WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Ferry-line cutting leads to 1 arrest, but not the line-cutter

| Crime | Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(Saturday photo, sent by Kenneth)

We found out more today about a case of line-cutting that led to an arrest on the Fauntleroy ferry dock Saturday afternoon. WSF spokesperson Ian Sterling says it started around 2 pm with someone who got cut off reacting very intensely. A third person a few cars back, according to the police report, drew a gun to try to defuse the situation. That didn’t really help. A tollbooth attendant called police, and ultimately the person who drew the gun was arrested; the line-cutter apparently left the scene. No injuries reported; the ferry at the dock at the time was slightly delayed because the captain opted to hold off until everything was sorted out. Sterling tells us that August is peak time for line-cutting complaints, which have been on the rise in general – the state’s special hotline for ferry-line cutting had 2,000 calls in 2017, 2,400 last year, and is on pace to likely exceed that this year. Mukilteo and Edmonds generally bring in the most complaints – for example, 39 last August in Fauntleroy, compared to about 200 in Mukilteo. You can report line-cutting to 877-764-HERO – it’s a $139 fine.

P.S. Back to Saturday’s case – records show the 68-year-old man was arrested for investigation of “use of a weapon to intimidate,” and that after two days in jail, he’s being released today.

T August 26, 2019 (4:56 pm)

This just shows how frustrated people are at cutting. Not the gun but the reaction of the driver who was cut in front of. Police need to see the violation in order to issue a ticket. We need police to monitor the line, not just direct traffic. Police are in a position to only see some of the line (cutting). Or it is possible for a vehicle to cut in a gap if police aren’t looking while directing traffic at the entrance to the ferry dock.The hero line doesn’t work, it just results in a letter or letters which may not even reach the driver. I let WSP know my concerns and recently SPD when they took over.When I last commented on this subject, some one felt like it was no big deal because the person cut off will likely not miss the sailing. That’s beside the point. My concern is the person waiting at the end of the line, doing the right thing, that is going to miss the sailing.

Luke August 26, 2019 (5:36 pm)

“Drew a gun to try to diffuse the situation.” I’ll never understand this logic.

AMD August 26, 2019 (7:41 pm)

Right? Lol, Darwin award material right there. In all seriousness, I’m glad it didn’t escalate the situation and get someone hurt.
Alex S. August 27, 2019 (12:34 pm)

–“Drew a gun to try to diffuse the situation.” I’ll never understand this logic. —Too much testosterone and too many John Wayne fantasies. There’s a classic Simpsons episode where Homer joins the NRA and uses his gun to try and control everything – including the lights inside the house. I think this impulsive need for some (pathetic) men to use guns as a tool in everyday life has a lot to do with these cases.
- Hutch August 27, 2019 (2:41 pm)
  
  It’s not just men, just so you know.
  - Sam August 27, 2019 (3:56 pm)
    
    Just so you know, the large vast majority of people who commit violence with firearms are men. White men in particular have been a problem. Don’t pretend to be ignorant to it.
    - run_dmc August 27, 2019 (7:32 pm)
      
      Um, the people of Chicago (most gun violence in the country year over year), NY, most of CA and vast swaths of the south might disagree. So, yeah – data.

eigenwijs August 26, 2019 (6:37 pm)

I can’t even. How on earth does one think that drawing a gun in an intense situation will diffuse things???

Jort August 26, 2019 (6:49 pm)

The good news is that the line-cutter did not succeed. Kudos all.

John August 26, 2019 (7:04 pm)

Incredibly bad decision on this gun carrier. He should lose his carry permit, if he has one.He should be proscecuted if he acted as reported for use of weapon to intimidate.

56bricks August 27, 2019 (8:00 am)

Sounds like you should be on a jury.

flimflam August 26, 2019 (7:27 pm)

what i do not understand is why the booth workers don’t turn a line cutter around and send them to the back of the line – who cares if you report it if there are no consequences?on a recent trip to Whidbey Island, someone cut the line a couple cars ahead of me and i was somewhat satisfied that when told, the ticket booth attendant made sure they would miss the next boat and directed them to a lane to ensure this. for me, not enough…end of the line!

