Restricted Parking Zone (RPZ) Sign Defect / Ambiguity
Seattle's RPZ permit zones are governed by SMC 11.23 and Director's Rule 7-2018. Each zone (1-37) requires conspicuous signage stating the zone number, the days/times restrictions apply, and the permit-required language. Seattle has hundreds of miles of RPZs (Capitol Hill, Wallingford, Fremont, Queen Anne, U-District) where signs are routinely missing on a block face, faded, twisted by wind, or contradictory (e.g., '2-hour' sign 30 ft from a 'Zone 5 only' sign creating ambiguity). When two adjacent signs are facially inconsistent, the rule of lenity applies and the citation must be dismissed.
Legal basis
SMC 11.23; SMC 11.72.090; Seattle Director's Rule 7-2018; MUTCD Chapter 2B
Sample appeal wording
Seattle Municipal Court — Infraction Hearing Notice [#] Grounds for dismissal: defective / ambiguous signage at [BLOCK FACE]. PHOTOS (Exhibits A-D) show: • North end of block: sign reads '[TEXT]'. • Mid-block: sign reads '[TEXT]'. • South end of block: [NO SIGN / sign rotated / sign faded illegible]. • From the parked driver's eye position the only visible sign was [SIGN] which states [TEXT] — under which my vehicle was lawfully parked. Under SMC 11.23 and Director's Rule 7-2018, RPZ restrictions must be 'clearly and conspicuously' posted. Where signs at the same location convey conflicting restrictions, the rule of lenity requires resolution in favor of the driver. The citation must therefore be dismissed. [NAME] / [DATE]
Replace [PARKING DATE], [NtK DATE] etc. with your own dates before sending.
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Scan my ticketSources
- SMC 11.23 — Restricted Parking Zones
- Seattle Director's Rule 7-2018
- MUTCD 2009 Chapter 2B (sign placement)