Parking Etiquette Program

Applying the Golden Rule

In the course of our lives, we typically practice the "Golden Rule" - Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. We practice this with our families, colleagues and neighbors. The purpose of the Parking Etiquette Program, enacted by the West University Place City Council, is to extend the Golden Rule into West U's current parking and traffic practices. The city hopes to achieve parking and traffic change through a new approach to parking enforcement and a push for a return to being neighborly.

Unlawful Practices

Unfortunately sometimes, the parking and motoring practices may violate the law. For instance, it is unlawful to do the following:

• Stop, stand, or park a vehicle:
  • In an intersection
  • On a bridge or other elevated structure on a highway or in a highway tunnel
  • On a crosswalk
  • On a railroad track
  • On a sidewalk
• Park an occupied or unoccupied vehicle (including momentarily to pick up or discharge a passenger):
  • Further than 18 inches from a curb
  • Where an official sign prohibits parking
  • Within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection
  • Within 20 feet of the driveway entrance to a fire station and on the side of a street opposite the entrance to a fire station within 75 feet of the entrance, if the entrance is properly marked with a sign
  • Within 30 feet on the approach to a flashing signal, stop sign, yield sign, or traffic-control signal located at the side of a roadway
  • Within 50 feet of a railroad crossing

New Approach to Parking Enforcement

The new approach was developed to solve street parking issues without the heavy hand of government. This approach begins with the issuance of courtesy notices for street parking violators. This is a gentler, friendlier method of parking enforcement which may escalate to the point of formal warnings and citations for repeat violators.

Being Neighborly

While enjoying your property, traversing our city streets or parking your car, city officials encourage you to consider your neighbor and do the following:

• Whenever possible, park your car in your garage or driveway.
• When parking on the street, allow maximum clear passage in the travel lane.
• When parking on the street, try to avoid parking your car in front of another property.
• When parking on the street, look across the street to see if you are blocking your neighbor's driveway.
• When placing your planting curbside, consider motorists' or neighbors' visibility

More Information

For more information about the Parking Etiquette Program, visit our Frequently Asked Questions section. You can also read the City Council meeting agenda (PDF) and minutes (PDF) that enacted the Parking Etiquette Program.