48,200 cars in 13 days: Hollywood Hills neighbors sue city over gridlock

Los Angeles traffic cameras recorded 48,200 vehicles passing through the Hollywood Hills neighborhood during a 13-day period this summer. That volume represents a 15 percent increase compared to the 42,000 vehicles recorded during the same window in July 2025. The surge in traffic has prompted a group of local residents to file public nuisance lawsuits against the City of Los Angeles.

The lawsuits do not seek monetary damages. The plaintiffs are asking a court to issue an order compelling the city to maintain the area free of obstructions, health hazards, and fire risks. The filings argue that the crowds cause traffic jams that could make evacuation during a fire difficult or impossible. They also note that discarded cigarette butts are common in an area where smoking is prohibited.

Cindy Cobb, who has lived in the neighborhood for eight years, stated that the frustration level has reached its peak. The group joined forces with attorney Ilan Wurman, whose firm previously won a judgment to clear an encampment in Phoenix in 2022. Wurman said cities have an obligation to maintain public rights of way free of nuisances in the same way private landowners do.

City officials have taken some steps to manage the flow of visitors. In a statement, Mayor Karen Bass' office noted that the LAPD has dedicated additional units for traffic and parking enforcement during peak periods. The office said LAPD has also collaborated with the LA Department of Transportation to implement a traffic plan for the area. Bass, who is running for re-election, said in May 2026 that she would ensure increased enforcement.

LA Councilmember Nithya Raman, who represents the district and is also running for mayor, said her office has funded additional police and transportation presence. She described these deployments as the largest investment her office has made to date. Her office identified funding for a pilot Hollywood Sign Traffic Management Plan that will test new staffing and traffic control approaches on peak visitor days and holidays. The plan aims to have a strategy in place ahead of the 2028 Olympics.

Residents point to specific incidents that illustrate the danger of the congestion. In September, a fight broke out between e-bike riders and a car driver underneath the Hollywood sign. Los Angeles Fire Department crews have had to weave through heavy traffic to reach nearby fires. Max Martens, a neighbor, documented a fire engine stuck on a narrow road filled with cars. He said he has witnessed police, ambulance, and fire vehicles get caught in traffic snarls, delaying response times.

The neighbors said they decided to sue after years of complaints to the city had little impact. They argue that social media and mapping apps have drawn large crowds to the landmark. Unlicensed food vendors accompanying these crowds leave behind plastic gloves, sanitary wipes, and used toilet paper. The city installed new signs in mid-May to restrict parking on weekends and holidays, but Cobb said the city's attempts have not mitigated the situation because there are simply too many people in too small of a space.