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neighbors and too many cars

Started 3 years ago by BB
Latest reply from Gina

BB
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Anyone know what the regulations are w/ regards to parking on the street? I have one neighbor who rents out a couple rooms in her house. She contributes to 3-4 cars on the street. I also have other neighbors who are snowbirds and they park their 2 cars on the street while they are gone for the winter so their son can park his boat in their car port. Not trying to be cranky about it I just want one spot relatively close to my house.

Posted 3 years ago #
MrJT
Member Profile

My favorite link..

http://www.seattle.gov/Transportation/parking/parking72hour.htm

Speaking of...TR when are we going after all the Crown Vics on Californa around the Charlestown ? There is one still in the same place as when you took a picture on the day the Cafe re-opened.

Posted 3 years ago #
GenHillOne
Member Profile

I don't know about cars per home, but the snowbirds shouldn't be able to leave their cars (or a boat trailer for that matter I think) on the street for more than 72 hours without moving them. Does their son come move them every three days? Sounds like he needs to find boat storage and they need to park in their driveway - that would free up two spaces anyway!

http://www.seattle.gov/Police/forms/Abandoned_Vehicles.htm

They may not know that they are breaking the law though, so it might be nice to talk with them before reporting the vehicles (results in a tow).

Posted 3 years ago #
GenHillOne
Member Profile

MrJT types faster than I do ;)

Posted 3 years ago #
austin
Member Profile

"Under Seattle Municipal Code, people can only have 3 "running" cars on their property. Additional and non-running cars are a code violation."
-from
http://www.seattle.gov/police/prevention/Auto/JunkVehicle.htm

I don't know if this applies to street parking.

Posted 3 years ago #
BB
Member Profile

thanks all... I don't want to get them towed or anything. It probably wouldn't even be a problem if it weren't for 2 houses next to each other with so many cars.

Posted 3 years ago #
JoB
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you could come park in front of my house... but i suspect it would be a long walk to your car:)

Posted 3 years ago #
CB
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The police have a term for the real abusers - "car ranchers".

Posted 3 years ago #
What The
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"Jolly Ranchers" for us law enforcement folks from the South....

Posted 3 years ago #
JayDee
Member Profile

I believe there are also possible City of Seattle zoning code violations for having more than two unrelated people living in a single-family zoned house (may not apply in areas with single family homes, but zoned multi-family). Granted, they probably don't enforce the code, but it is still there. As with the traffic regs, one can likely find a section prohibiting everything if one looks long enough.

Posted 3 years ago #
jschu
Member Profile

A seeder aspect of too many vehicles is the consumption of Meth / or crack. People addicted to meth like to tinker on stuff. A cop friend told me they look for a bunch of cars in various stages of dismantlement. and 9/10 they have a meth or drug problem. I would not get involved!!Also warning... If you see them digging a big hole for no reason there is a problem there for sure. Let the cops handle it.

Posted 3 years ago #
MrJT
Member Profile

jschu - Huh ?

Posted 3 years ago #
littlebrowndog
Member Profile

Zoning regs say that up to 6 unrelated adults can reside in a house in a neighborhood zoned single family residential. That is why adult family homes (up to 6 elderly people, people with disabilities, etc.) can exist in a house without any type of neighborhood notification or hearing.

Posted 3 years ago #
jschu
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Question? Mr jt. Ask the cops its true.

Posted 3 years ago #
No More Same Old Same Old
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I am with jschu. If you see lots of cars propped up in a yard/street/alley in various states of disrepair, most of the time you will find tweakers or other drug users in the house. I've seen it and had to deal with it. It isn't fun or pretty.

Posted 3 years ago #
jschu
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thx- NMSOSO, You've noticed it too- Not sure what to do

Posted 3 years ago #
Anonymous
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BB, it doesn't matter whether you are "cranky" or not. What matters is whether or not your neighbor is in violation of the Seattle Municipal Code.

The Seattle Municipal Code
http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~public/code1.htm
addresses those issues, but it is difficult to find relevant ordinances using that interface.

Others have addressed parking longer than 72 hours on a street.

