King County Metro cracking down on park-and-ride violators
May 23, 2017, 9:46 AM | Updated: 12:30 pm
King County Metro is cracking down on park-and-ride violators. (MyNorthwest)
(MyNorthwest)
Park-and-ride users are not going to like this.
RELATED: Not so fast, I-405 off-ramp bypassers
In the same month that two Eastside lots are closing to become staging areas for Sound Transit light rail projects, King County Metro is stepping up enforcement at park-and-ride lots.
Customers started seeing fliers on their vehicles this week warning them of upcoming enhanced enforcement of the rules.
“Various rules and regulations are being enforced,” Metro Planner Daniel Rowe said. “It ranges from cars parked in undesignated spaces or fire lanes, [and] also includes those that are parking for non-transit-related purposes.”
KIRO Radio listener Jon received one of these fliers at the Kingsgate Park-and-Ride. It is one of four priority lots where this enforcement will be the most heavily concentrated. He said the lot fills by 7 a.m., and it’s frustrating that Metro is going after drivers who can’t find a place to park, especially when the agency is getting rid of two lots this month.
We asked Rowe if it is fair to increase enforcement right now when there is such a high demand for parking.
“Although we have let people get away with it for a while, we’re really reaching a tipping point here where the pressure at these park-and-rides is very, very strong,” he said.
What’s this mean for you, the park and ride user? These fliers will keep going out until June 12. After that, you will get a warning if your car is parked illegally. Those warnings do not come with a price tag, but if you get more than two warnings your car will be impounded.
Tell Chris about a Chokepoint or ask a traffic question @kirotraffic via Twitter.
