The RV war in Venice is heating up.
Responding to community outrage over the dumping of raw sewage onto the streets of Venice, Los Angeles City Atty. Carmen Trutanich said Wednesday that he intended to file criminal charges against a motor home dweller who was arrested but released after serving two days in jail.
"When it hits the fan, it hits my office too," Trutanich said of the dumping, which a longtime Neighborhood Watch captain witnessed last week and reported to police. City crews finally cleaned up the mess Tuesday, but only after residents had complained for several days to various city and county agencies.
Venice residents have asserted for years that people living in recreational vehicles were emptying raw sewage into storm drains and street gutters or using yards and gardens as bathrooms. Affected neighborhoods have long lobbied for overnight parking restrictions to keep people from sleeping curbside in their cars or campers.
More recently, the Los Angeles City Council approved amendments to toughen an ordinance prohibiting overnight parking of so-called oversize vehicles, those exceeding 22 feet in length or 84 inches in height.
What do you think should be done with the RV population in Venice? Share your view here.
Photo: A pedestrian walks past a pair of mobile homes parked along 3rd Street in Venice. Residents there have complained for years that people living in recreational vehicles are emptying raw sewage into the streets. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times / Aug. 25, 2010)