Regarding storing boats:
I think the relevant ordinance is
SMC 23.44.016 Parking and Garages
and in particular
D.8
"Trailers, boats, recreational vehicles and similar equipment shall not be parked in required front and side yards or the first ten (10)
feet of a rear yard measured from the rear lot line."

http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~scripts/nph-brs.exe?s1=23.44.016&s2=&S3=&Sect4=AND&l=20&Sect3=PLURON&Sect5=CODE1&d=CODE&p=1&u=%2F%7Epublic%2Fcode1.htm&r=1&Sect6=HITOFF&f=G

The Seattle Department of Planning and Development has jurisdiction
http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/compliance/
regarding boat parking.

Too close to driveway ordinance:
http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/transportation/parking/drivewaymarking.htm
SPD has jurisdiction: (206)625-5011 (non-emergency)

Too close to fire hydrant ordinance:
http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~scripts/nph-brs.exe?s1=&s2=fire+hydrant&S3=&Sect4=AND&l=20&Sect1=IMAGE&Sect3=PLURON&Sect5=CODE1&d=CODE&p=1&u=%2F%7Epublic%2Fcode1.htm&r=3&Sect6=HITOFF&f=G
SPD has jurisdiction: (206)625-5011 (non-emergency)

Parallel parking ordinance:
http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~scripts/nph-brs.exe?s1=&s2=parking+curb&S3=&Sect4=AND&l=20&Sect3=PLURON&Sect5=CODE1&d=CODE&p=1&u=%2F%7Epublic%2Fcode1.htm&r=13&Sect6=HITOFF&f=G
SPD has jurisdiction: (206)625-5011 (non-emergency)

Posted 3 years ago #
Garden_nymph
Member Profile

Scott B,

Excellent info; I love a man who knows his way around an ordinance! If I ever have a question regarding the big "O" I'll know who to contact.

Posted 3 years ago #
MrJT
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jschu - Thanks but I have a very direct link to the police, and have not heard that this is one of the big signs of illegal use of drugs.

This was more about neighbors that use up valuable parking space on the streets with their POS's for extended amounts of time. Your "dont get involved" / "not sure what to do" attitude tward the drug related activities is a bit disturbing. Thats exactly why these types settle in where they do.

There are plenty of resources available that are quite often mentioned right here on the WSB regaurding what can be done. Blockwatches, Community Safety Meetings for a start.

Posted 3 years ago #
Anonymous
Member Profile

MrJT,

One would think that a taxpayer's complaint about a violation of the Seattle Municipal Code to the people who are supposed to enforce that code would have an effect, but in my experience, some SPD officers are reluctant to enforce the code.

Posted 3 years ago #
MrJT
Member Profile

Scott B - There is no doubt about the fact that the City does little to nothing about thier parking enforcement unless there is a quick $30 ticket involved. No telling how many times over the last 5 years I have submitted complaints about the "fleet" of old police cars that park in the Calfornia / Charlestown area.

In reference to drug dealing/use jschu made the statement: "I would not get involved!!Also warning... If you see them digging a big hole for no reason there is a problem there for sure. Let the cops handle it."

WE are the front line for the police, to put and end to this activity and HAVE to be involved.

Posted 3 years ago #
BB
Member Profile

Super good info folks! I appreciate! It will help. I must say one thing.... I don't understand posts like:

"A seeder aspect of too many vehicles is the consumption of Meth / or crack. People addicted to meth like to tinker on stuff. A cop friend told me they look for a bunch of cars in various stages of dismantlement. and 9/10 they have a meth or drug problem. I would not get involved!!Also warning... If you see them digging a big hole for no reason there is a problem there for sure. Let the cops handle it."

Although I thank you for the info, how on earth did my post about snow birds, and a neighbor w/ renters bring thoughts of "cars in various stages of dismantlement" or "digging a big hole for no reason"? Thanks again for the help but lets not get too dramatic.

Posted 3 years ago #
WSratsinacage
Member Profile

I've been meaning to comment on the crown vics, again.. JT, I think we discussed previously how we must be neighbors. The crown vic owner has had 2 cars parked on the west side of CA near Andover and 2 parked in front of 4000 Andover/California for several months now. They have not moved and have all the dirt from the snow storm in December still on them. There are no parking sandwich board signs now on the east side of CA Ave so we'll see if they move the cars or get ticketed. He/she also has cars on 44th..

