PARKING CONCEPTS INC. OF LOS ANGELES 1C - 2010

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City of Santa Ana Valet Services Procedures Page 5 Closing (temporarily) the valet station(s) is the last resort should demand far outstrip capacity and queuing become a roadblock. There are extra risks for a service provider when managing a valet parking program. Each time a customer is given a claim ticket and leaves his or her keys with the valets, a bailment is created, making the operator legally responsible for the customer's vehicle. To minimize the risks involved with this responsibility, there are several procedures that the valets will adhere to. Whenever possible, valets will back vehicles into spaces. This practice allows retrieving valets, who are usually more rushed, to be able to look forward as they leave the parking space, which is much safer than backing out. As many vehicles are equipped with automatic locking devices, we will teach valets to always remove keys before closing the doors of the vehicle. Radio volumes will be lowered and then the radio turned off so that the retracting antennas will lower. T he purpose of lowering the volume is to avoid startling customers when they turn on the radio after claiming their vehicle. Tickets should always be filled out completely by the valet attendants. Typical tickets have blank spaces for the location of the parked vehicle, the license plate, color, make, and model. Valets are often hurried and choose to ignore some of the information, but it can be worrying for a patron to wait and wait while valets look for their vehicle, and even more disquieting to be asked, after a while, to describe their vehicle. A claim check is handed to each patron when dropping off his or her vehicle. This claim check will have a unique, pre - printed number that corresponds to the portions of the ticket that goes with the vehicle. The claim check will have an area where the valet can note pre- existing damage. Whenever possible, each vehicle will be visibly inspected for damage while the patron is dropping it off. Damage will be noted, both verbally to the customer and on the ticket (in reality, this is rarely done). In operations where there is a great amount of activity and operational logistics preclude pre- inspection, valets will still do an inspection after they have parked the vehicle. Upon bringing a customer's vehicle to the porte cochere, valet attendants will turn off the lights, shut off the ignition, and remove the keys. They will then wait by the vehicle with the driver's door opened. As the customer approaches the vehicle, the valet will help them into the seat, verify the claim ticket (by matching the number to the identifying number on the other portion of the ticket that was retained with the vehicle), and hand the keys to the customer. This is done so that the customer does not inadvertently turn the ignition key to an already idling vehicle, causing ignition damage. Risk Factors to Eliminate We previously discussed procedures to reduce the risks involved in managing a valet operation. There are also several conditions and practices that should be reviewed and considered. As the valet operation is responsible for the vehicles in its care, hazards need to be evaluated and eliminated to make that responsibility easier. Parking facilities will be thoroughly swept daily to get rid of nails, screws, or other sharp objects that could cause a flat tire. Low pipes and exhaust ducts will be clearly marked and flagged so that valets will not hit them with their vehicles. Columns will be wrapped and ramps kept dry. Employees will also be well advised and supervised with the aim of reducing carelessness. Valets must not use vehicles as writing surfaces. Valets will be reprimanded for excessive speed or reckless driving. And they will never move a vehicle with a door even partially open, not even for a short distance.