How long can I park my car?

[John Frieh]

How long can I park my car on a residential street in the city of Ritzville, WA before the city can ticket and/or tow it?

 

[olyclimber]

ha. it will probably be broken into by a methhead before either of those.

[John Frieh]

Assuming that doesnt happen how long before the city goes after me?

[justinp]

I don't know about Ritzville specificall, but ussually a week after some one calls and complains about it being parked there.

[letsroll]

Again don't know Ritville. But I have seen the same think at Justinp. Basically till some one calls. Left my car in Hood River for 4 days.

[cbcbd]

They usually tow when your route gets in condition and it's time to go.

[thelawgoddess]

I think it's 72 hours in Seattle and I would guess many cities have similar ordinances. But yeah; it's more likely when/if someone complains.

[Pete_H]

I'd call the city up and tell them not to tow your car or at least find out how long it can be there. Since its a small town you should probably be able to talk to someone in person.

[BluNorthern]

Nice, quiet little farming town. Ask a Law Enforcement officer and I'm sure he'll tell you a safe place to park. Can't imagine them giving you a hard time about it.

[OlympicMtnBoy]

I actually called Ritzville a couple years ago since it was a convenient place to meet with me coming from Seattle and my partner from Portland to head east.

 

I spoke to a nice woman at the city who seemed confused as to why they would bother towing my car. She suggested parking "downtown" near city hall or something like that (probably not right in the main retail parking spots). I think I went down Division across the railroad tracks.

 

I left it there for like 5 days over a weekend with no problem. YMMV Also this was my old beat up Subaru.

[kurthicks]

I've also left a car in Ritzville for 3 days near where OMB was. No problems. I think the key for parking in Ritzville is to be downtown as opposed to being near the freeway.

 

You could also head the extra hour-ish to Spokane and leave it with someone you know there. Personally I do this since it feels safer since I know someone is watching it for me.

[cascadesdj]

I've parked in multiple towns in the west for bike trips, usually for less than a week. I always ask a resident if I can park in front of their place, and have never been refused. In fact, they usually seem to take a protective interest in it.

[Maxtrax]

In Seattle it's 72 hours but this only seems really enforced in the higher traffic areas. I left my car on a residential street near a friends house in Sandpoint/Laurelhurst for 11 days this summer with no problems.

[Chad_A]

I actually called Ritzville a couple years ago since it was a convenient place to meet with me coming from Seattle and my partner from Portland to head east.

 

I spoke to a nice woman at the city who seemed confused as to why they would bother towing my car. She suggested parking "downtown" near city hall or something like that (probably not right in the main retail parking spots). I think I went down Division across the railroad tracks.

 

I left it there for like 5 days over a weekend with no problem. YMMV Also this was my old beat up Subaru.

 

X2. I have also spoken with the police dept downtown near City Hall for past trips. I called them to let them know about the car being left in the public parking right there. They said no worries, and that it should be fine. Might be nice to give them a call and let them know about your car. Last year, a partner left a car there last year for an ice trip (for about a week) and didn't have any issues, and I've had similar good experiences for three years in a row now.

[John Frieh]

Thanks all!

 

Now if only we could get some slightly colder weather...