Torrance residents concerned about traffic from neighborhood holiday light display

TORRANCE, Calif. (KABC) -- Now that the holiday season is underway, the Sleepy Hollow Holiday Lights Extravaganza is back in Torrance.

The display, which has been around for at least 30 years, attracts visitors from all over Southern California, but some neighbors do not appreciate the amount of traffic the attraction brings.

Mario Obejas' home overlooks one of the most congested areas near the display.

"I'm not a Grinch. I'm happy that people come here. I want people to come here," he said.

He and some other neighbors want the police to restrict driving to residents only during peak nights.

But Torrance Police Sgt. Paul Kranke said residents only driving is unrealistic.

"We're always open to suggestions, but we still have to find the best approach to this," he said. "Who has the authority to restrict people from driving in there? And how would we check for passes? It's very hard because you do get a lot of traffic down there."

This year, the department is assigning seven officers to the neighborhood during peak nights. Last year, some residents did not seem to mind the traffic.

But Obejas wants the city to be more creative. The head of the neighborhood association said only 52 people out of the 1,200 residents living in the area turned up to a meeting voicing their concerns.