<modsnip: Quoted post was removed>
@data_nerd_2005 - you mentioned "street signs that said no parking 2AM-4AM". If you remember exactly where the signs were, maybe you could check Google Maps historic street view to see if those signs were there 4 years ago. From a certain viewpoint on street view, there's actually Jan 2017 imagery of the exact spot Elaine's car was found - you'll see the blue and white small bus.
People sleeping in cars seems to have increased considerably in the past 4 years and maybe those signs were more recently installed to discourage doing so in the area. If the signs were there in 2017, you have a great point about the absence of a parking ticket. If they were not there, maybe that could explain why a car could sit there for 5 days without getting a ticket or towed. LA is about as fervent as NYC in ticketing illegally parked cars.