Los Feliz couple claims they're being falsely billed $6,000 by Caltrans

They were stuck in the snow nearly two years ago, so why is a Los Feliz family still facing a $6,000 bill from Caltrans? ABC7's Rob McMillan took a deep dive into the dispute. #ABC7Investigates READ MORE: abc7.com/loz-f...

[@GuyFieriFriedChicken]

I’d asked for an itemized bill. If the bill doesn’t make sense and they threaten collections, I’d pay then I’d go as far as sue CalTrans. They’re a public agency, I’m not a lawyer but I’ll try to pull the 8th amendment in court and say that the fine imposed is unreasonable and after the bill gets thrown out in court. I’ll file a civil rights suit

[@silverblue9286]

The CHP could have called their local Caltrans contact and got back to the family with coordination to get their vehicle. Instead apparently CHP told them to contact Caltrans themselves. I would contact a CHP supervisor to find out if that beat was covered and why a CHP Officer did not conduct a welfare check themselves during the time the family was stuck and why this family and their vehicle was not in any dispatch log. Where are the supervisors? Alot of unanswered questions why. Safety & Service was not completed this day, I feel for the family.

[@curiousgeorge5992]

@@silverblue9286 Very good observations and questions. And Suggestions

[@chuupcheek7810]

A lot of people are missing the main story . According to the story the family got stuck in the afternoon of Dec 18th and hitched a ride back home. The 911 emergency call that Caltrans and police responded to came in on the evening of the 19th . Obviously Caltrans is billing the wrong people who got stuck . Also the family reported it to the CHP on the 18th when they got home. Why is the gate still open to drive through on the 19th for other people to get stuck ? Caltrans & CHP fault through and through .

[@user-ov4wr5yu4r]

Google Maps isn't responsible for updates on road closures or conditions. It's just maps. Be careful.

[@jes6628]

6k to open a gate? caltrans needs to be audited

[@goneshotboxedinstrumentals5336]

Nooooo those people need to pay Fkn attention to the Fkn advance warning signs that says the road is closed miles before reaching the closure even if the gate is open for all u know some idiots could cut thru the lock or chains there’s led message board’s warning drivers Angeles crest highway 2 is closed and it’s been closed for more than 4 years already 😂

[@jes6628]

@@goneshotboxedinstrumentals5336 OK be honest are you hotboxed right now?

[@ChosenOne6666]

This boils my blood the state spends our tax dollars on mindless shit.

[@smileymalaise]

Like those "La Sombrita" scam bus shelter shades that nobody wants to sue over for some reason. An obvious case of corruption.

[@johndough7710]

Caltrans Executives haven't received any kickbacks since September. 6 grand will go along way.

[@silverblue9286]

One would think the vehicle owners notification to CHP would get the ball rolling or good guidance to prevent a welfare check from LAPD, which probably also created the caltrans bill. Someone got lazy instead of doing the right thing. This family is innocent and should not be billed.

[@roachtoasties]

She keeps mentioning Google Maps. Google Maps is not Caltrans, and I wasn't aware Google Maps provides the most up-to-date road conditions. They have an argument about that 911 call the next day, which wasn't them, but not about ignoring "road closed" signs. "Road closed" doesn't mean a gate needs to be closed. Maybe the conditions were so bad nobody from Caltrans could safely make it to the gate to close it. Anyway, this isn't for me to decide.

[@lancetruong4957]

They close the gate at the upper mountain where the snow is. The one at the lower elevation where there's no snow is open. That's why they though the road is open.

[@MadStyle1911]

Actually google do give updates when roads are closed via cal trans or any other road authorities across the country. Cal Trans just drop the ball, just that simple.

[@OJdidit93905]

Cal trans provides up to date conditions like any other agency that handles the public highways in each state. As for the rest I’d suggest going back and watching the video again because every detail you got wrong here which is crazy because I mean if you watched and listened you wouldn’t have gotten the details wrong😂

[@curiousgeorge5992]

​@@OJdidit93905I traveled over the mountains back-and-forth during winter Caltrans got its head up its ass😢

[@jerradwilson]

They were going to Mt High. You can get from La Cañada to Wrightwood via Hwy 2 when it's open, but it's a lot of mountain driving. Depending on where you're starting, it's better to take the 210 to the 15 to Hwy 138 to Hwy 2, or the 5 to the 14 to Hwy 138 to Largo Vista to Big Pines Hwy. The middle portion of Hwy 2 is always closed in the winter, and still closed from last year's storm damage.

