What happens if I don’t pay my Washington parking tickets? How the law works
Picture this: You walk to your car and see a tiny piece of paper tucked under your windshield wiper blade.
It’s a parking ticket.
Parking citations can pile up quickly, and sometimes you might forget to pay them.
How many parking tickets can you acquire in Washington state before you and your car have to face the consequences? And what happens if you simply
Here’s how the law works:
How much do parking tickets cost in Tacoma? Olympia?
In Washington state, the price of a parking ticket is determined by local law and can vary by city.
In Tacoma, parking infraction fines can range from $15 to $50, depending on the severity of the offense, according to Maria Lee, a spokesperson for the city of Tacoma.
For instance, a driver might get a $15 ticket for incorrectly displaying their parking receipt, she explained, while someone who keeps re-parking their car in the same block to avoid time limits could face a $50 fee.
In Olympia, fees for parking tickets can range from $15 to $75, according to Susan Grisham, assistant to Olympia’s city manager.
“Minor infractions such as expired meters, overtime parking or improper stall parking typically result in a $15 citation,” Grisham wrote in an email to McClatchy Media. “Repeat time violations or certain restricted parking areas can result in $30 fines, while more serious violations — such as parking in prohibited locations, blocking driveways, parking in bus zones or certain recreational vehicle parking violations — carry a $75 fine.”
Parking ticket fees In Bellingham can range from $30 for an expired meter or a permit violation to $450 for violating disabled parking permit rules, according to Connor Harron, the city’s communications and outreach coordinator.
According to the Revised Code of Washington, monetary penalties for violating traffic ordinances cannot exceed $250.
You can face an additional penalty of up to $25 if you fail to respond to “a notice of traffic infraction relating to parking,” state law says.
How much time do I have to pay my parking ticket?
If you’re cited for a parking violation, you must pay your fine within 10 days of the date the parking ticket was issued, according to the Revised Code of Washington.
“A late fee will be added to the unpaid parking fine” 30 days after that initial date, state law says.
If you still haven’t paid your parking fine 60 days after the citation date, your “account may be referred for collection,” the Revised Code of Washington says.
You can appeal your parking ticket by submitting a written appeal to parking services within 10 days of the date it was issued.
What happens if I have unpaid parking tickets?
Penalties for failing to pay multiple parking tickets vary by municipality.
For example, if you have four unpaid parking tickets in Seattle, your car will be placed on a “scofflaw list,” and a bright yellow “boot” will be locked on one of the wheels.
“If your vehicle is booted, you have 48 hours, excluding weekends, to pay your outstanding tickets and the boot fee or set up a payment plan,” the city of Seattle said on its website. “After 48 hours, the Seattle Police Department will tow and impound your vehicle. After 15 days in impound, your vehicle may be auctioned.”
What if I can’t afford my parking tickets?
In some Washington cities, such as Bellingham, you can set up a monthly payment plan for your parking tickets if you cannot pay them in full.
Can I lose my driver’s license for not paying parking tickets?
In Washington state, you can’t have your driver’s license suspended for failing to pay a traffic ticket.
“Parking tickets do not impact a person’s driving record,” the city of Bremerton said on its website.
However, unpaid parking tickets can impact your vehicle registration.
“Parking infractions do not appear on your driving record, but failure to respond may restrict your ability to renew your vehicle registration and tabs with the (state) Department of Licensing,” the city of SeaTac explained on its website.
How do I tell if I have an unpaid parking ticket?
Not sure if you have any unpaid traffic tickets?
You can find out by calling the Washington State Department of Licensing at 360-902-3900.
You can also visit a DOL office in person.