No Blocking Driveways Especially Around Schools

Sign facing south on 

4500 block of 46th Avenue NE

The Laurelhurst Community Club recently published information in a recent newsletter about blocking driveways especially around Laurelhurst Elementary School.

Cars often block resident's driveways so that they cannot pull of out of their driveways and are unable to find the driver.

The City corresponding code states: 11.72.025 - Alley—Driveway.                                         

No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle within an alley in such a position as to block the driveway entrance to any abutting property. (RCW 46.90.433(2)) 

Parking on the 4500 block of 46th Avenue NE is only permitted on the east side of the street, not on the west side where the homes are. Despite "No Parking" signs on the west side of 46th Avenue NE, it is reported that drivers say they are just running in to the school for a minute. However, parking on that side is still not allowed regardless of how long the driver is in the school.

Many years ago, residents worked with the City to have parking allowed only on one side of 46th Avenue NE due to the narrowness of the street. With cars parked on both sides, it is very hard for fire trucks, large vehicles and even cars to safely move up and down the street when both sides have parked cars.

Most of the vehicles usually park north, facing the opposite direction of the traffic going south, as the City calls  "Wrong side parking" which is a $47 infraction.

The City Municipal code says:
11.72.470 - Wrong side parking. 
No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle on that portion of any street or alley lawfully set aside for the parking of vehicles or movement of traffic in the direction opposite to that which the parked vehicle faces               

11.72.330 - Posted signs.    
No person shall:

A.Stop, stand or park a vehicle at any place or time where official signs prohibit stopping;

B.Stand or park a vehicle at any place or time where official signs prohibit standing; or

C.Park a vehicle at any place or time where official signs prohibit parking.

11.72.185 - Fire Lane states "No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle within any fire lane" and this infraction is also $47.

Laurelhurst Elementary School says in their newsletter:

• Do not stop or park on the west side of 46th Ave NE across from the school (except where legal parking down by the church), so traffic can flow northward, around vehicles loading.
• Do not block neighbors’ driveways (either loading or parking)

The Laurelhurst Community Club newsletter said:

Parking Near Driveways

Please do not block neighbors’ driveways. This is a particular problem for neighbors when parents drop off children at Laurelhurst Elementary. City code requires leaving five feet of space on each side of a driveway for adequate visibility. Backing out of drives can be very dangerous when oncoming vehicles are blocked from view by parked cars.