[@garyrainwater7279]

That’s Caltrans for you don’t take responsibility for their screw ups on highways when you get flats but they take full advantage of you getting stuck on the highway😢

[@JEK]

Thanks, Gav

[@user-sg2kh9fn7s]

Very Incompetent Govern officials they should have closed both gates that day and google should have told them it's closed.

[@mountains1233]

These national forest roads have inconsistent signage all the time, as well as highway roadwork. It's effectively a display that they are under no obligation to be accurate and accountable

[@dw6506]

I would have been glad to open it for $5000.

[@miker4671]

The moral of the story is the Jeep Cherokee SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!

[@TomCook1993]

Highway 2 has been closed for years. Everyone in Wrightwood knows. This seems fishy. I bet they had their faces buried in their phone.

[@Mike__B]

but Google maps said it was ok! 🤣🤣🤣

[@DeusEx.Machina]

Probably some local a**hole broke open the gate and put these npcs in a predicament. $6000 is still crazy though 😂😂.

[@goneshotboxedinstrumentals5336]

Exactly I was working up there since it caught on fire and people still weren’t paying attention and driving thru there while we worked to cleaned that shit up make it safe and some how they went around all our road closure barriers so Fuk em

[@raiderc9471]

@@goneshotboxedinstrumentals5336exactly, all the signs said road closed and had warnings, but they still drove up? Thats on them. Whats really weird is that they’d just leave the car up there when people(probly friends they caravanned up with) could have easily got them out of the snow. But instead they just carpooled down.

[@rampar77]

Only in Calif would people drove up to snowy mountain every winter without 4Wd and chains.

[@shadow.banned]

Wow, that Jeep didn't do its job.

[@fountainvalley100]

The solution is to sue Caltrans for reckless endangerment for not closing the gate.

[@rampar77]

No, they only closed the gate with snow. The other entrance didn't have snow.

[@dfelixrx7]

Not so Wise after all

[@jaym5938]

Bureaucracy in the U.S. is an abysmal failure that costs us billions.

[@wompwomp338]

Don't pay it. Real simple.

[@joegug4751]

Just goes to show you don’t get your government involved.

[@matrix-fh9tn]

When your car get stuck somewhere and able to get a cell service, reach out to local off road recovery goups on a Facebook or other social media rather than calling money hungry 911. Most will gladly come and pull you out. Some might charge a resonable fee but many will do it for free. Those are nice people who enjoys helping people who got stuck. At least tip them for full tank of gas even they refuse.

[@dp2677]

$6k to open a gate? Must be one heck of a difficult gate 🤔

[@user-np9sl8de8t]

Was the gate on both ends closed ?

[@Happy-I-Am-]

Leave the county . Kids will Be happier

[@dimi_sf]

They shouldn’t blame Caltrans or Google for their own stupidity!!!!!!

[@JamesFAFOCreel]

Let me tell you what happened these idiots thought that they were going to beat all the traffic and take the back way to Wrightwood which everybody knows has been closed for 30 years and they were like we have a jeep we can make it and they got stuck and now they don’t want to pay

[@amandaburleson2035]

ok but 6 thousand is too much, maybe like 2,000 is fine

[@JamesFAFOCreel]

@@amandaburleson2035 I agree with you there…. They didn’t not put in 3 grand in man hours. That should be dropped

[@bobbymoss6160]

$6K for the price of common sense is cheap. How do you not have tire chains if you're planning on driving through snowy terrain? These people probably thought driving a SUV will let them cross the Himalayas. 🤣🤣 Also I love how people in comments are blaming everything on everybody else but the individuals who got themselves stuck in the snow in the first place.

[@marimunny9194]

I'm just curious where that $6000 goes to in Cal Trans?