Par August 31, 2019 (7:52 am)

The people in the booth are NOT cops and do not SEE them cut and do not want to get SHOT. DUH

WW Resident August 26, 2019 (7:35 pm)

Wow, pulled a gun to “difuse” an argument?!! Dumb de dumb dumb duuuuuuummmbb

TreeHouse August 26, 2019 (10:25 pm)

Why would he get arrested? I was told by my gun nut father growing up that more guns meant a safer environment! Maybe all parties here should have been carrying concealed carry weapons? /end sarcasm

Jethro Marx August 26, 2019 (10:58 pm)

The real crime here is that phone number- only in America would whining about someone cutting in line make you a hero. Real heroes get out of bed every day just like the rest of us, except then they use their superpowers to fight shadowy criminal organizations with cool acronym names like S.H.A.D.O.W or E.V.I.L.. Who will Washington declare a hero next? People who report their neighbors for not composting or leaving their car parked on the street longer than 72 hours? People who inform on their neighbors who keep a goldfish even though they live in a “no pets” apartment building? #america

hj August 26, 2019 (11:54 pm)

Found the line cutter
- rj August 27, 2019 (7:08 am)
  
  hero
  - KM August 27, 2019 (8:00 am)
    
    Haha.
Darlenemattox August 27, 2019 (12:36 am)

Jethrow- no, having a system that attempts to hold cheaters accountable is not at all similar to any of the ridiculous nonsense you pose. But, you are effectively fostering the snitches get stitches mentality that allows mob and gangs to control and terrorize communities who are too weary to stand up for themselves or their neighbors or anyone else. A person who reports a cheater is not the bully. A bully tries to quash the voice of the powerless- as Jethrow demonstrates.
- DH August 27, 2019 (7:29 am)
  
  Agreed! Line cutters are bullies and entitled. I like the solution that they should be sent to the back of the line every time.
- Jethro Marx August 27, 2019 (10:22 am)
  
  I’m sorry for encouraging mobsters and gangs to terrorize communities and quashing the voice of the powerless. I thought I was just humourously pointing out how whiny and ridiculous some people and governments are. I am quietly amused when people cut in front of me in any line. I, like Tom Joad, am waiting for the time when the last shall be first and the first shall be last and those who seat themselves at the end of the table are called to the seat of honor. But hey, what do I know? Off to another long day of bullying for me. Why, just a few minutes ago my daughter complained that the macarons she was piping weren’t round enough, and I quashed her six-year-old voice. #firstworldproblems
Morgan August 27, 2019 (12:45 am)

Wouldn’t you be a little miffed if someone cut in line after you patiently waited. All your examples are separate things. I mean I see your point with regard to the “hero” tag line – but that’s not really the point. It’s a simple way for folks to call out rule breakers.
- Paula A. August 27, 2019 (10:33 am)
  
  It happens to most of us every day when lanes are merged on a busy high, especially on one of the freeways where construction shuts down one or more lanes. Some drivers who KNOW that their lane is ending, rather than merging reasonably soon, try to drive in the ending lane up to the last inch before forcing there way into the through lane where others have been patiently waiting. I’d rather shoot them than a ferry-lane cutter any day.
  - KM August 27, 2019 (10:51 am)
    
    Paula, that’s the most efficient way to merge, and completely legal. The issue is with people who don’t use the lanes efficiently, and prevent others from merging because they are mad at them for zipper merging. I encourage you to start zipper merging and keep your gun at home.
  - M August 27, 2019 (11:09 am)
    
    That is how the lanes are supposed to work. If the engineers wanted people to get over sooner, they’d end the lane earlier! So few people in Washington understand this that there is actually a zipper-merging bill, HB1614, trying to get through the legislature to stop people like yourself from destroying traffic flow.
  - patient and polite August 27, 2019 (11:12 am)
    
