Traffic Engineering Requests - Los Angeles City Contacts

In Los Angeles, California the primary point of contact for traffic engineering studies, evaluations of signs, signals, and requests for traffic calming is the Los Angeles Department of Transportation and its Traffic Engineering functions. Local service requests and complaints are commonly submitted through the Citys 311 system. City agencies coordinate with the Los Angeles Police Department for enforcement issues and with Bureau of Street Services for curb, street-sweeping, and pavement-related actions.

Who is responsible

The main offices involved are:

• Los Angeles Department of Transportation  traffic engineering and signs/markings evaluations.
• MyLA311 / City customer service for submitting service requests and tracking status.
• Los Angeles Police Department for enforcement of moving violations and crash investigations.
• Bureau of Street Services for curb, street repairs and related street furniture coordination.

Typical traffic engineering services

• Traffic investigations and collision review to evaluate signs, signals, stop controls and speed concerns.
• Requests for traffic calming, neighborhood speed cushions or study of pedestrian crossings.
• Engineering studies for development projects that affect traffic operations or parking supply.

Penalties & Enforcement

Traffic engineering studies themselves are administrative and do not carry fines; enforcement of traffic and parking rules is handled through separate code and enforcement processes. Specific fine amounts and escalation schedules for moving or parking violations are not specified on the city pages cited in the Resources section below. For monetary penalties and statutory references consult the Los Angeles Municipal Code and the enforcement units named below.

• Enforcers: Los Angeles Police Department (traffic enforcement), LADOT (parking enforcement and traffic control devices) and code enforcement units.
• Inspection and complaint pathways: administrative citation systems, traffic court or parking violations processing.
• Fine amounts and escalation: not specified on the cited page.
• Non-monetary sanctions: orders to remove unauthorized signs or obstructions, stop-work directions for unauthorized street alterations, or court actions where applicable.

Applications & Forms

Common submission methods and forms:

• Traffic investigation or traffic study request via the Los Angeles Department of Transportation procedures or online submission through the Citys 311 platform; the exact form name and any fees are not specified on the citys summary pages.
• MyLA311 request entries create a tracking number and route the request to the appropriate division.

How to get a traffic engineering study

Practical action steps to request an engineering study or traffic investigation in Los Angeles:

1. Document the concern: location, times, photos, crash dates and witness information where available.
2. Submit a service request via MyLA311 or the LADOT traffic request procedures describing the issue and attaching evidence.
3. Monitor the request number for status updates and respond to any LADOT follow-up for clarification or site visits.
4. If enforcement or citation results follow, follow the appeal instructions on the citation or contact the issuing agency for review procedures.

FAQ

Who do I call for a dangerous intersection?

Report the location and details to MyLA311 and request a traffic investigation; LADOT or LAPD will determine whether an engineering study or enforcement action is needed.

Is there a fee for a traffic study?

Fees for formal traffic studies related to development or special projects depend on the project and are not specified on the city summary pages; contact LADOT for project-specific fee information.

How long does a traffic investigation take?

Timelines vary by workload and complexity; the citys pages do not provide a universal completion time and MyLA311 status updates are the primary tracking tool.

How-To

1. Collect evidence: photos, crash reports, dates and times of observed issues.
2. File a MyLA311 request describing the problem and attach evidence.
3. Track the MyLA311 request number and respond to any city follow-up.
4. If a formal study or permit is required, follow LADOTs instructions for submittal and any project review fees.

Key Takeaways

• Start with MyLA311 to route requests quickly to LADOT or the appropriate city unit.
• LADOT performs traffic investigations and coordinates with LAPD and Bureau of Street Services for enforcement and street works.
• Fees and specific penalty amounts are set in municipal rules and are not summarized on the city information pages.

Help and Support / Resources

• Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT)
• MyLA311 - City of Los Angeles service requests
• Los Angeles Municipal Code (official code library)
• Los Angeles Police Department (traffic and enforcement)