Would I get a ticket for parking like this?

[SMART]

So lets admit it, every one of us wants to park just like this on any city street to not only save space but to also find or make a spot quicker then circling the block for more parking. But if you're like me you actually have the fear of getting a ticket because the laws are so vague around the subject.

Is it legal, is it not? Why is it illegal? Am I bigger then a traffic cop who on the average parks this way 10 times throughout the day?

What would the court day? Would it change anything?

These are all questions I have and ones I would love to see change for the good.


This photo was taken in downtown Seattle, WA.

[dbwill]

In many places the law is not the least bit vague. If the street is marked or zoned for parallel parking you must park with your right wheels parallel with the curb and within (I think) 18" of the curb.

If the street is one way the same applies but your left wheels must be ..... I'll bet that Washington has a similar regulation in the codes. Someone from police HQ could probably help.

It could well be that the police vehicle in your picture is not classified as a car or truck.

[Razorback]

If I was the person who is parked in the middle I wouldn't be very happy with two other vehicles parked so close to my bumpers making it very difficult if not impossible to exit my parking spot but if your just using this as an example then of course it will totally depend on the local laws where you happen to be with your smart and the policeman when they see it parked that way.

[SMART]

Sorry, I was only parked this close for the picture. I would have love to have been next to the traffic cop but that option wasn't available.

[mmmeat]

Originally Posted by SMART

So lets admit it, every one of us wants to park just like this on any city street to not only save space but to also find or make a spot quicker then circling the block for more parking. But if you're like me you actually have the fear of getting a ticket because the laws are so vague around the subject.

Is it legal, is it not? Why is it illegal?

It is not legal, it is not vague, either:

RCW 46.61.575(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, every vehicle stopped or parked upon a two-way roadway shall be so stopped or parked with the right-hand wheels parallel to and within twelve inches of the right-hand curb or as close as practicable to the right edge of the right-hand shoulder.

RCW 46.61.575(2) Except when otherwise provided by local ordinance, every vehicle stopped or parked upon a one-way roadway shall be so stopped or parked parallel to the curb or edge of the roadway, in the direction of authorized traffic movement, with its right-hand wheels within twelve inches of the right-hand curb or as close as practicable to the right edge of the right-hand shoulder, or with its left-hand wheels within twelve inches of the left-hand curb or as close as practicable to the left edge of the left-hand shoulder.

Your pal,
Meat.

[xcrew229x]

Originally Posted by mmmeat

It is not legal, it is not vague, either:

RCW 46.61.575(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, every vehicle stopped or parked upon a two-way roadway shall be so stopped or parked with the right-hand wheels parallel to and within twelve inches of the right-hand curb or as close as practicable to the right edge of the right-hand shoulder.

RCW 46.61.575(2) Except when otherwise provided by local ordinance, every vehicle stopped or parked upon a one-way roadway shall be so stopped or parked parallel to the curb or edge of the roadway, in the direction of authorized traffic movement, with its right-hand wheels within twelve inches of the right-hand curb or as close as practicable to the right edge of the right-hand shoulder, or with its left-hand wheels within twelve inches of the left-hand curb or as close as practicable to the left edge of the left-hand shoulder.

Your pal,
Meat.

Same as Ohio. In Dayton, it's 6" if on bus line that runs on the parking side of the street.

[SMART]

So is the cop in violation? Does that make my parking job illegal?

[danip]

Originally Posted by SMART

So is the cop in violation? Does that make my parking job illegal?

The parking regs don't specify an exemption for having only 3 wheels. Maybe some other parking enforcement officer will come by and give you both tickets. For now, I'll let you wage that battle, but I'm sure the regulations will be changing soon. For example the little 1/2 space across the street from Blue Moon Burgers on Republican is begging for for a "smarts only" parking sign instead of the "No Parking this spot" sign.

[Evilution]

Having 3 wheels may class it as a bike, in which case he can park like that.
Over in Europe when they first released the smart, they were always hitting the fact that you could park end on. Europe deemed this as unsafe and updated the law meaning we couldn't do it. As soon as that happened, smart shut up about it.

[mmmeat]

Originally Posted by SMART

So is the cop in violation?

No.

Originally Posted by SMART

Does that make my parking job illegal?

Your parking job makes your parking job illegal.

Your pal,
Meat.