I know you and I have dropped a dime many times. It is a very frustrating situation. The police do not do anything even though there is a record of them breaking the ordinance for years now.

Posted 3 years ago #
Anonymous
Member Profile

MrJT,
I noticed that you wrote
"...I have a very direct link to the police..."

I then (probably unfairly, and definitely indignantly) wrote that
"...in my experience, some SPD officers are reluctant to enforce the code."

Your response to that makes me think that you also would like SPD to enforce the Seattle Municipal Code.

SPD parking enforcement officers and even the SPD squad that specifically targets speeders currently (January 2009) work "office hours" as far as I know.

Some "regular" SPD patrol officers whose shifts are non-office hours are reluctant to enforce parking regulations.

That is why it is important to keep records, and that is also why it is important to request contact by the officer when calling the dispatcher with a complaint. If you do not chat with the responding officer to explain your concerns/complaints, and also hear the responding officer's point of view, then it is more likely that the officer and any other officers in the future will do nothing. One would think it would be difficult for the responding officer to do nothing if he/she is presented with a printout of
http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/transportation/parking/drivewaymarking.htm
for instance.

The excuse given will be that the officer has discretion as to whether or not he/she will issue a citation. Then you will be informed that in the officer's opinion, your driveway was not "blocked."

It is important for citizens like us to keep records.

Here is what I do:

I maintain a spreadsheet on my home computer (and I back up my data) into which I try to enter all my complaints to SPD along with any/all pertinent information (time, date, my original specific complaint, license plate numbers and descriptions of vehicles that violate the ordinance(s), what the responding officer said and did or did not do, etc.).

The most important information:

1. The incident response number from when you called to complain or report a violation (ask the 911 or non-emergency operator for the incident response number... sometimes they will call it an event number).
2. Identifying information for the responding officer(s). Be polite and respectful when requesting identifying information. Explain that you have read that it is important that you keep a written record.

Two SPD officers and one SPD enforcement officer who were willing to write citations enforced the SMC against my problem neighbor by writing citations, and after my problem neighbor realized he/she/they would be cited, they conform to the SMC. The officers who were willing to write citations were outnumbered by the officers who were not willing to write citations, so I am thankful to the SPD officers who did the right thing.

A neighbor on the other side of my problem neighbor was eventually able to help with the noise from my problem neighbor after I found an interpreter, but that is a different/related issue.

For those who are plagued by partying neighbors:
Residential Disturbance:
http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~scripts/nph-brs.exe?s1=25.08.225&s2=&S3=&Sect4=AND&l=20&Sect1=IMAGE&Sect3=PLURON&Sect5=CODE1&d=CODE&p=1&u=/~public/code1.htm&r=1&Sect6=HITOFF&f=G

Posted 3 years ago #
Anonymous
Member Profile

Regarding the SMC Residential Disturbance:
No sound-level-measuring equipment is required other than
"...noise associated with the gathering is frequent, repetitive or continuous and is audible to a person of normal hearing at a distance of seventy-five (75) feet or more from the property."

Posted 3 years ago #
MrJT
Member Profile

Scott B - All good advice.
Weren't we talking about illegal parking ? Where did noise ordinance regulations come in ?

Posted 3 years ago #
WSratsinacage
Member Profile

I wonder if Crown Vic Lover reads the WSB because 4 of the 5 cars I mentioned here yesterday were gone today :) Or maybe it was the temporary no parking signs? At any rate, he/she seems to notice their cars on a daily basis since they get moved as soon as the orange sticker gets applied or in this case, the temporary no parking signs get put up.. which makes this all the more annoying. I was going to report these 4 as abandoned. Oh well, I know there will be another chance for me or the many others who are just as annoyed.

Posted 3 years ago #
WesCAddle
Member Profile

Am I the only one that has had people park in front of their drive way? This is a really strange deal for me. Two or three times in the last few months different cars have parked right smack in front of my driveway, completely blocking it. It is well lit, and obvious that this is the driveway to our house.

Both times the car has been gone after a few hours, so it is obvious they are visiting a neighbor, but I am not sure which one. We do have limited parking on this street, because you can only park on one side of the road.