    @ Paula A: That is called “Zipper Merge”, and is exactly what drivers are supposed to do! Use the lane all the way to the end, then merge like a zipper…It’s not about cutting in front or being rude, it is using the full capacity of the roadway.
  - CW August 27, 2019 (11:37 am)
    
    The drivers who wait until the lane is ending are doing it right https://youtu.be/0ypWx8PEFXI. It’s called zipper merging, and leads to more efficient traffic overall.
  - Jethro Marx August 27, 2019 (11:44 am)
    
    Traffic moves better when all available lanes are used as far as they last and people always leave enough space in front of them for another car to cut in front. Every traffic engineer knows this. Stop feeling so important and learn about traffic flow. If it takes an hour to go five miles, drive at 5mph; if you’re going 15mph, 0mph, 15mph, 0mph… You are literally creating worse traffic. #notahero
  - Don P August 27, 2019 (12:00 pm)
    
    Actually, as I understand it, traffic engineers recommend waiting to the last minute when two lanes merge and each car alternates going to the open lane. It’s called zippering like the way a zipper goes together.
  - WSDailyMerger August 27, 2019 (12:04 pm)
    
    Zipper merge is proven to work. It’s the rude drivers that give successful systems a bad name.
  - CAM August 27, 2019 (12:12 pm)
    
    A. Paula, please don’t shoot anyone for any reason. B. What you are describing is called a zipper merge and it is something that is successfully implemented in all other 49 states to reduce traffic jams but for some reason is beyond the understanding and abilities of drivers in Seattle.
  - Blbl August 27, 2019 (1:00 pm)
    
    Came here to pile on, but now I’m actually feeling a little bad for Paula.
  - Brian Hughes August 27, 2019 (5:41 pm)
    
    Hi Paula. A poem for you:Paula’s one of those of the pre-merging type”If you don’t merge way early, you deserve a crushed wind pipe!!”Shes a gun-toting hothead who can’t fight the urgeTo gun down selfish drivers who’d rather ZIPPER MERGE!You’re welcome. Yay 2nd amendment! The only thing that stops a bad line-cutter (or zipper-merger) is any idiot looking to exercise their right to blast away for any reason under the sun. Glad he spent a couple of nights in jail.
  - Scott August 27, 2019 (8:45 pm)
    
    Agree 100% about efficiency of zipper merging, but there are situations where it doesn’t work and people just abuse things…ie getting of WSF and merging onto I5 north, where the left lane already has to merge left (zipper merge, if done correctly) and the folks in the right hand lane who theoretically should be headed up to Columbia cut in at the last second. There, the zipper merge theory fails and for those of us in WS that is a common problem. And I have no problem making life miserable for the jagoff who tries to pull that stunt.
    - John August 28, 2019 (12:48 pm)
      
      Great example that we are all familiar with. If zipper merging at WSBridge & I5 is followed here the backup would multiply when drivers stop to merge just before the Do Not Cross solid double white lines completely stopping the dedicated Columbia Way lane. You occasionally see this now with stubborn drivers stopped, wiring for someone to allow them in.
    - Jon Wright August 28, 2019 (12:54 pm)
      
      That’s not a zipper merge situation because the lane doesn’t end. That’s just people cutting in line.
    - KM August 28, 2019 (1:30 pm)
      
      That’s an (illegal) lane change, not a zipper merge. Very different.
John August 27, 2019 (7:45 am)

Jethro, How would you feel if you had waited two hours for the ferry, only to have a car cut in causing you to miss the boat and having to wait for another hour. Ferry line cutting is fundamentally different that cuttng in line for a show or event where cutting does not cause the people behind to miss the event.
LK August 27, 2019 (9:35 am)

This phone number should be 1800-Be-A-Narc. Line cutting is lame but people really need to calm down and get some perspective. Maybe having a number to call makes them feel better and not succumb to road rage so I guess I’m for it.The only time I have taken the ferry I entered at the back, waited in the 4 hour line, and then was approached by a cop when I finally got to the head of the line and told someone reported me for line cutting. The man who reported me was absolutely shaking with rage I could see him stomping around in my rear view mirror, I think he wanted me arrested. Except that I didn’t cut in line. I assume he confused my red Prius with someone else’s.
- John August 27, 2019 (10:47 am)
  
