West Seattle vehicle-licensing office closing permanently after Tuesday, county says
Last Friday, a reader told us they’d heard that West Seattle Licenses – the longtime vehicle-licensing office at 5048 California SW – would close at year’s end. We went to the office to ask; they would not comment. Though you might think that these offices are part of the state Department of Licensing, they’re actually “sub-agents,” and their contracts are administered in this area by King County, so we contacted the county next, and were told Friday that negotiating were continuing with WS Licensing, and to check back this afternoon. We did – and tonight county spokesperson Cameron Satterfield replied with this statement:
The contract between King County and West Seattle Licensing Agency will terminate on December 31, and the agency will permanently close at the end of the business day. This only affects WSLA – other licensing subagents in King County have new contracts going into effect on January 1.
There is a process for selecting a new licensing subagent for the West Seattle area, outlined in state law. The timeline for that process is still to be determined. However, it will likely take at least couple of months to select a new subagent for West Seattle and for them to open to customers.
In the meantime, West Seattle residents can visit www.dol.wa.gov/vehicleregistration/ to renew tabs online or obtain other services. If customers prefer to do business in person, they can visit kingcounty.gov/vehicle to find another licensing location. Some nearby alternatives include:
– King County Administration Building in downtown Seattle
– Georgetown
– Vashon Island
– Burien
– Rainier Valley
The King County website has addresses and hours of operation for each location.
We don’t know yet why a new contract was not reached; Satterfield had told us last week that “some changes to the contracts [with all sub-agents were] coming into force” as of January 1st but did not elaborate. Note that this does NOT involve the driver-licensing office in Westwood – just the vehicle-licensing office south of The Junction. (Image: King County Assessor’s Office)
Water break west of Arbor Heights
Thanks to the caller who just let us know about a water break west of Arbor Heights. She said it’s affecting their service in the West Beach Condos (10200 block of 47th SW) area, but Seattle Public Utilities told her it’s a few blocks west, on 51st SW, and they have a crew on the way, but service could be affected until after midnight.
WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen green Jeep Cherokee and white Astro van; lock-cutting; scam-call alert
Three West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports:
STOLEN GREEN JEEP CHEROKEE: From Mell:
My 1992 green Jeep Cherokee was stolen from my house at 11 am today. 6900 block of 23rd Ave SW. License plate #971ZOQ.
If you see it, call 911.
(ADDED 7:17 PM) ANOTHER VEHICLE THEFT: From K:
2001 Chevy Astro van, white, license plate BOS1964 stolen from 4500 block of 45th Ave SW on Saturday night the 28th or Sunday morning. A couple of distinctive features, cracked windshield and dented front bumper. If found, please call 206-276-8233, and the police stress that if you see someone driving it, don’t confront the driver, just call 911.
MORE LOCK-CUTTING: From David:
We are having a small addition put on our house (in the 4100 block of) 48th Ave SW between Genesee and Dakota to which our contractor has a small lockable trailer parked in front of our house. Last night someone cut one of the two locks but must have been thwarted by a car or a person, very upsetting to see this morning. If anyone has seen any suspicious activity or persons in the Genesee Hill area, it needs to be reported.
Notably, that’s only a few blocks from this lockbox-cutting burglary attempt last week.
SCAM CALLS: Mike emailed to say, “Just thought I would mention that the scammers pretending to be from City Light are back. It deals with power being shut off if bill isn’t paid in 30 minutes. A reminder: Do not call the phone number they give, as it is not City Light’s number. And here I sit an hour later with all my lights on :)”
In fact, City Light tweeted something along those lines this morning:
UPDATE: Crash on westbound West Seattle Bridge
12:42 PM: Just passed this on our way back from an off-peninsula errand – crash toward the west end of the westbound high bridge. One car hit the barrier. Police, fire, SDOT on scene. One lane is getting by.
1:17 PM: SDOT reports the scene is clear, and SFD has closed its response. We’re inquiring about injuries.
1:44 PM: SFD says this originally was reported as a 2-vehicle collision, and one driver – a 36-year-old woman – was taken to a hospital by private ambulance, assessed as being in stable condition.
6 for your West Seattle Monday!
(Red-breasted Merganser, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
On this eve of New Year’s Eve,
POP-UP MUSEUM: At not-far South Park Library, the Burke Museum visits with hands-on exhibits from the Age of Dinosaurs, 1-3 pm. (8604 8th Ave. S.)
LIBRARYLAB CIRCUITS CHALLENGE: 4-7 pm at Delridge Library, “learn about electronic components and basic principles of electronics with Snap Circuits.” (5423 Delridge Way SW)
FREE MUSIC MONDAY: Hosted by Jared Mitchell & the Wingtips, 6-8 pm at the Pacific Room (WSB sponsor) on Alki. No cover. All ages. (2808 Alki SW)
3 TRIVIA/QUIZ NIGHTS: Here are your Monday night options:
*Best of Hands Barrelhouse (7500 35th SW; WSB sponsor), 7 pm, $2/person, 21+
*The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), 7:30 pm, free, all ages
*Parliament Tavern (4210 SW Admiral Way), 8 pm, $2/person, 21+
SEE WHAT ELSE IS UP TODAY, TONIGHT, BEYOND … by browsing the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and year-round Event Calendar!
TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Between-holidays Monday watch
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
7:15 AM: Good morning! No incidents or alerts reported in our area so far.
7:46 AM: We are headed out on an errand this morning. Just took 15 minutes to get from Upper Fauntleroy to I-5 via the eastbound bridge. 5 is a bit sluggish, though.
BUS STOP NOTE: A reader called to say the SB 35th SW bus stop at Avalon is literally trashed this morning; he’s reported it to Metro.
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