Parking + Impound

[emily1981]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? WA

I am fairly new to WA and pay-to-park lots. After receiving a parking ticket in Seattle (09/07) I take great care to make sure I watch for signs and keep my car parked legally while in the city.

Saturday night I parked in a lot (Bonney-Watson; evening rate: $3.00 5pm-7am), double checked with some locals that I was reading the sign correctly, paid the box, went on my way. When I arrived back at my lot a few hours later I found my car was gone, it had been impounded for non-payment.

I called the number on the sign, located my car, and two hours and $410.00 later got vehicle back. I was told by the tow driver that they are either shown or take a photo of (not sure which he said as I was frustrated?) the empty box prior to their tow to ensure that they, as a third party, are within the rules before towing a vehicle. I know I put my money in the slot, though, as it was cash, I have no proof of that any more than they or I have proof that the money wasn't removed by unethical practice prior to the towing of my vehicle. I also have a $35.00 ticket that I need to pay within the next 14 days for the hour between their first check and the impound.

I have called the Bonney-Watson people to inquire if their lot is monitored by video surveillance and was told to by the answering service to call back Monday during business hours, which I will do. Other than that I don't know what my best options are right now.

Please advise: On principal I know this is wrong but do not know what my rights are in the matter, what chance I have of getting a just outcome to it, or even what route is correct to take in contesting this.What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

[patstew]

Don't say "yes" to this immediately -- think about it first.

Assuming that there are separate boxes for each space, are you ABSOLUTELY SURE you put the payment in the right box?

[racer72]

Take the $35 "parking ticket" and tell them to stick it where the sun don't shine. It is illegal in Seattle for private parking lots to fine folks for illegal parking.

[emily1981]

Thanks for the replies! I am still trying to weigh out my options on this one.

I am sure that I paid the right slot. After I pulled in and got out of the car I went to the sign to check the charge. After checking with the other people in the lot (they'd arrived just after me) I went back to my car to grab my money and belongings. I even went back to my car to, I guess triple, check the number on the space itself, '41', with the slot right on the side of the box, not in the middle of a row, plain and simple. I know I'm a bit excessive with the city parking, but my introduction to "You have to pay to park here?!?!?" was by way of a parking ticket, you know? I'm overly cautious and yes, I'm positive I both parked and paid for #41.

As for the $35.00 ticket. I would LOVE to burn it in my fireplace (!!!), but there's this whole thing on it informing when and how to pay and dispute the ticket, and about how they can report to collections at 45 days. I'm a by the books kind of kid, I'm not into screwing myself over, or even tempting it, so thank you for the advice on that, but I'm going to follow the instructions on the ticket to just to be safe I think. Safe should have kept me out of this mess to begin with, but I definitely don't need to complicate it or my bank account any further by taking a mis-step now.

[emily1981]

I have an update about the situation above and a few more questions if anyone has some input.

I have filed a letter to contest the parking ticket (the $35.00 bit). I had to delay this matter until today due to my loss in money from the impound, but I went today, took photos, wrote a nice letter and delivered it with the original of my parking ticket and my payment to the address on the ticket. It was a mailbox, but luckily (I think) it was inside a copy shop, and the girl gladly wrote up and signed a sort of receipt saying it was in the box as of today and that the item was received.

I also noticed on my ticket, all the information is filled out as one would expect, except there was no ticket number to reference, though it plainly states "include ticket number with payment" multiple times. I question the validity of a ticket that has no tracking number associated with it, which I also included as an aside in my letter. Despite that, I have paid the money and requested and done as the tickets instructions have informed me. It all seems a bit dodgey to me, but I feel good that I am doing things the right way and keeping faith that by doing so the situation will right itself.

My next steps are to wait and see how contesting the ticket works out and hope for the best, and to look into going to small claims as well for the cost of my impound.

I am curious if anyone can advise: who is the responsible party for the impound? I don't know who makes that call, but I feel it would be the owner of the lot. The city's 211 service can help direct me to where to go to file the claim but if there's any other information I should be aware of or things you think I may overlook, please share.

Thanks in advance.