MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Ticket stands for Port Angeles teacher, others cited for visiting Olympic National Park

Oct 16, 2013, 11:04 AM | Updated: 12:05 pm

The U.S. attorney is refusing to dismiss tickets issued to people who ignored signs and visited Oly...

The U.S. attorney is refusing to dismiss tickets issued to people who ignored signs and visited Olympic National Park. (AP file)

(AP file)

A $125 citation given to a Port Angeles teacher and several others for visiting Olympic National Park will stand for now, after the U.S. attorney refused to dismiss them despite a request from local law enforcement officials.

Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict and Port Angeles Police Chief Terry Gallagher asked U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan to dismiss the “closure violation” tickets issued to people who stopped at a trailhead Saturday at Olympic National Park.

The law enforcement officials told the Peninsula Daily News it was absurd for the ranger to issue the tickets Saturday and it shows a lack of discretion.

“I don’t have a problem with the ranger enforcing the closure,” Gallagher said. “But the choice to issue citations was entirely discretionary.”

KTTH host David Boze agrees.

“Law enforcement officers have a bit of discretion all the time. People speed by, they decide do they deserve a ticket or not,” says Boze.

Durkan says those ticketed drove past signs saying the park is closed. There were barricades also indicating the park closure. But teacher Kelly Sanders says she thought just facilities, not parking lots were closed and there was plenty of room to drive past a barricade with a sign indicating the park was closed.

Those given a ticket can still appeal in federal court, but they’ll have to drive all the way to Tacoma to do it. Sanders says she plans to do just that.

Park spokeswoman Barb Maynes says it supports the way the ranger did her job. Three citations were issued at the trailhead and two more were issued to bicyclists near Quinault who were asked to leave the park.

“Who gives a rat’s hiney whether there’s a barricade there?” laments Boze. “Why is there a barricade there? Why are we spending money and time and resources to put up a barricade at all for a parking lot? When Wal-Mart closes down people still park at Wal-Mart.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report

MyNorthwest News

Photo: On Monday, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced there will be 16 new preschool classrooms across Se...

Julia Dallas

Harrell’s office announces Seattle preschool slots for thousands of kids

Thousands more families will have the chance to start their children's Seattle preschool education earlier, thanks to a program launching.

8 hours ago

Digital...

Micki Gamez

How parents can help prevent children from falling victim to online sex crimes

Chances are, if your teen has a cell phone or tablet, they either know someone or they have been the victim of an online sex crime because kids as young as seven are online more than ever. My interest in this story began almost the same time last year when my daughter came home and […]

12 hours ago

Pierce County Jail...

Bill Kaczaraba

Pierce County Corrections chief at odds with the employee guild

The Corrections Bureau's Guild has issued Patti Jackson a vote of 'no confidence,' as reported by The Tacoma News Tribune.

14 hours ago

Image: A Seattle Police Department vehicle seen during the day...

Sam Campbell

Security guard stabbed, suspect barricades inside Beacon Hill apartment

SWAT officers surrounded a complex in Seattle's Beacon Hill neighborhood after police said a man stabbed a guard barricaded himself inside.

16 hours ago

seattle indecent exposure...

Frank Sumrall

Seattle man arrested for 14 counts of indecent exposure, most near schools

A 34-year-old man was arrested by Seattle police (SPD) in connection to 14 counts of indecent exposure near Lake Forest Park.

16 hours ago

Federal Way shootings...

Bill Kaczaraba

Federal Way Police say two shootings are related

Police believe two shootings in Federal Way are related.

18 hours ago