Afraid of a Parking Ticket Downtown? Heed These Tips from Puyallup PD

If you've ever tried to park in downtown Puyallup during a weekend Farmers Market or other Pioneer Park activity, I'm sure you've felt the pressure of parking enforcement. 

Most of the parking is available for 2 hours and enforcement officers focus on those violations--especially on busy days.

Many of our Facebook users were upset to learn through reading our Puyallup Police Blotter that on May 18, 2013, over 24 parking tickets were issued in and around the Puyallup Farmers Market, and two were issued at Bradley Lake Park.   

"Disappointing to hear of the number of parking infractions given at the farmer's market," one user wrote. "Wish the city would encourage shopping downtown but this is discouraging at $35.00 per ticket..."

Parking infractions are meant to enforce the rules we all have to live by, one person retorted:

"What's disappointing is the number of people that think they can park anywhere they want, rules are rules. Follow them!"

Puyallup Patch asked Puyallup Police Capt. Scott Engle what the most common parking mistakes are in Puyallup and what his advice would be.

"Bottom line is to look for posted signs," said Engle. "All of our violations have been where folks are parking where very visible parking signs are located."

He also offered these five parking suggestions:

1. Read the posted signage.  Most tickets are written for parking in posted no parking zones, so reading the sign would be helpful
   
2. Don’t park the wrong direction on the road.
   
3. Don’t park too close to drive ways, stop signs and fire hydrants.
   
4. Don’t park in disabled persons parking spots if you do not have the right credentials
   
5. The advice would be to park in a parking lot or be sure you are parked correctly on the surface streets.