Local Laws ’96

Local lawmakers in 1996 enacted regulations covering everything from banning the use of leaf blowers to the sale of cheap handguns. Malibu tried to keep pace with the lifestyle of its residents by allowing personal helipads, while South Pasadena sought to regulate potbellied pigs and Santa Monica moved to cut down on loitering.

Here’s a sampling of laws enacted in 1996:

Los Angeles County

Lobbying--Closing a loophole in the existing lobbying ordinance, the supervisors required groups that use studies in their lobbying of the board to disclose the source of funding for the reports. The board can terminate the registration--or bar re-registration--of lobbyists who violate the ordinance.

Mayor--Fretting that no one really understands what they do, and hoping a more familiar title would help, the supervisors amended the county charter to replace the title “chairman” of the Board of Supervisors--a rotating position--with the honorary title of “county mayor.”

Product tampering--Cracking down on acts of bigotry, supervisors made it illegal to insert writing in or on any box, package or other container of a consumer product offered for sale. Violating the law is punishable by a maximum of up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Truancy--After a September truancy sweep last year picked up 91 students who were out of class, a daytime curfew was established requiring students to be in class from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Any minor who is absent from class without a parental excuse can be fined up to $250.

Los Angeles

Dog squad--In response to an increase in complaints about stray dogs, a new city detail of four animal regulation officers was created to patrol neighborhoods, corral stray dogs and issue citations to owners who refuse to leash pets.

Eviction--As of Jan. 19, landlords will be able to evict tenants who engage in illegal drug activity or gang-related crime on or within 1,000 feet of the property, or who have been convicted of a drug- or gang-connected crime on the property. If landlords do not evict such tenants, the city attorney’s office will be able to take action to oust the tenants and impose fines of up to $5,000 on the landlords.

Fines--To ease strained city coffers, all routine parking fines were raised $10. The most common citation is for parking during posted street-cleaning hours, which will now cost $40.

Gas leaf blowers--As of July 1, gardeners and employers will be fined up to $1,000 each for operating gasoline-powered leaf blowers within 500 feet of residences. The ordinance stemmed from residents’ concerns about noise and the health hazards of dust and exhaust. Electric blowers and gas-powered leaf vacuums quieter than 45 decibels are permitted.

Guns--Hoping to make it more difficult for criminals to obtain the types of low-cost, easily concealed handguns that accounted for 1,437, or 13%, of all firearms confiscated by the LAPD last year, the city banned the manufacture and sale of Saturday night specials.

Hate fliers--Cracking down on racist propaganda, the city made it illegal to insert fliers, pictures or other advertising into any product package without permission. Offenders face up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Law enforcement--Police Academy applicants will be required to sign a contract agreeing to pay back part or all of the cost of training if they leave before completing five years on the force. The reimbursement will be based on how long the officer stays with the LAPD.

Airport--Fines were quadrupled to $60 for drivers who leave cars unattended at curbside at Los Angeles International Airport.

Yard sales--Attempting to combat neighborhood blight, the city restricted each resident to five yard sales or garage sales per year, to be held only between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., and required that they be confined to used items originally received or purchased for use in the household.

Agoura Hills

Tax--In November, voters passed Measure L, which empowers the City Council to raise the occupancy, or hotel, tax at least 8% but not more than 12%. The tax is expected to raise $100,000 for the city annually.

Alhambra

Day laborers--In response to complaints of vandalism and traffic problems, officials banned day laborers, panhandlers and street vendors from the city.

Avalon

Skating--After receiving complaints from parents and children, the city loosened its restrictions on roller skating. Although the new law prohibits cruising down hillsides or coasting in the downtown mall area, it opens up some previously restricted streets and lots to skaters.

Beverly Hills

Displays--Ending a seven-year controversy over the display of a 27-foot-tall menorah in a Beverly Hills park, the city forbade the overnight display of private art and other exhibits in public parks.

Claremont

Dogs--The city set aside an acre of College Park for unleashed dogs and their owners.

Commerce

An unusual law was passed that is designed to keep the city’s long-term finances steady, even if the ground moves. The City Council approved an ordinance requiring the Commerce Club, the state’s largest card casino--which provides 40% of the city’s annual budget--to keep paying the city the current amount of revenue, even if an earthquake knocks the poker tables out of commission.

Compton

Guns--Spurred by 82 slayings last year, officials tried to combat violence in their neighborhoods by banning Saturday night specials.

Culver City

Vending--In an effort to promote a pedestrian-friendly commercial area, the City Council decided to allow merchants to display goods on downtown sidewalks.

Pawnshops--After an increase in pawnshops and secondhand dealer businesses in the city, the council placed a moratorium on permits for pawnshops until rules and procedures regarding the businesses are reviewed.

