Car Lockout in Seattle, WA

Locked out on a Seattle street

Seattle limits how long a car may stay on one block, and a lockout can eat into that time. The 72-hour rule in Seattle Municipal Code 11.72.440 is the outer limit; temporary signs can shorten it. According to the Seattle Department of Transportation, the city can post no-parking signs with at least a day's notice for emergency utility work, cleaning or special events, and a vehicle still there when they take effect can be cited, towed and impounded.

If you are locked out on a block where those signs have gone up, say so in your request and give the time the restriction starts. Also note how long the car has been on that block. This is general information, not legal advice.

Garages and gated parking

Belltown mixes high-rise residential buildings with warehouses, and a car there may sit in a building garage behind a gate rather than on the street. Anyone coming to help needs a way in, so arrange access with building management first, and give the garage entrance, level and space number.

Safety first

If a child, a pet or anyone who cannot get out is locked in the car, call 911 now and do not wait for a locksmith. The inside of a closed car can get far hotter than the air outside, even on a mild day.

If no one is inside, wait somewhere lit and away from traffic, such as a lobby or a shop near the car.

What to send

1. The exact spot: street and nearest cross street, or the garage name, level and space.
2. Make, model and year, and whether the keys are visible inside, in the trunk or lost.
3. Whether the block has temporary no-parking signs, and when they take effect.
4. Photo ID. If the registration is locked inside the car, mention that.

If the keys are lost rather than locked in, the job is car key replacement instead. Add the neighborhood as well; Seattle blocks range from towers to bungalow streets.