Immobilization

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.35.020

in effect

11.35.020 - Immobilization A. Effective July 1, 2011 and thereafter, if the notice requirements under Section 11.35.010 A have been met, and if parked in public right-of-way or on other publicly owned or controlled property, a vehicle on the scofflaw list may be immobilized by installing on such vehicle a device known as a "boot," which clamps and locks onto the vehicle wheel and impedes vehicle movement. If a vehicle is immobilized, it shall not be released until full payment has been made, or a time payment agreement has been entered into for all outstanding penalties, fines, or fees owed for all parking citations, plus all immobilization, towing, and storage charges and administrative fees. B. Any vehicle that remains booted for 48 hours or more, not including any of the 48 hours from the beginning of Saturday until the end of Sunday, or which becomes illegally parked while booted, shall be subject to towing and impoundment pursuant to Section 11.30.040. The Seattle Department of Transportation and Seattle Police Department shall issue joint guidelines for vehicle towing related to immobilization, based on Sections 11.30.040 and 11.16.320. C. The person installing the boot shall leave under the windshield wiper or otherwise attach to the vehicle a notice advising the owner that the vehicle has been booted by the City of Seattle for failure to respond, failure to appear at a requested hearing, and failure to pay amounts due for four or more adjudicated parking infractions for at least 45 days from the date of the last such adjudication issued against the vehicle; that release of the boot may be obtained by paying all outstanding penalties, fines, or forfeitures owed relating to all adjudicated violations, plus all booting, removal, towing, and storage charges and administrative fees; that unless such payment is made within two business days of the date of the notice, the vehicle will be impounded; that it is unlawful for any person to remove or attempt to remove the boot, to damage the boot, or to move the vehicle with the boot attached, unless authorized by the Seattle Police Department or an authorized agent of the City; and that the owner may seek an administrative review of the booting by submitting a request to the Seattle Municipal Court within ten days of the release of the boot. The notice shall further state that the vehicle remains subject to impoundment regardless of whether the owner requests an appeal. D. The vehicle may be released from immobilization when the vehicle owner or an agent of the owner pays all outstanding parking infraction penalties, court costs (including but not limited to collection agency remuneration authorized under RCW 3.02.045), default penalties on parking traffic infractions imposed under Section 11.31.120, immobilization release fees imposed under subsection 11.35.020.H, costs of impoundment (including removal, towing and storage fees) imposed under Section 11.30.120, towing administrative fees imposed under Section 11.30.290 and immobilization administrative fees under subsection 11.35.020.H, and interest, or enters into a time payment agreement for the payment thereof. Upon full payment or upon entry into a time payment agreement, the Seattle Police Department or other authorized agent of the City shall promptly remove or enable the removal of the boot from the vehicle. If payment is made in full, the vehicle shall be removed from the scofflaw list and shall not be subject to immobilization or impoundment for the paid citations. Upon entry into a time payment agreement, the vehicle shall be temporarily removed from the scofflaw list and shall not be subject to immobilization, provided, however, that the vehicle shall be returned to the scofflaw list and be subject to immobilization if the owner defaults on the time payment agreement. A registered owner who defaults on a time payment agreement shall not be given another opportunity to make a time payment arrangement and therefore, payment for all outstanding amounts above shall be made in full before the vehicle may be removed from the scofflaw list or released from immobilization or impound. Any person who has previously removed or enabled removal of a booting device in violation of subsection E while on the scofflaw list for any four or more parking infractions, and subsequently is booted a second time while on the scofflaw list for the same parking infractions, shall not be eligible for a time payment plan. E. No person other than an authorized employee of the Seattle Police Department or an authorized agent of the City shall remove or enable the removal of the boot described in subsection A of this Section from any vehicle on which it has been installed unless the requirements of subsection D have been met. F. If the Seattle Police Department or an authorized agent of the City enables the vehicle owner to remove the boot, the owner shall return the boot to a location designated by the Department within two calendar days of the removal. G. No person, other than an authorized employee of the Seattle Police Department or other authorized agent of the City, shall move, by towing or other means, any vehicle after it has been immobilized but before the boot has been removed. H. The Director of Finance and Administrative Services shall determine and set an immobilization fee and an administrative fee in amounts such that the sum of such fees do not exceed the sum of the lowest impound fee, minimum storage fee, and administrative fee for vehicle impoundment under Section 11.30.120. An administrative fee, if any, shall be levied when the boot is removed. The administrative fee shall be collected by the contractor releasing the vehicle from immobilization, shall be remitted to the Department of Finance and Administrative Services, and shall be deposited in an appropriate account. I. A person who fails to return the booting device within the time frame required by subsection F of this section may be charged a late fee as determined by the Director of Finance and Administrative Services. J. A person who intentionally damages the booting device may be charged a replacement fee as determined by the Director of Finance and Administrative Services and also may be prosecuted for the crime of property destruction under section 12A.08.020. K. The Director of Finance and Administrative Services shall adopt rules governing the imposition of fees under this Section 11.35.020. (Ord. 124558, § 2, 2014; Ord. 123563, § 2, 2011; Ord. 123447, § 1, 2010)

Source: City of Seattle, Seattle Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=TIT11VETR_SUBTITLE_ITRCO_PT3EN_CH11.35IM_11.35.020IMFetched: 11/1/2026