The Centralia Police Department is giving the public a “two-week grace period” to voluntarily correct parking violations before ramping up its efforts to enforce parking regulations within Centralia city limits.
“Out of date city ordinances and old court procedures” that previously limited law enforcement’s ability to enforce parking regulations have been resolved, according to Centralia Police Chief Stacy Denham, and local law enforcement officers are eager to address the substantial increase in parking complaints and violations the Centralia Police Department has seen throughout the city over the last couple of years.
“We are still working on a few parking ordinances that require new signage around the city along with certain parking locations before they will be enforced,” Denham said in a news release.
There will be a two-week grace period before the Centralia Police Department will begin enforcing “the majority of parking laws,” Denham wrote.
“In the meantime, community service officers will be placing warning notices on vehicles they come across in hopes to gain voluntary compliance,” according to the release.
Those warning notices will become parking infractions with a $20 penalty starting May 23.
Specific parking regulations local law enforcement will begin enforcing May 23 are RCW 46.61.570, which sets rules prohibiting drivers from stopping, standing or parking in specific areas — particularly crosswalks, in intersections, in front of driveways and within 50 feet of a railroad crossing — and RCW 46.61.575, which sets rules regarding motorcycle parking.
The full text of the code can be found by searching the RCW number at https://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/.
Contact the Centralia Police Department at 360-330-7680 for more information.