  “I am quietly amused when people cut in front of me in any line.”Nuff said.
- John August 27, 2019 (10:54 am)
  
  Pretty remarkable tale, claiming that a man that was behind you red prius for four hours inching forward never paid any attention to the car in front of him, only to suddenly claim you had cut the line? Did you talk to him with the “cop” present to make your case? Did the “cop” believe you allowing you on board?
  - momosmom August 28, 2019 (7:33 am)
    
    Why, why talk to the person, if you know you didn’t “CUT” why must you talk, it just makes you out to be arrogant!!!??? And to quote un quote…to present your case was this in a Court room? LOL!!! Let the Police Officer handle it.
- Jon Wright August 27, 2019 (12:18 pm)
  
  “I took the ferry once so I am qualified to weigh in on ferry line cutting.”

Dick August 27, 2019 (12:32 am)

It is hard for me to understand the logic of displaying a gun to ease tensions. I am a carry permit holder who carries almost all of the time however it is self defense or the defense of others that compels me to carry a pistol. I have been challenged by a person who thought they could walk away with some very expensive camera equipment. I asked him if he knew what it was like to stop a bullet, all while holding my handgun in my hand in a pocket. he asked me to show it to him and I replied that it he ever saw it it would probably be the last thing he would ever see. He decided to leave without my camera gear. The key here is that I can threaten verbally and take on a posture that is menacing to a would be thief but in reality he would need to attack me before I would use my pistol for defense. I would not display it in a menacing manner for any reason except in a defensive manner.

Bradley August 27, 2019 (3:58 am)

Sorry, but you committed a gross misdemeanor by doing the above. You CANNOT verbally brandish/threaten that you have a firearm to stop a property crime in this state unless that person threatened to use deadly or injuring force on you. You’re lucky the creep didn’t call 911 on you and officers found you with your pistol, permit or not. Be more careful next time and review Dave Workman’s Washington State firearms laws manual.
psps August 27, 2019 (7:14 am)

LOL. “a carry permit holder” “self defense or the defense of others” “a person who thought they could walk away with some very expensive” ” it would probably be the last thing he would ever see” and the punch line “I can threaten verbally and take on a posture that is menacing.” Gee, I feel safer already knowing taking a camera is a capital offense. Bernie Goetz lives.
- Bradley August 27, 2019 (1:01 pm)
  
  Yes, Bernie Goetz lives because he was able to successfully defend himself against the deadly-force robbery from 4 large males.
John August 27, 2019 (7:41 am)

Dick, Your anectdote is ridiculous and unbelievable at best. As Bradley pointed out, you were the one commiting a crime. And the crime you committed would have worked just as well with firearm hidden in a pocket not existing. You describe a common ploy seen in movies with the pretend gun being a hand in the pocket.Either way,DICK, did you call the police?
- Jim August 27, 2019 (8:56 am)
  
  Hold on, John. Don’t be distracted by technicalities. Attempted robbery was THE crime there.
  - John August 27, 2019 (10:49 am)
    
    Attempted robbery was NOT THE crime there.
  - Jort August 27, 2019 (12:12 pm)
    
    Yeah! Citizen-imposed summary death penalties for stealing camera equipment! My camera equipment is so important I WILL KILL FOR IT! PEW PEW PEW I love my gun! PEW PEW!
56bricks August 27, 2019 (8:03 am)

If you see my weapon, I’m ready and willing to use it.
- Jort August 27, 2019 (12:14 pm)
  
  So brave! Such a hero! Pew pew pew!
- Nolan August 27, 2019 (12:30 pm)
  
  What, precisely, were you looking to achieve with your comment?

