‘Move-to-evade’ fine approved by Port Angeles panel

Published 12:01 am Sunday, October 7, 2012

PORT ANGELES — The City Council has approved “move to evade” ordinance amendments to deter drivers from clogging up downtown curbside parking.

The parking ordinance amendments were approved 6-0 — former Mayor Dan Di Guilio was absent — with little discussion at the Port Angeles City Council meeting last week.

The change imposes a $25 fine for moving a car within the same block to evade an overtime ticket.

Drivers can move their vehicles to a different block when the two-hour limit expires.

A second amendment to the parking ordinance eliminated a no-time-limit provision for curb-side parking for drivers with disabilities and replaced it with a four-hour limit.

The proposal is the result of a plea the Port Angeles Downtown Association board of directors made almost a year ago to then-City Manager Kent Myers, asking the city to develop the move-to-evade policy for curb-side parking.

Police Chief Terry Gallagher said one resident of downtown’s Lee Plaza had expressed concerns about the policy but that “an amicable solution” was worked out.

Residential and non-residential permits are available at City Hall, 321 E. Fifth St.

Long-term non-curbside parking is available downtown to Lee Plaza residents for $15 a month.

Other residential permits are $25 monthly, Barb Frederick, executive director of the PADA, has said.

Three-hour free customer parking is available in off-street parking lots through downtown.

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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.