Downey

Truancy--Aimed at reducing juvenile crime, a new law authorizes police officers to cite truants. The juveniles will have to appear in traffic court with a parent or guardian and could face fines of up to $50 and community service. Repeat offenders could have their driver’s licenses suspended.

Huntington Park

Guns--Even though there are no licensed gun dealers in the city, officials banned Saturday night specials in an effort to prevent dealers from trying to open.

Inglewood

Guns--Supported by Women Against Gun Violence, Inglewood banned the sale of Saturday night specials. Violation of the ordinance is punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

La Mirada

Adult businesses--The City Council placed a moratorium on the establishment of adult entertainment businesses.

Homeless--To curb the use of streets and parks by the homeless and others, the council prohibited camping and storage of personal property on public property.

Lawndale

License--Massage technicians working in the city must get 250 hours of certified massage training and take an exam from a state-approved agency.

Lomita

Fees--All escort service companies and their employees must obtain a permit to accompany dates to social events within the city limits. Doing business without a permit is a misdemeanor.

Long Beach

Parking--Parking fines were raised from $25 to $28.

Loitering--The Long Beach City Council passed an anti-loitering ordinance, making it unlawful for young people under 18 to hang out in parks, on streets or in other public places on school days between 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Malibu

Helipads--In keeping with the lifestyle of its residents, the City Council voted to allow helipads in rural areas.

Manhattan Beach

Truancy--Police officers can cite students under 18 who are cutting class from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. A Juvenile Traffic Court judge can fine the student up to $500 or assign the student to community work.

Monrovia

Truancy--In the hope of keeping kids in class and off the streets during school hours, the city allowed truants picked up by police to be hauled into Juvenile Court, where they could face a fine of $135 or long hours of community service and suspension of driver’s licenses. It also allowed the Police Department to bill parents for police hours when more than one hour is needed to detain an arrested youth.

Monterey Park

Guns--The city banned the sale of Saturday night specials within city limits. The action was part of an intended effort throughout the San Gabriel Valley to outlaw their sale.

Pasadena

Street vendors--The city legalized pushcart vendors on its streets and subjected them to existing city health codes. The law also limited ice cream truck sales to summer months and the hours of operation for mobile kitchen wagons.

Santa Monica

Loitering--Responding to merchants’ complaints about teenagers disturbing shoppers at the Third Street Promenade, the city prohibited anyone from sitting or lying along the commercial strip and nearby downtown streets between 6 a.m. and 1 a.m. Violating the law is a misdemeanor, punishable by a $500 fine and six months in jail.

Noise--The city banned the nighttime operation of fast-food, drive-through windows near residential property in response to complaints about noise and traffic.

Sierra Madre

Drive-throughs--Fearful that a planned drive-through bagel shop would mar its downtown, the city banned construction of drive-through establishments, be they banks, bagel shops or burger stands.

South Pasadena

Leashed pigs--When prosecutors dropped charges against the owner of an 80-pound potbellied pig for not using a leash on her pet, Tulip, the City Council struck back. It passed an ordinance requiring such pigs to be leashed, as well as applying to the porcine pets the same “pooper-scooper” provisions that apply to dogs.

Barking dogs--Hoping to differentiate a serious dog problem from a feud between two neighbors, officials allowed police to go after the owners of noisy dogs after three separate neighbors complain. If complaints are within a seven-day period, the city’s animal control officer will be able to launch an investigation and take the dog owner to court. The law is also designed to handle loud birds and squealing potbellied pigs.

Temple City

Wheeled toys--Frustrated by youths making life difficult for pedestrians, the city outlawed “wheeled toys” such as skateboards, roller skates or scooters, in commercial areas and city parks. Wheeled toys and bicycles cannot be left unattended on any public sidewalk. Police officers can confiscate offending toys.

Torrance

Truancy--Minors are prohibited from loitering in public places between 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on days when school is in session, unless there is a reasonable excuse from the parents. If minors are arrested and detained for more than one hour, parents are subject to the cost of detention.

West Covina

Guns--The sale of Saturday night specials was banned within city limits.

West Hollywood

Guns--Seeking to curb gun violence, West Hollywood became the first city in California to ban the sale of Saturday night specials. The law makes the sale of the cheap pistols a misdemeanor, punishable by a maximum six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. The action prompted several other cities to follow suit, including Los Angeles, Compton and West Covina.

Compiled by Times staff writers Cecilia Rasmussen, Peter Hong, Nicholas Riccardi, Duke Helfand, Jeffrey Leeds, Doug Shuit and correspondents Richard Winton, Janet Wiscombe, Marilyn Martinez, Matea Gold, Maki Becker, Tracy Johnson and Sylvia Oliande.