Kailen Berry August 27, 2019 (7:36 am)

As a Vashon commuter this saddens me. There’s virtually no signage instructing tourists on how to join the ferry line on Fauntleroy. “No parking” signs seem to have helped making it easier to decipher parked cars from ferry traffic during heavy commuting times. I’ve missed ferries because of line cutters, and I’ve had tourist family members be confronted by residents when accidentally cutting in line despite my instructions to help them navigate the process. When ferries run about every 40 minutes is it really worth getting upset about? We all need a bit more compassion and understanding, even when stress levels are a bit high during our daily commute.

amen August 27, 2019 (8:31 am)

amen
John August 27, 2019 (11:13 am)

Compassion and understanding imply innocence. Yes act with compassion and understanding, but with intentional line cutting scofflaws? NO!Compassion and understanding for those who upon learning the rules, follow them. I would be mortified, if I innocently made such a blunder and I would apologize while moving to the end of the line.What is the understanding though, of an intentional illegal act being exposed and then following through? You cut the line. You are confronted. You force your way on. Understanding? Compassion?Your claim about a ferry almost every 40 minutes makes no mention of the regular delays, sometimes hours. Nor the days when the schedule has 80 minutes and more between boats. People have schedules, appointments and should not be forced to abandon them due to scofflaws.When you intervene with tourists instructing them to go to the back of the line, I don’t understand what the issue was after they move to the back?

56bricks August 27, 2019 (8:14 am)

I did this commute for 13 years and there are line cutters. But I’ve also been kicked to the back of the line because some cutie flashed her smile because she was so busy doing makeup she didn’t notice the line had moved a few hundred feet forward and then complained to the booth. I liked how the state patrol guy puts his hand on his sidearm while talking to me. Big scary white guy and all. (Me)

Matt P August 27, 2019 (11:17 am)

It doesn’t make sense to cut in that situation, just honk.

helpermonkey August 27, 2019 (8:28 am)

maybe the state should move the ferry out of this crowded residential neighborhood. Maybe move it down to Harbor Island, where there is much more room (and dedicated traffic lines for vehicles, not on the street!) and much less chance of a resident getting shot because some fool with a gun thinks that’s the way to solve a problem. Enough of this already. Move the damn dock. It doesn’t belong here anymore. Maybe back in the day when WS was a sleepy little burg and Port Orchard and Vashon weren’t bedroom communities sending thousands of people over every day it made sense, but now it is just ridiculous.

Sam August 27, 2019 (8:51 am)

Agreed, sending automobile traffic to places like fauntleroy worked 20+ years ago when the region had a fraction of the population. The city just treats it like business as usual and there is no political will to limit or redirect private motor vehicle use. The time for a driving free for all has long passed.
Ivan Weiss August 27, 2019 (9:00 am)

The single most predictable knee-jerk response on any thread that involves the Fauntleroy Ferry Dock is that someone will demand that it be moved. Here’s a clue for you: It isn’t happening.
Bradley August 27, 2019 (12:50 pm)

Lining up for the Fauntleroy ferry and getting in and out of West Seattle is far easier than lining up for the Bainbridge Island ferry and getting in and out of downtown.

WsMom August 27, 2019 (8:29 am)

People – try to remember that if you are new to the area, what makes common sense to you might not to people who have never taken a ferry before. Assume good intentions! About 20 years ago when my husband and I were new to Seattle, we chose to take the ferry for the first time. We thought we were doing everything right when a ferry worker informed us that we had cut the line. We were moved to another lane and put on the next ferry. It was embarrassing but fair. Never made that mistake again!

LS August 27, 2019 (9:38 am)

Agreed!
John August 27, 2019 (11:22 am)

Agreed. You did the responsible sensible thing rather than insist that you are entitled to your stolen place in line. It is the intentional unreasonable people that need to be addressed by enforcement people.

Stephanie August 27, 2019 (9:23 am)

Thank you, our first time on the ferry we were badly mislead by the signs (and lack thereof) and ended up in the line, and aggressively confronted by other people in the cars with our 1 year old in the backseat. Frankly it tainted the entire day out and we have not been back since.

