FOLLOWUP: Law-enforcement changeover at Fauntleroy ferry terminal

| Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, earlier this month)

As reported here last week, the Washington State Patrol is taking over providing traffic-control/law-enforcement officers at the Fauntleroy ferry terminal, a role previously filled by off-duty Seattle Police. Though the changeover was supposed to happen last week, ferry commuters weren’t seeing troopers. Washington State Ferries explains:

In July, the Seattle Police Department (SPD) notified WSF that, as of Oct. 6, they would no longer be providing off-duty officers to help with traffic control at Fauntleroy and Seattle’s Colman Dock so they could focus on supporting city events.

As this law enforcement assistance is vital for getting vehicles on and off the dock at Fauntleroy, addressing line cutters, and making the challenging terminal work as smoothly as possible, we have been working on an agreement to have Washington State Patrol take over traffic control for both Fauntleroy and Colman Dock.

We expect WSP to begin working at Fauntleroy this week. Our terminal staff will be working with the new WSP officers to help train them on how to successfully manage the traffic at Fauntleroy.

The agreement is for troopers to be at Fauntleroy 10 hours each weekday during the fall/winter – 6-10 am and 1-7 pm – plus Saturday middays during the summer schedule. The agreement, provided by WSF, can be seen here (PDF), with the last page spelling out expectations of what the troopers will do.

Westie October 15, 2019 (5:45 pm)

Just drove by there. No troopers. Looked like a mess. I saw someone with Ohio plates cutting in line.

Lo October 15, 2019 (6:32 pm)

Why is there a police helicopter hovering over the ferry terminal

WSB October 15, 2019 (6:37 pm)

It’s not a police helicopter, it’s a TV helicopter. They are following up on our story.

Fauntleroy resident October 15, 2019 (6:38 pm)

Oh brother, it was bad enough at the dock with our awesome Seattle Police officers trying to keep peace and order. When do the State Patrol officers show up??? And now there is a helicopter circling and circling the Fauntleroy dock area, left earlier this afternoon, now back. What the heck?

WSB October 15, 2019 (7:23 pm)

As noted, the helicopter was TV, doing this story.

Anna October 15, 2019 (6:39 pm)

Yes, why is there a helicopter hovering this Fauntleroy ferry area this PAST HOUR?

WSB October 15, 2019 (7:23 pm)

As noted, TV doing this story. They were there for the 5 pm newscast and then back for the 6:30.

Upper Fauntleroy October 15, 2019 (8:02 pm)

Could understand if it was a police helicopter, but for a TV story??? It was FAR too intrusive hovering over the neighborhood for over 15 minutes. How is that legal???

WSB October 15, 2019 (8:06 pm)

This was the helicopter that KING and KOMO share, working in this case for KING, so if you have a concern, please contact them directly. I don’t believe any rule prohibits how long a helicopter can hover, however – altitude, and proximity to other aircraft are more the things that are regulated.
- Upper Fauntleroy October 15, 2019 (8:23 pm)
  
  Thank you!
- CAL October 16, 2019 (8:02 am)
  
  Hovering is not permitted.

CAL October 16, 2019 (8:01 am)

Can troopers give tickets? Will they walk the line Much like some of the fantastic off-duty officer did? Without that it can be hard to get in the driveway, and perhaps that helped curb line cutters at the wide portion at Trenton.

Fauntleroy resident October 16, 2019 (1:54 pm)

How much are Vashon residents contributing to the King County tax base to warrant this white glove service? All this fussing with no real problem or impact. Downtown construction delays Rapid Ride buses daily, but no one is calling local TV stations to cover it.

I swear, Vashon Island is the epitome of white privilege. A crime-free enclave with boat service and buses driving custom routes. A few days without traffic cops and it makes the news? Please. Check yourself, the WS neighborhood’s empathy is fading, and we are the only ones enabling this entitlement assumption. Seattle owes you nothing and King County should cite your financial liability.

WSB October 16, 2019 (2:32 pm)

As shown in the document linked at the end of the story, the officers are paid for by Washington State Ferries. Vashon residents certainly pay a fair amount into the WSF coffers. As for “makes the news,” the changeover is newsworthy, and that’s why we reported on it. Minus the somewhat hysterical spin the later TV report put on it, and minus the helicopter. – TR

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