Palos Verdes Estates, California

Palos Verdes Estates, one of the four cities on “The Hill,” is a predominantly residential city with a small population of just over 25,000.  Palos Verdes Estates, or “PVE” as known by some, is home to upscale homes and, in some areas, beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean.  Its residents are largely Caucasian, although there is a recognizable number of Asians and a very small number of Persians, Hispanics and African Americans.

The City of Palos Verdes Estates has its own police force, with its own small jail.  There are two cells for males, each capable of holding four prisoners.  There is also a female cell, capable of holding four females.  According to the police officers there, it has only been filled up completely one time.  The police officers have four or five police cars on patrol at all times.

“PVE” is a bedroom community for many who work in the general Los Angeles area.  There are really only two commercial outlets – one at Malaga Plaza and one at Lunada Bay.  The Malaga Cove plaza has a small general store, a Bank of America branch and many real estate offices, as well as a smattering of other office suites.  The Lunada Bay plaza also has a small general store, plus a liquor store, a pizza parlor, a Chase bank, a hardware store, a Japanese restaurant and a Mexican restaurant. 

The city is bordered by Rancho Palos Verdes to its south and east and Rolling Hills Estates and Torrance to its north.  To the west of the city is the Pacific Ocean.

Criminal matters arising in Palos Verdes Estates are heard in the Torrance Superior Court for state court causes of action and in U.S District Court in downtown Los Angeles for federal criminal matters.

The Torrance Superior Court, handling both criminal and civil cases, draw jurors from Torrance, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, El Segundo, Hawthorne, Lawndale, West Carson, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Lomita, parts of Harbor City and of course, Palos Verdes Estates.  Our office does the majority of its work in the Torrance courthouse.  We are experienced with all of the judges, all of the city prosecutors and almost all of the district attorneys.  We like to think of the Torrance courthouse as our “home court.”



The Palos Verdes Estates police do make a high number of traffic stops in the Malaga Cove area, nearly in front of the police station, as well as along Palos Verdes Drive West in the Lunada Bay area.

The second most common type of case out of PVE is domestic violence.  These can arise anywhere in Palos Verdes Estates.

Our office has also handled vandalism and marijuana cases involving juveniles arising out of PVE.  The city does not have too much of a crime problem.  The police keep active, however, in issuing traffic tickets and occasionally, finding a person in possession of a controlled substance or marijuana.

One reason the city has a relatively low crime rate is that it only has a few roads into it and out, making a safe exit from the city, perhaps after a residential burglary, tough.  To the north, there is just one route in and out and that is Palos Verdes Drive North, as it connects with Palos Verdes Boulevard.  To the south, there is only the connection with Palos Verdes Drive West as it connects with Rancho Palos Verdes.

For more information about common cases that one might face if arrested in this city, click on the following articles:

1. What Punishment Do I Face for a First-Time DUI?

2. What Is Vandalism and Graffiti (Penal Code § 594)?

3. What Punishment Do I Face for Possession of Marijuana?

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