Chapter 10.12
PARKING RESTRICTIONS
Sections:
10.12.010 Parking restrictions.
10.12.030 Impound of abandoned, unauthorized and junk vehicles.
10.12.040 Additional impound situations.
10.12.050 Junk vehicles declared a public nuisance.
10.12.060 Redemption of vehicles.
10.12.010 Parking restrictions.
Parking is restricted on county roads as set out in this section. The owner or operator of any vehicle parked on any of these restricted roadways in violation of the parking restrictions will be guilty of an infraction. The county sheriff shall provide for the removal and impounding, at the owner’s or operator’s expense, of any vehicle found in violation of these parking restrictions. The parking restrictions as specified on county roads are as follows:
A. No parking shall be permitted on rural roads.
B. No parking shall be permitted on urban collectors and arterials.
C. Parking shall be permitted on urban local access roads, except for the following urban local access roads:
1. Parking is prohibited on urban local access roads having a road surface of twenty-eight feet or less in width.
2. The county engineer may restrict or prohibit parking on an urban local access road upon a determination that parking poses a risk to public safety due to road surface, width, grade or alignment, driveways, intersections or other factors, and shall place “No Parking” signage at the location(s) where parking is restricted or prohibited. (Ord. CE 23-01-19B and TLS 23-06-32B Exh. A; Ord. TLS 09-05-25B Exh. A (part): Ord. 86-3 Am. 9; Ord. 80-38A; Ord. 80-93; Ord. CR 79-29; Ord. 69-2; prior code § 10.04.040)
10.12.020 Enforcement.
The sheriff shall enforce the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. CE 23-01-19B and TLS 23-06-32B Exh. A; Ord. TLS 09-05-25B Exh. A (part))
10.12.030 Impound of abandoned, unauthorized and junk vehicles.
Chapter 46.55 RCW, as adopted by the Model Traffic Ordinance, is hereby incorporated into this chapter regarding the impound of abandoned, unauthorized and junk vehicles. (Ord. CE 23-01-19B and TLS 23-06-32B Exh. A)
10.12.040 Additional impound situations.
In addition to any other provision of law or ordinance authorizing impound of vehicles, a law enforcement officer may provide for the prompt removal of a vehicle to a place of safety, including authorizing its summary impoundment, in any of the following situations that may arise locally upon the public right-of-way or other publicly owned or controlled property:
A. The vehicle is parked in a public parking lot or facility posted in accordance with RCW 46.55.070 exceeding the period posted;
B. The vehicle is parked in a public parking lot, public right-of-way or facility other than one posted in accordance with RCW 46.55.070 exceeding twenty-four consecutive hours;
C. The vehicle is stopped, standing, or parked in a public right-of-way at a location posted “no parking” with an official sign. (Ord. CE 23-01-19B and TLS 23-06-32B Exh. A)
10.12.050 Junk vehicles declared a public nuisance.
The storage or retention of junk vehicles, or parts thereof, on any public or private property in the county is hereby declared a public nuisance and shall be abated, and the vehicles or parts thereof shall be removed, including but not limited to impoundment, in accordance with the following provisions:
A. Unauthorized, abandoned, or derelict recreational vehicles parked within the county right-of-way for forty-eight hours are prohibited. Law enforcement or code enforcement will attempt to make contact with the owner requesting relocation within twenty-four hours.
B. If relocation does not occur, the deputy and/or agent will then post a notice to vacate or the vehicle will be impounded.
C. A law enforcement officer discovering an unauthorized vehicle left within the county right-of-way shall attach to the vehicle a readily visible notification sticker. The sticker shall contain the following information:
1. The date and time the sticker was attached;
2. The identity of the officer and/or agent;
3. A statement that if the vehicle is not removed within twenty-four hours from the time the sticker is attached, the vehicle may be taken into custody and stored at the owner’s expense;
4. The address and telephone number where additional information may be obtained to redeem the vehicle and personal effects.
5. If the vehicle has current Washington registration plates, the officer shall check the records to learn the identity of the last owner of record. The officer or his or her department shall make a reasonable effort to contact the owner by telephone in order to give the owner the information on the notification sticker.
6. If the vehicle is not removed within twenty-four hours from the time the notification sticker is attached, the law enforcement officer may take custody of the vehicle and provide for the vehicle’s removal to a place of safety. A vehicle that does not pose a safety hazard may remain on the roadside for more than twenty-four hours if the owner or operator is unable to remove it from the place where it is located and so notifies law enforcement officials prior to law enforcement contact to request assistance.
D. For the purposes of this section a place of safety includes the business location of a registered tow truck operator. (Ord. CE 23-01-19B and TLS 23-06-32B Exh. A)
10.12.060 Redemption of vehicles.
A. Vehicles or other items of personal property registered or titled with the department that are impounded may be redeemed only by the following persons or entities:
1. The legal owner;
2. The registered owner;
3. Occupant of the vehicle at the time of possession and noted within the officer’s report;
4. A person authorized in writing by the registered owner;
5. The vehicle’s insurer or a vendor working on behalf of the vehicle’s insurer; or
6. A person who has purchased a vehicle or item of personal property registered or titled with the department from the registered owner who produces proof of ownership or written authorization and signs a receipt therefor.
B. Condition of return is dependent on the registered owner and/or agent providing proof of current vehicle licensing and registration payment. (Ord. CE 23-01-19B and TLS 23-06-32B Exh. A)