In response to the concerns about what will happen to the homeless community who live in their cars when the scofflaw enforcements go into effect today, the mayor's office wanted to make it known that they've been working hard to find options for those living in their cars, particularly in the Ballard area, said Darryl Smith, Deputy Mayor of Community.

"We're doing our very best to mitigate against any issues that might be faced by vulnerable community members living in vehicles," Smith said.

Smith said the office has been reaching out to the vulnerable community for months informing them about the scofflaw enforcements and their options.

Beginning July 5, 2011, vehicles in scofflaw status – those with four or more overdue, unpaid parking tickets – will get booted and the owner has 48 hours (excluding weekends) to settle all unpaid scofflaw-eligible parking tickets, collection fees and a $145 boot fee or risk getting his or her car impounded.

But under the Parking Scofflaw Program, a protocol was created to deal specifically with individuals living in vehicles who are on the scofflaw list.

"Given the new parking scofflaw law and the risk of having vehicles towed, the City will implement a concentrated 12-month program to reach out to families and vulnerable individuals who may lose their vehicles," the protocol states.

The outreach will help people become aware of the options available to them and take the actions to be removed from the scofflaw list. If eligible, the specially-trained outreach staff will point them to a privately funded resource that will have the capacity to make payments on their behalf in order to take them off the scofflaw list and avoid the boot or towing.

Smith said those living in their vehicles who are on the scofflaw list will receive up to three chances to get off the list before their vehicle is booted or towed.

Smith explained that Parking Enforcement Officers (knows as PEOs) will respond on a complaint basis to areas where it is known that individuals live in their vehicles and identify parking scofflaws with their License Plate Recognition system.

At that time, a notice will be issued by the PEO to the scofflaw vehicle and entered into BootView, the vendor-run parking scofflaw database. Iinformation will be left by the PEO, instructing the parking scofflaw about options that are available to them in order to get them off the scofflaw list, including a contact at the Seattle Municipal Court.

The Human Services Department outreach coordinator will be notified by email when a notice is issued to a vehicle that is suspected of being occupied by someone living in it, and staff will attempt to locate the vehicle at the location provided and meet with its occupants to further discuss their needs and options.

Options include

- A contact at Seattle Municipal Court (SMC) to learn what mitigation choices are available to them.
- A non-profit community-based organization to request that the organization make a payment on their behalf to the SMC in an amount that would be sufficient for them to be removed from the parking scofflaw list. HSD’s homeless coordinator will work with the organization to approve the eligibility for funding.

These options will again be made available to the vehicle owner(s) when a second complaint is received.

If a third complaint is registered against the same vehicle and it is determined that the occupant(s) have not taken advantage of the options to get them off the parking scofflaw list, the vehicle will be subject to booting at the discretion of the PEO.

Once booted, the vehicle will be towed if no corrective action is taken by the motorist after 48 hours.

Smith added that if someone were to lose their vehicle after the previous three chances, those whose vehicles are impounded will be eligible for motel vouchers to provide shelter for up to seven days.

To learn more about the scofflaw, visit our previous coverage or visit http://www.seattle.gov/scofflaw/