Seattle police patrolling lower West Seattle Bridge after reports of covered plates

Seattle police say they are conducting enforcement at the lower West Seattle Bridge at the request of Seattle DOT after reports that drivers have been obscuring license plates to avoid traffic cameras.

We’ll be conducting enforcement on the West Seattle Low Bridge, at the request of @seattledot, as some motorists have been covering or obscuring their license plates to avoid traffic cameras. https://t.co/4FadKDy828

— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) October 15, 2021

There’s a $75 penalty for using the low bridge without a permit. KIRO 7 reports that drivers caught with a covered license plate face a $231 fine.

Not just anyone can use the bridge along with emergency vehicles, freight, and transit. You must provide your license plate, meet eligibility requirements, and be approved by the Seattle DOT.

Those that may qualify:

• On-call medical workers (only for traveling to and from an on-call work shift; employer verification required)
• West Seattle-based restaurants and retail businesses (limited to urgent trips to pick-up equipment or supplies)
• Rideshare vehicles (vans, shuttles or official carpools with a state-issued rideshare license plate; This does not include Uber and Lyft)
• People traveling to and from lifesaving medical treatments (authorization from your medical provider required) via West Seattle; includes driving to treatments via the Fauntleroy Ferry.

If you don’t have a pass, you could get slapped with a $75 fine for every trip across the bridge. SDOT says the low bridge is restricted and photo enforced on weekdays from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on weekends from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The West Seattle high-rise bridge is expected to reopen in 2022.

Follow @http://twitter.com/Mynorthwest