Luckily, I didn't need to leave during the time they were parked there. I didn't want to call and have the car towed, because that would really suck for the owner...but one time I was really close because I was expecting my wife home soon. I called the SPD non-emergency line and she said they would send a car right over to ticket and tow the car. I told her to hold off, because I wanted to give the person a little bit longer to move the car. They eventually did.

It really just surprised me more than anything...how inconsiderate people can be.

Posted 3 years ago #
marianne
Member Profile

Regarding the Crown Vics- they are now on 44th between Andover and Charlston. Maybe moved because of the temporary no parking signs for street cleaning. Reminds me of a kid moving his cars around the sandbox.

Posted 3 years ago #
JimmyG
Member Profile

Have any of you that have to deal with the car ranchers ever contacted your city council person? I'd be interested to know their response.

Years ago it was 24 hours on the street and you could be hooked but constituents who had been towed when just gone for a short vacation complained to the city and got it lengthened to 72 hours.

Seems like this is exactly the kind of neighborhood blight (broken window theory) that a council person could jump all over to get the police to go after the miscreants and/or get an ordinance that specifically addresses what is so obviously a person not violating the letter of the ordinance so much as the spririt of it.

Posted 3 years ago #
mike0323
Member Profile

While I'm totally annoyed by car ranchers, and rude people(some dude keeps a limo in my hood), 72 hours on the street for a normal person who has no driveway is pushing it for a weeklong vacation. How much would it suck to come back to your car being towed, all because someone wanted a shorter walk to their house. In addition it fosters a pretty crappy neighbor bond when one neighbor is whining about another.

I think that Seattle could handle this better by requiring adequate parking when town homes are built. You can clearly tell the difference between a townhouse neighborhood and a single family zone. One being massively overcrowded with cars.

Posted 3 years ago #
sam-c
Member Profile

what about abandoned cars ON a property.
can you do anything about that ?
there's a boarded up house on Delridge that has a giant old brown car.
there's plants growing all over it.
it's ridiculous

Posted 3 years ago #
sam-c
Member Profile

mike 0323:

I agree. when living on cap. hill- in an 20+ apartment bldg with 6 parking spaces, we came home from Xmas trip on new year's day to find our car had been towed from its parking spot on the street. and we had to go get in on new years, because according to the police, it was going to be auctioned off the next day. I would've liked to thank the neighbor that did that.

Posted 3 years ago #
jschu
Member Profile

I told you it comes back to meth and drug abuse. Always the same circle. Look at the thread of each email. Crown vic- drugs- racism- drugs parking crown vic.

Is the crown vic still made? Is it Crown Victoria? Why are these popular with crack or meth abuse?

Posted 3 years ago #
MrJT
Member Profile

jschu - Lets see if we can get y'all back on the rails here... This is NOT about crackheads. It's about people who leave their cars parked for extended amounts of time on the street. The Crown Vic car rancher we are referring to is a cop wanna-be not a crackhead. He has parked his cars illegally for at least 9 years that I aware of in the Admiral area, and has yet to be busted for cooking. I have heard your message. Next time I'm whipping up a batch of crack for my homeies, I'll make sure the truck is in good running order in the garage to negate the chance of being popped by the man.

Posted 3 years ago #
jschu
Member Profile

what is going on in here? The discussion has gone astray. Looks like we have gone past the topic. Not to be racist (which I'm not) do you have a discription on the Crown Vic person?

Posted 3 years ago #
MrJT
Member Profile

jshu -The title of this thread is neigbors and too many cars. The "we" that is taking it off topic seems to you.

Yes, I have a description of him. Middle-age, Caucausion, Heavy for his height, Has all his teeth. Definately not a crackhead.

JenV, time to bust out the horsie picture...

Posted 3 years ago #
jschu
Member Profile

I give up. Try to stay focused on the problem. I can't add anymore. Lets agree to disagree. fair?

Posted 3 years ago #
No More Same Old Same Old
Member Profile

sam-c - Is this the Delridge house with old brown car you reference?

http://web1.seattle.gov/DPD/permitstatus/Project.aspx?id=1015988

Posted 3 years ago #
Anonymous
Member Profile

MrJT wrote:
"Weren't we talking about illegal parking ? Where did noise ordinance regulations come in ?"

My personal experience is that people who disregard the ordinances regarding parking are also likely to disregard the ordinances regarding noise.

