You May Need a Fee Waiver to Park at the Chatsworth Courthouse

The Chatsworth Courthouse opened in 2003 as a modern courthouse with all the bells and whistles to serve our community.  A few months after a murder trial, the courthouse was limited to civil matters with criminal matters migrating to San Fernando.  It was also thought that the third floor might be used one day for valley family law courts as the Chatsworth location was better for families.  The court became a hub court in March, 2013, focusing on collection matters.  Now, the court administrators have created a stir by showing an intent to charge for parking commencing July 1.  Most people who use the courthouse, do so for an hour or less, so charging a $5.00 fee is a bit much.  The parking fee will also crowd a very narrow Penfield Avenue as it goes north from Prarie Street.  Most of those who use the courthouse barely have enough income to pay traffic citations, credit card claims, and other debts.  The parking mavens should have figured that our before making the decision to charge a flat fee for parking.  The decision surely will have a detrimental effect on surrounding businesses as court customers will surely park at the credit union, movie theater, or the home electronics store nearby.  Parking at Chatsworth has been free for over 10 years as is the parking afforded at the Torrance Courthouse.  It seems that the realignment of Chatsworth to a collection court might bode well for a lesser parking fee to allow those who use the court to park at the court or maybe a court shuttle for off site parking at the movie theater might be a better alternative.