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County amends traffic code to let Public Works place no-parking signs, sets fines for violations
Summary
Cowlitz County amended Chapter 11.04 of its traffic code to assign sign placement to Public Works and to add civil infraction fines for parking violations: $50 for a first violation, $100 for a second and $200 for a third and subsequent violations. The board adopted the ordinance after a public hearing with no public comment.
The Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners on Monday adopted an amendment to the county traffic code that designates Public Works as the department responsible for installing no-parking signage and establishes civil infraction fines for parking violations.
County engineer Susan Eugene told the board the change adds a new Section 11.04.500 to the code to clarify which agency erects parking-control signage and to incorporate penalty amounts required after state infraction-rule updates. "This will amend the chapter to include that Public Works will be responsible for locating and erecting signs," Eugene said.
The fine schedule in the ordinance sets a $50 penalty for a first violation, $100 for a second violation and $200 for a third and subsequent violation. Eugene said the amendment had been coordinated with Public Works, the prosecuting attorney's office and the sheriff's department.
During discussion, a county speaker described recurring problems that motivated the change: vehicles left long-term in rights-of-way, RVs and commercial vehicles using roadside space as de facto long-term parking and private projects that spilled equipment into the public right-of-way. The speaker said the ordinance provides a mechanism to place regulated signs in affected locations after the public hearing process.
The matter was presented as a public hearing; no members of the public addressed the board. A motion to adopt the code amendment passed by voice vote.
Ending: County staff said Public Works will handle sign procurement and installation for any areas established as no-parking zones through the county's public-notice process, and the sheriff's office will use the new civil-infractions framework when enforcing posted restrictions.