[@bobbymoss6160]

@@marimunny9194 Repairing roads damaged by overweight trucks and SUVs driven by Karens and beer gut Chucks.

[@xcqematic1]

This is why we have the highest income, capital, and sales tax in the country. every government costs are insanely bloated and they will find every opportunity to juice citizens more 😢

[@edwinguzman2456]

Dont pay them.

[@Happy-I-Am-]

Dang these guys have 2 kids to raise ! Don’t bill them for nothing 💁🏻‍♂️ that money is very much needed.

[@gs-we3rp]

Quite the risky trip with kids in the car.... A $6k bill sounds steep even if the transportation dept. probably is sick and tired of abandoned vehicles on the highway left by people that didn't think. When you go up in the mountains in the snow you need to know what you're doing. Stay informed, check road conditions, etc. Don't keep driving until you're stuck, because then you are....stuck. It's not clear if the police stopped by their house because of the abandoned vehicle or because of a 911 call. 911 call origins are always logged so it can't be hard to figure out who called.

[@JamesFAFOCreel]

That was her voice on the 911 call. PAY YOUR BILLS

[@Mikemikeswehomenow]

Take a pill and calm down

[@sonnyk4840]

@JohnnytNatural I thought this broad is white with an accent 🤷‍♂

[@sonnyk4840]

🧃Juice. They don't like to pay 😆😆

[@BIGGROBB112IDGAF]

This story isn't adding up. Listen to what was said at the beginning of the story.

[@JamesFAFOCreel]

@@Mikemikeswehomenow HAHAHAHA.

[@tracerit]

Jeep must be so embarrassed 😂 "trailhawk"

[@icedog._]

i think thats the trackhawk

[@smileymalaise]

Emphasis on "khawk"

[@manuelzay6503]

@@icedog._no it’s not, it’s a trialhawk.

[@SergioFernandez-cj4mt]

Yea, why it get stuck … was it a 4x2 🤔 or Jeep’s 4x4 sucks 🥴

[@manuelzay6503]

@@SergioFernandez-cj4mt 4x4 and improper tires and it kinda sucks.

[@Mike__B]

"Why doesn't Google maps know about it" yeah I'd stop right there with that level of argument, Google maps is a private company that makes maps available and they aren't always up to date. That said based on the 911 call report there were tow trucks that were called to plow the road, and presumably that also helped their own tow truck get their car. Yeah it sucks, but I can see where it's coming from.

[@b.visconti1765]

CalTrans is a Ripoff..They overpay their employees with overtime because their so lazy!!

[@goneshotboxedinstrumentals5336]

Oh no they don’t overpay their employees I applied got called for an interview and was going to get hired I asked about the wages and benefits and I declined so just stayed working for the labors union

[@redburban1394]

Wow they don’t have 4wd on their Jeep? What they never had a shovel or chains or kitty litter? This bill from caltran is garbage.

[@senseikivorkian]

never pay a bill unless it is justified and itemized. especially one form the government. If it goes to collections, never pay the bill because they can not itemize it. Do not negotiate with the collections agency. If they ding your credit, you can fight it with credit agencies and then sue the governement, the credit agency to fix the credit and zero out the bill. If they take you to court, then perfect, youve won.

[@puggsandgunsandthings]

This sucks. Fighting "city hall" is difficult but not impossible...good luck to this couple

[@Unleaded93]

Climate change fee!........ 😮

[@SAVITARTV]

That is ridiculous and that price I don't know what this world is coming to

[@highlymedicated2438]

I dont fuck with snow at all. thats why I live in a warm state

[@msrktmrider]

Called common sense. Just because you have a jeep doesn't mean it go's everywhere. Sounds like husband doesn't know snow thickness

[@user-np9sl8de8t]

Because its california

[@myshots101]

She said it all when she said all the bureaucracy.

[@MR21931]

Pay it...ya have the money for it!!! Welcome to America!!

[@benmartinez8443]

If the gate was closed, how did the get through?