John August 27, 2019 (11:24 am)

Stephanie,Good thing it didn’t happen at the super-market line!

John August 27, 2019 (10:41 am)

Great anecdote Bricks,I can’t tell from your description if you passed the ‘cutie’ doing make-up? Did you?

John August 27, 2019 (11:18 am)

Compassion and understanding imply innocence. Yes act with compassion and understanding, but with intentional line cutting scofflaws? NO!Compassion and understanding for those who upon learning the rules, follow them. I would be mortified, if I innocently made such a blunder and I would apologize while moving to the end of the line.What is the understanding though, of an intentional illegal act being exposed and then following through? You cut the line. You are confronted. You force your way on. Understanding? Compassion?Your claim about a ferry almost every 40 minutes makes no mention of the regular delays, sometimes hours. Nor the days when the schedule has 80 minutes and more between boats. People have schedules, appointments and should not be forced to abandon them due to scofflaws.When you intervene with tourists instructing them to go to the back of the line, I don’t understand what the issue was after they move to the back?

Fauntleroy mom August 27, 2019 (12:05 pm)

I Live by the ferry. I had a car in my driveway with a woman and her daughter in tears. I approached them and asked if the were ok The were so upset by the experience of the ferry line. They were out of towers following a GPS to get to Port Orchard. There was little direction for them and the ferry goers were extremely hostile towards them when they tried to get into the line, not realizing it was backed up much further. What a terrible experience for them. I gave them instructions for the ferry but they were so upset they asked if there was another way. I explained the long way south and around. They choose the long way. I gave them each a bottle of water and sent them on their way. Shame on you ferry riders for being so aggressive and mean. I’m not condoning cutting in line but there are ways of handling things. Aggressiveness and hostility is not one of them.

Someguy August 27, 2019 (1:09 pm)

I cut the line all the time right at the booth. However its part of my contract. Ferry employees can skip all the traffic when going to and from our shifts. You would not believe the rage of passengers that i have experienced over the last couple years. I had one woman throw her soda at me once i parked and another try to break my car window. The advice i have for people is to keep your cool. Report the cutters and dont escalate things. The person cutting in line could be a ferry employee and attacking a ferry employee can result in a ban/ no trespass order from wsf.

Sam August 27, 2019 (2:50 pm)

Is assaulting a ferry worker a felony like assaulting a bus driver? It should be.
- Randomperson August 27, 2019 (3:41 pm)
  
  I dont think it is as the reason for bus drivers is that they are piloting a vehicle transporting passengers. I believe attacks on ferry crew are treated as regular assault cases but it doesnt happen very often. They will more thsn likely throw the book at whoever does it

Random guy August 27, 2019 (1:30 pm)

I cut the line occasionally. However i do this because i have it in my contract to do so. Ferry employees get priority loading while heading to and from work. This is because the coast guard requires a certain number of crew onboard the vessels and if we are missing crew we cannot sail with passengers. Meaning if an employee is late because they were waiting in a ferry queue for 2 or so hours it can throw off the whole run.I have had lots of run ins with angry passengers, one lady threw her full soda at my open window (i was so glad she missed) and another passenger tried to break the window on my car. So keep in mind, attacking a ferry worker can land you with either a temporary or permanant ban from WSF. Keep your cool and report it if the dock does nothing dont get angry at the ticket takers it was probably an employee heading to work.

KM August 27, 2019 (2:04 pm)

Can someone jog my memory, if you are headed N on Fauntleroy (as coming from the Endolyne area, headed toward Lincoln Park) is there signage telling you how to access the ferry line? I have known how to line up for this ferry for decades, but I’ve seen people in front of me pause, unsure of what to do. If there is signage, better signage might be needed (I don’t drive this direction frequently and can’t recall). When there is an officer directing traffic, I imagine they don’t have time to interrogate drivers turning left into the ferry line from NB Fauntleroy. Also, never knew about the jump ahead for ferry workers–wasn’t even on my radar.

