Car Lockout in Vancouver, WA

The parking clock keeps running

Vancouver's parking FAQ says each block has a posted time limit and that paying again on the same block does not extend it. When keys are locked in a car on a timed block, that limit keeps running while you wait, and paying a second time won't buy more of it. Read the nearest sign, note when you parked, and mention it in your request if time is running short. This is general information, not legal advice.

Snow and ice on side streets

In snow and ice, the city says its crews focus on major routes and overpasses, and neighborhood residential streets are not deiced or plowed. A lockout on a residential street in a cold snap can mean slick ground around the car and a cold wait.

• Say whether the car is on a main road or a side street, and whether it sits on a slope.
• Say whether the doors are frozen shut as well as locked. An iced door seal is a different problem from a locked door.
• Don't pour hot water on the glass, handles or locks; it can crack cold glass and refreeze inside the lock.

Safety first

If a child, a pet or anyone who cannot get out is inside, call 911 right away and do not wait for a locksmith. Sun can overheat a shut car even on a mild day, and a cold night can chill one just as dangerously.

If the car was left running when the doors locked, keep snow away from the tailpipe; a blocked exhaust can push carbon monoxide into the cabin.

What to put in the request

• the block and nearest cross streets, or the name of the lot or garage and the level
• the posted limit on that block and when you parked
• the car's year, make, model and color, and whether the keys are visible inside
• whether it starts with a key or a push button
• photo ID you can show, and whether the registration is in the car

If the keys are gone altogether, you need car key replacement instead. For the general description of the work, see car lockout; the Vancouver page repeats the city's parking and snow notes.