents reacted positively to the program, he said, although there were a handful who referred to ``big brother'' in their complaints against surveillance tactics.

Typical parking violations range from double parking to blocking crosswalks to parking in red zones, and fines run from $35 to $60, according to the DOT.

Parking enforcement Sgt. Richard Ellis, who helps coordinate the program, says the key is using videotape as a deterrent.

``You have to catch people in the act,'' he says.

``The minute they think you're not watching, they'll just park as they please.''

He said the city sends out a troop of six video cameras and 15 officers in full uniform daily to randomly show up at different schools on the list and issue citations, especially at the end of the school day.

But, he said, the program is only initiated at schools where the principal requests it in writing, and parents, students and staff are notified of the date that video enforcement will begin.

Still, some parents are caught off guard.

``It seems a little unfair,'' said Patrick Latouche, who was busted for double parking while picking up his child at Castle Lane Elementary School in Porter Ranch. ``Where else are you supposed to park?''

Julie Tamayo, who was careful not to get a ticket, said while enforcement might make things safer for children, it was not a solution to the situation.

``The real problem here is overcrowding, and we need another school,'' she said. ``Maybe then there would be a place to pull up without having to worry about illegal parking.''

Some other parents who got caught on tape spoke little English and said they didn't know about the parking enforcement program.

``I didn't know. I don't agree,'' said Eun Kim, who was caught parking in a red zone in front of a fire hydrant.

Naila Motiwala, one of those being videotaped, called the program great - as long as she didn't get a ticket.

``I didn't know they were taping me,'' she said. ``It's scary. I'm shaking.''

The city began the video operation last year with 17 schools in the Valley after hearing about the effectiveness of similar enforcement at a Simi Valley school.

Lt. Jon Ainsworth of the Simi Valley Police Department said videotaping of parents illegally parking at Valley View Middle School was effective in getting parents to pay more attention to safety.

``It was a timesaver, too,'' he said. ``Instead of blocking traffic to give a ticket to a double parked vehicle, we just tape them and write out the tickets later.''

Videotaping also lessens the probability drivers will fight the tickets in court.

``Most parents don't try to fight the tickets,'' Ellis said. ``I think they get the message that the proof is on tape and the safety of children is the most important thing.''

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Photo

Photo: Traffic Officer Harry Johnson is assigned to capture illegal parkers on video.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer