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Amid reports of “Disaster Tours” taking place in Pacific Palisades, the Los Angeles City Council decided to bar the operations of tour buses in the affected areas.
The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved a resolution barring the operation of “disaster tours” or any bus tours from operating in the 16-mile area of the Pacific Palisades that were affected by wildfires in January.
The resolution states that the restrictions are necessary to successfully rebuild and preserve public safety. “In an area within a declared emergency when construction activities to repair roadways, stabilize hillside slopes, repair utilities, reconstruct homes, and rebuild business,” all of which often occur on narrow winding roads.
After the vote this week, the Department of Transportation is set to install signage in the area about tour bus restrictions in the affected areas.
Credit: Courtesy of the Department of Transportation
If a tour bus driver drives through the restricted areas outlined, their employer could be criminally charged. The driver would not be held responsible, but the employer or “operator of the tour bus company” would be, as stated by the Department of Transportation.
The resolution was first introduced back in July by councilmember Traci Park, whose district includes the Pacific Palisades.
Over the summer, her office had received reports about commercial tours operating in the Pacific Palisades area since the neighborhood opened to the public. “These are people who are looking to profit off of destruction and other people’s losses,” said council member Park.
The Palisades fire was a series of highly destructive wildfires that displaced tens of thousands of residents and left many without their homes. The fire destroyed close to 7,000 structures and killed 12 people.
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Tara Nguyen
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