[@royaldiadem_]

So bottom line if your ever get stuck in snow, call a TOW COMPANY right away and get towed out. Don’t call CalTrans first and snitch on yourself because you will receive a “thank you dum-dum” bill

[@JamesFAFOCreel]

Everybody knows that highway 2 has been closed for the last 30 years

[@eatabowlofshit]

This is the same county that just approved no cash bail. So this couple is not only stuck with this bill now but they also have to contend with all of the influx of criminals running around.

[@DeusEx.Machina]

Caltrans is a state agency. LA county has nothing to do with this incident. Stop being lame, and making everything circle back to your politics.

[@eatabowlofshit]

​@@DeusEx.MachinaIrrelevant, because you think the criminals care about that? Use your head. But let me guess, you're another KZbin criminal defence attorney who loves criminals, aren't you? That's why you got triggered by my post 😂

[@DeusEx.Machina]

@@eatabowlofshit blaming the wrong agency is irrelevant ? Also, you made too many wrong guesses, so it might be time to put the phone down lollipop.

[@eatabowlofshit]

@@DeusEx.Machina What? For the second time, it's irrelevant to criminals. What part of that don't you get, criminal lover?

[@undefeatedaj]

Caltrans uses kaiser’s fee schedule 😂

[@frankcerbantes9429]

So you can suit Caltrains and the collection agency and sheriff s and oh I forgot Giggle it

[@MrTmenzo]

Google maps does show when they close the 2 every winter. Just keep some bolt cutters with you and no need to call anyone 😁

[@espnmk]

Caltrans waist of good money

[@reyrayo2502]

Caltrans our finest brightest in society

[@gcgc6764]

Based on the story, it seems like they didn't reach the point where the gate was closed. Why did Caltrans need to open the gate for access? Maybe Caltrans just needed to remove snow for the tow truck to get to the vehicle.

[@kayblank]

I remember this!!! A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE STUCK and had to shelter in place because of a storm and a lack of road crew and salt. A lot of people ignored the warnings, one family had a relative bring an excavator and a ton of people were stuck for simply not having chains. I’m more annoyed that they didn’t bother to leave a note on the vehicle. They deserve that bill.

[@alejandrorodriguez-do7rj]

i love the name of the place they live, spanish for THE HAPPY ONES, sort of

[@TheGardenMG]

I see two full grown adults don't want to take responsibility for their own action.

[@bigpicturethinking5620]

Yeah these 2 are typical California deadbeats.

[@sonnyk4840]

🧃Juice bro... that's why they don't want to pay 😅

[@neckarsulme]

Caltrans is a joke

[@RR_1138]

Get a Subaru , the AWD is Chef’s Kiss 😘

[@ocelote1336]

What cost CalTrans $6,000.00?

[@imsleepingbeauty]

I don't know what bothers me more, the fact that they hitchhiked with strangers with their young children or the fact that it cost $6,000 to open a gate 🤔

[@marimunny9194]

Honestly it was a wise decision. Freezing to death in the snow is not good either. Not every person is a serial killer and I'm pretty sure they don't search for victims up a mountain in the snow.

[@ag-bk5wf]

Google maps hahah...how about carrying wheel chains and a small shovel while visiting the mountains with snow during winter!!!

[@RacerX1971]

For caltrans opening a gate is a lot of work

[@RAZ423]

The real lesson here is better to help yourself than ask for help from the government.

[@bstansbu]

She sure sounds exactly like the person in the 911 call. Same accent. Can even briefly hear a couple kids in the back ground of the first part of the call.

[@hamradiotimes5586]

Thats union wage to open a gate....

[@jplifee]

Don't go into the Backcountry without the proper knowledge or gear. They Should have found an off road recovery company that night. Should have expected this outcome involving the state.

[@camillechang7120]

That crazy

[@Liberalcali]

My car did fine there never got stuck

[@jackd9941]

Maybe don’t drive your family through the snow when your car is not equipped. Maybe don’t blame CalTran and instead admit that you should not have driven up that road. Common Sense people

[@martinaguilar5905]

the part mentioning about Google maps not showing the road closed is where people need to stop relying heavily on Google maps, Google maps does not show road closures, that is where you go to CalTrans website as well as CHP website for road closures. in metro cities like Los Angeles, there is a local radio station that is news all day and all night that announces traffic conditions including road closures every 10 minutes.

