Parking complaint? Starting today, don’t use Find It Fix It

(WSB file photo)

Earlier this week, a WSB reader reported getting a message on Find It Fix It saying that the app can no longer be used for reporting parking complaints – those have to be called in. We’ve been trying for a few days to get more information from SPD, since Parking Enforcement is part of the department. While waiting, we’ve just received the memo sent to various groups around the city by the Parking Enforcement manager (CSR would stand for the city’s Customer Service Requests):

As of about mid-day 9/19 (sorry, that is the timeframe the CSR team gave me):

Parking Enforcement will no longer be doing customer service requests (CSR) for parking complaints via Find it Fix it (Abandoned vehicle CSR will remain via Find it fix it).

The intention is to improve safety, reduce response times, and eliminate the calls that are no longer relevant.

All calls requiring a Parking Enforcement response except abandoned vehicles should be referred to the care non-emergency line (206) 625-5011 #8.

They will then dispatch us to the call.

Abandoned Vehicles can still be reported to Find it Fix it as that process remains unchanged.

Clayton Harrington #9735
Parking Enforcement Manager

Stephen September 19, 2025 (1:13 pm)

Shorter SPD: “People were asking us to do our job too often, so we made it harder. Thanks for your understanding.”

Teeb September 19, 2025 (5:19 pm)

Or, “people call in someone for parking legally in front of their house because they don’t want it there, then the people leave 20 minutes later and reporter doesn’t cancel the request so we end up going out to check on calls for legally parked vehicles that haven’t been there in hours or days, just because Harold is uptight.”

anonyme September 19, 2025 (1:58 pm)

Exactly right, Stephen. It’s been impossible to report anything on the non-emergency line for quite some time. The last time I was able to get through re: a parking complaint, the officer told me that parking enforcement no longer existed. While I suspect that this officer may have slipped and told the truth, she may have just been giving me a lazy brushoff. Either way, it seems to me that our police (and our local government) do less and less work for more and more money.

WSB September 19, 2025 (2:04 pm)

Recently, as we reported, they’ve added a dedicated calltaker to that line. So if you haven’t tried in the past month or so, try again.

DRW September 19, 2025 (2:48 pm)

So for vehicles parked for over 72 hours we can still use the FIFI app?

k September 19, 2025 (4:23 pm)

Yes, that’s an abandoned vehicle.

LJ September 19, 2025 (2:57 pm)

Does this include the luxury camper vans parked for along Alki? Some people pay hefty property taxes to live there. Others live there for free with a better view?

Lagartija Nick September 19, 2025 (4:48 pm)

You sound jealous, maybe you should try living in an old RV on city streets if you think it’s so lavish.
- CarDriver September 19, 2025 (6:40 pm)
  
  You have rv’s in front of your home?

Henry September 19, 2025 (3:05 pm)

In the last year+ I’ve noticed more Find It, Fix It tickets closed without any resolution.

Before, they were better about following up and sometimes even fixing.

It makes you wonder if a manager started tracking (or, trying to track) time per ticket or setting unrealistic “Closed” goals.

Kyle September 19, 2025 (3:07 pm)

How will the caller track the request? Is the data logged for tracking purposes? Is that accessible like find it fix it data?

Carson September 19, 2025 (3:47 pm)

I actually like this , assuming they respond faster. So many cars park overnight blocking the sidewalk if a patrol can get there and just issue a ticket maybe we can get the sidewalks back

North Admiral Cyclist September 20, 2025 (5:47 am)

We encounter illegal parking every day and it is a big concern for us – with both safety (blocking the paths of pedestrians and bikes) and nuisance (vehicles left on the street that never move, vehicles parked partially blocking the alley) parking all around West Seattle. We’ve tried the FIFI app to report unsafe parking such as parking all day at a corner in a crosswalk, parking in a bike lane, etc. But never see any enforcement effort to follow up. We’d love anything new the city could do to actually enforce parking. Occasionally we see the little Parking Enforcement vehicles circling around, but they seem to ignore many infractions. I’d love to know how parking enforcement prioritizes writing tickets – there sure seems to be some unwritten rules on what they chose to ignore.

PW September 20, 2025 (8:34 pm)

Find it fix it should be replaced by a parking enforcement website where residents take photos of violations and necessary metadata. If everyone has phones, it seems like a huge source of revenue. Also it would help keep enforcement standards up to snuff.

WS Troll September 21, 2025 (1:04 pm)

I don’t get the impression that Seattle wants to enforce parking at all. The find-it-fix-it app at least gave me a tracking number so I could follow up on reported miss-parkings. Now I have to call the non emergency number and they don’t answer. I just sat on hold for 25 minutes to report a parking issue near the ferry. What a waste of time. I suspect that is the point.

Luna Belle September 25, 2025 (3:03 pm)

We have chronic illegal parking in a small area of Highland Park. I am so tired of the non responsive nature of our city govt. along with increased property and other taxes. I’m voting differently now as my nice little neighborhood has been destroyed for the past five years by drug dealers, drug users and the illegally parked RVs. Yes there is a parking width restriction on the books which is never enforced. I remember what Seattle used to be like and it was a lovely gem now ruined.

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