1982-10-26 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

, I "'- I - 2 - original remains unchanged. Therefore, one can only reach this con- clusion - parking on the left side of the street in a lightly traveled residential area in New Brighton is a far more serious crime than even pre-meditated murder. The following afternoon my wife and I flew off to Seattle secure in the knowledge that whatever else might happen to our home, no one would dare to park on the wrong side of the street at 1400 - 18th street N.W. Now, this would be the end of this paean of praise for law enforcement in our city if I hadn't discovered the enlightened manner 1n which similar matters are handled in Seattle. As we turned off the freeway into the neighborhood where John lives, I immediately noticed two, three, and even four cars parked on the 'wrong' side of the street in each city block. Finally, when I saw seven of sixteen cars 'illegally' pttrked in one block, I cried outn- "John, aren't you frightened to be living in such a lawless area?" "What do you mean, Dad? This neighborhood is as quiet and peace- ful as it was back home in New Brighton." "But John, all of the 'illegal' parking! Doesn't it terrify yOU? Back home 'illegal' parking is the only crime for which there is no defense; a person is automatically guilty. Violent crimes are only misdemeaners compared to this atrocity." "Take it easy Dad, we don't harbor that provincial attitude out here. 'My neighbor, Van, who 1s a Seattle Police officer, often comes over to split a beer with me. I'll ask him to explain all this to you. I'm sure that will relieve you of your fear." Van did drop by a few evenings later, and following introductions and comparison of Minnesota and Seattle weather, he remarked that John had told him of my feeling of insecurity since arriving in Seattle. He then proceeded to allay my concern with the following bit of wisdom: "Jim, you saw seven of sixteen cars parked on the wrong side of the street in one block here in Beacon Hill. That isn't just peculiar to our neighborhood; it's common practice throughout Seattle. Sure, we have an ordinance that frowns on such activities but we don't attempt to enforce it on residential streets that carry no through traffic. There are two good reasons for this. First, the police Department has enough of a problem maintaining a good public image. I, or any officer, could have a field day hanging tags on those seven oars 'you saw but really what constructive purpose would it have served. In my sixteen years on the force, I have never had an accident call generated by one of those so called 'illegal' neighborhood parkers. I don't know of any other officer who has responded to such a call. So why should we create animosity by harassing seven law abiding taxpayers plus irritating the other thirteen families who live in the same block. The police Department doesn't need that kind of public relations - we have enough problems as it is. Of course, we pollee; Officers are protected by Civil Service regulations and wouldn't lose our jobs if we engaged in this silly practice.