Car Towed in Hollywood on Oscars Sunday? Here’s What You Need to Know About the $409 Fee

Hollywood Drivers Hit with $409 Towing Fees During Oscars

LOS ANGELES – Frustration is mounting in Hollywood following the towing of dozens of vehicles blocks away from the Oscars venue on Sunday morning. Cars parked near the Dolby Theatre were towed, leaving many residents and workers scrambling to locate their vehicles and facing hefty retrieval fees of at least $409.

Witnesses reported that tow trucks were active in the area, clearing streets as far as half a mile from the Dolby Theatre. "Like tons of cars. About 100 at least," said Maryann King, who documented the towing process.

Drivers whose cars were impounded received notification that the fee for retrieval would start at $409. "They should change the Oscar name to Caesar, because they’re just loading up," remarked Cris Tomas, a local worker who observed the towing operations. "My pockets are hurting too."

Residents described the situation as chaotic. "I’ve never seen anything like that in my life. It was a frenzy," King said. Confusion was exacerbated by conflicting parking signs in the area. Some signs indicated "No parking 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday only," even as cars were being towed on Sunday morning.

"The signs even confused the officers issuing tickets," King added. "When I questioned, ‘Does this sign make sense to you?’ they were like, ‘No. We don’t know why we’re giving tickets.’"

The towing affected not only the immediate area but also extended to nearby streets such as Wilcox Avenue and Vine Street. A resident named Lyric expressed her frustration, stating, "There’s so much of people’s lives that have to be accommodated for this. I love the Oscars — great. Hope to be there someday, but it’s definitely frustrating."

With streets typically filled with parked cars left empty, residents voiced concerns about the impact of major events on daily life. "Because these big parties are happening, it doesn’t mean people stop living," King noted. "You can’t just remove human beings and charge them for their existence just because you’re going to have a party."

Those whose cars were towed were directed to call 311 to locate their vehicles. When contacted by FOX 11, operators referred them to a tow yard, which confirmed the $409 retrieval fee.

In response to the situation, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation stated: "The City issues permits for major events that require road closures and LADOT posts temporary no parking signs a minimum of 48 hours in advance. Permittees are primarily responsible for communicating closures and other event impacts to residents, with LADOT supplementally posting information online and on the Department’s social media platforms." The statement clarified that ЛADOT had indeed posted signs on Vine Street to restrict parking for the Oscars event. Motorists who believe their vehicle was towed incorrectly can request a hearing through the city’s website.