Ak August 27, 2019 (8:31 pm)

Nope is a no left sign at the ferry docks but it’s hard when you are coming this direction to know when the line ends. We came this direction with some extended family who was visiting from out of town a few weeks ago (he was in a separate rental car). We are local but have never taken the ferry on a busy Friday afternoon so we’ve always just pulled straight into the dock or close to. It was 1:00 and there was quite a line up but also a lot of parked cars since they are allowed to park til 2 (this seems like the first problem that could easily be resolved). My husband turned into a dead end and then made a left onto Fauntleroy when he thought we were at the end of the line. When we got on the ferry some guy gave my uncle quite an earful that he cut the line. We had no idea and my uncle had no idea why the guy was yelling at him. We thought everything behind that point was parked cars. It’s very confusing!! Based on these stories just glad all we got was some guy yelling at us.
John August 28, 2019 (12:56 pm)

Usually in this age and age if you see someone pausing while driving it is to look at their iPhone. Most likely getting the apps to point out ferry lineup and protocol is far better than adding more confusing signage. A life long Fauntleroy Ferry rider, I am aware of the vast increase in signage and hashmarks on the pavement specifcally for the ferry que. Every day these are ignored by the slowly creeping line-up.

sam-c August 27, 2019 (3:05 pm)

Yes, I hate line cutters also, but it seems like people in the ferry line have gotten a lot more angry and aggressive in recent years. One more than one trip to the Lincoln Park, my kindergartner has gotten quite an earful of ‘bad’ (ie, ones that aren’t published on WSB) words. I’ve seen some shockingly angry and threatening people in line.

Lola August 27, 2019 (3:32 pm)

Paula,It is called the zipper merge for a reason. But the ones I hate are the people who are waiting paitently but then decide that it is a good idea to merge over to the right where the oncoming traffic is merging on making me have to break for their stupidity, they think it is an actual lane until they realize it is the merge lane. Yes Cutters should have to go to the end of the line.

Brian Hughes August 27, 2019 (5:52 pm)

I was riding my bike northbound on Fauntleroy. One car was parked in the southbound lane, blinker on, trying to cut in. People in line wouldn’t let him. Southbound through traffic was backed up all the way to the gas station. Maybe a combination of better signage (earlier, bigger, legible, etc) and enforcement (motorcycle cop buzzing the line, or heck – even a Segway) would go a long way.

Random Worker August 27, 2019 (11:30 pm)

Just another tidbit from another random ferry worker. Additional signage has been requested at Fauntleroy. Repeatedly. WSF cannot place street signs though, only the city of Seattle can. They haven’t. Please understand that we try our best, summers are hard, tempers are high and there are only certain instances where policy allows us to send vehicles to the end of the line. Thus the hero cards. This event has crushed our employees feeling safe at work. How would you feel if someone pulled a gun at your workplace and then was out of jail 48hrs later? We are all human. Keep calm, have compassion for unintentional line cutting mistakes (they’re usually apologetic and go to the back, just be nice about informing them), don’t be an entitled A-hole, and please do call 911 if you have an altercation in line. Calm seas and fair winds to everyone.

Stickerbush August 28, 2019 (8:44 am)

For some reason SDOT has never been able to do good signage. There are very few signs directing downtown drivers to I5 or to SR99. And the new signage to get on SR99 South from Mercer is woefully inadequate. I don’t know if this is due to incompetence or it’s by design but it’s been a problem for decades.

ScubaFrog August 28, 2019 (5:50 pm)

You do not EVER brandish a firearm unless you intend to use it. To add to that, they should only be brandished in life-or-death situations. Not when someone cuts in line. Looks like it’s second-degree assault for this jabroni, and a permanent loss of the ability to own firearms. Gun owners, you have got to know these things before you buy a gun. Know the rules before you get your CCW, and take a class with your local Police Department. Ask Questions. Know the Laws. Moreover, if you have a temper: Don’t own a gun. You don’t get to police the world. More Americans need to not own guns, anger is a mental health issue and should discount many from owning guns (and driving).

Sorry, comment time is over.