The "Residential Disturbance" ordinance
http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~scripts/nph-brs.exe?s1=25.08.225&s2=&S3=&Sect4=AND&l=20&Sect1=IMAGE&Sect3=PLURON&Sect5=CODE1&d=CODE&p=1&u=/~public/code1.htm&r=1&Sect6=HITOFF&f=G
was written to enable SPD noise enforcement during quiet hours in the Seattle city limits without audio equipment.

The SMC website is IMHO not very useful. Since I had already provided URLs for (IMHO) useful SMC ordinances, I wanted to provide a URL for the
Residential Disturbance ordinance, which IMHO may be useful for Seattle residents.

Posted 3 years ago #
Anonymous
Member Profile

WesCAddle wrote:
"...cars have parked right smack in front of my driveway, completely blocking it."

I encourage you to stick up for yourself. Call the Seattle Police Department non-emergency number: (206)625-5011.

It is your driveway, and it should never be infringed upon except by legitimate official emergency vehicles. The Seattle Municipal Code specifically addresses driveways:
http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/transportation/parking/drivewaymarking.htm

Nobody cares about your driveway rights except you. If you don't complain to the City of Seattle Police Department, then nobody will enforce your driveway rights.

Good luck, and keep good records of date, time, license plate number, incident response number or event number, responding officer badge number, etc.

Posted 3 years ago #
Anonymous
Member Profile

mike0323 wrote:
"...72 hours on the street for a normal person who has no driveway is pushing it for a weeklong vacation."

Living in a society requires laws and/or codes of conduct. Whether you like the 72 hour limit or not, that is the current City of Seattle ordinance. You are free to try to change that particular Seattle Municipal Code ordinance.
[snip]
"In addition it fosters a pretty crappy neighbor bond when one neighbor is whining about another."
If you are in violation of the Seattle Municipal Code, then you are the person whining if someone complains about your violation.

Posted 3 years ago #
Anonymous
Member Profile

sam-c wrote:
"what about abandoned cars ON a property.
can you do anything about that ?"

sam-c,

Seattle Department of Planning and Development:
http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/Compliance/Codes_We_Enforce/default.asp

Posted 3 years ago #
sam-c
Member Profile

No More Same Old Same Old- yes that is exactly the house - and you can see the abandoned car on the google street view. looks like there are complaints against it already.

Scott B.- thanks for the link- maybe I'll report it again.

Posted 3 years ago #
beachdrivegirl
Member Profile

sam-c just chedked out the house and the anandoned car on teh google street view. Looks great. :)

good luck getting that taken care of....

Posted 3 years ago #
WSratsinacage
Member Profile

Hey Scott, just so you know I have had my drive way blocked before too and I did call the non- emergency number you referenced. It's not as easy as picking up the phone, at least in my case, it did NO good. In my experience, the non emergency number has only been a call center logging stats.

Posted 3 years ago #
beachdrivegirl
Member Profile

WSratsinacage I did that once too after an idiot blocked my driveway for hours on end. I waited and waited for the "tow truck" to show up. They never did!

Posted 3 years ago #
Anonymous
Member Profile

WSratsinacage and beachdrivegirl,

It has been my experience that some SPD officers who respond to a "too close to driveway" complaint will drive by then report "not blocking driveway" to the dispatcher. A minority of SPD officers will take action by issuing a citation.

It is important to keep written and/or computer records if you intend to "encourage" the SPD to enforce the SMC.

The first "gotcha" is the emergency/non-emergency operator's lack of capability to look up what happened without an event number or incident response number. Always ask the emergency/non-emergency operator for that number when you complain so you create a "paper trail."

The second "gotcha" is that some SPD officers will drive by, then report something to the dispatcher that clears the incident. Ask for contact by the responding officer. Ask the responding officer for his/her contact information (last name and badge number seems to be the minimum answer required). Make a note of that information and the reason for your complaint in your records so you can show an officer who responds in the future that you are doing what the system allows you to do.

For future incidents, present your evidence to the responding officer calmly and rationally.

Posted 3 years ago #
Trick
Member Profile

Bonnie, you just made my night!
I didn't even catch it until your post.
That is funny!

Posted 10 months ago #
Gina
Member Profile

And once nazi accusations make it into a thread, Godwin's Law is the result.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law

Posted 10 months ago #

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