[@Dwn2Race]

Need money for Illegals, Drug Addicts, Homeless, and Politicians Pockets…. Plain and Simple….

[@GBCompton]

I don't know why KABC is giving these people a forum. They were told by the other drivers that there's a locked gate ahead. They went to the mountains unprepared, on a whim because it was a nice day. I can't believe they blamed Google! Lol

[@Wailwulf]

Actually, they got stuck in the snow, and folk coming back down told them it was locked ahead. Not that they were told it was locked and then went anyways. They got to where they got stuck without any information stating the road was closed.

[@brettb8825]

Pay up, you two. CA needs the money to provide free healthcare, housing and food to non-citizens who broke the law to enter the country. Sheesh.

[@dionafeworki2387]

Lots of coyotes 🦌 🦌 and bears 🐻 in those mountains san Gabriel Valley

[@tecter100]

Well, you have an income. Same thing happens to jaywalkers. The homeless with no jobs do it all day long, but the person who looks like they have an income gets the ticket.

[@thepeterchannel3230]

It's Not pronounced "Los Feel ez " It's pronounced " Los Fell ease" Lke "Feliz Navidad" Hire language experts and fact checkers and dialect coaches for your uninformed news channel . Hire only college graduates .

[@kikovazquez7277]

pronunciations of most spanish language place names have been Anglified for as long as English speaking people have been living in Southern California. "Los Angeles" itself is standardly Anglified from the correct pronunciation "Los (as in most) An-hay-lays". I've lived in Los Feliz for 40 years and Los Feelease is the standard pronunciation used by locals throughout the region including many assimilated Spanish speakers. You know...."when in Rome...."

[@RustyJeepHole]

It’s outrageous, but I really can’t stand the people who drive up there every winter. You could have avoided getting stuck and you could have got it out

[@Niggalodeon323]

it annoys you that some people try and enjoy snow during the winter??? 🤨🤦🏽‍♂️

[@Theortricesiii]

🤣

[@maureenbuck4795]

The local agencies have to get money any way from citizens for all the work they do for free for illegals.

[@zymurgyolloso6050]

They're lucky, other people have died up there.

[@Niggalodeon323]

definitely not lucky. we all saw where their car got stuck. didn’t look dangerous at all

[@Centurion92]

All the waste at cal trans is it any wonder they are hard up for money

[@goneshotboxedinstrumentals5336]

I worked in that highway about 4 years ago when it caught on fire it has been closed since then even when we were working up there we had that highway closed and some how people bicyclists vehicles kept getting around our full closure with the gate or even with out the gate people would cut through the chain and locks . Bicyclists would just go thru the sides so fuck em there’s a lot of signs warning everyone the highway is closed in about 2 miles then a mile but they still keep going and going 😂 fuck em don’t blame google maps also for dumbasses not paying attention to the warning signs that are in the road

[@24james]

Google maps and CalTrans are not their mommy & daddy. It’s not their responsibility to tell this people where not to drive.

[@Niggalodeon323]

when did either of them blame google/cal trans for not telling them where to drive? put the crack pipe down, sir. get some help 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@Yourmomshassole]

Wait a minute first of all why are they driving through the snow without chains? That’s a fine. and they have kids in the car driving in a mountain in snow without tire chains. What planet are these people from? You’re going to go up a snowy ass mountain with no tire chains and not even a shovel. You didn’t even bring a snow shovel like what the

[@michaelwells7348]

~ You should have Googled ..... How do I get my jeep out the Snow ~ First thing I would have done is put the car Mats or cardboard ~ Clothing Ect. Under those tires to gain Traction. You should have let other people help U ~ were U trying for a Law suit or Something ...

[@Niggalodeon323]

not gonna lie, michael. you don’t sound very smart 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@michaelwells7348]

It’s Ok, I know you don’t know things ~ I grew up in Snow Country ~ we got stuck in it, but we easily got un stuck, because we knew how. these people wouldn’t even be on The( News Looking Silly )~ if they had Googled how to deal with spinning tires in the Snow.....​@@Niggalodeon323