By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The city police department used a “parking immobilizer” on an illegally parked truck today to enforce the downtown no-parking regulation in effect on days Lincoln Street is closed.
The windshield of the pickup parked on Lincoln Street at the Katlian intersection was covered with a large yellow plastic “Barnacle.” Police installed it this morning because the truck had not been moved prior to the street closure for a high-volume cruise ship day. The device is designed to obstruct the driver’s view through the windshield, and can be removed only when the driver pays a removal fee of $100. Instructions printed on the device give a web address for paying the fine.
A “parking immobilizer” is seen on the windshield of a truck parked on a closed Lincoln Street this afternoon. (Sentinel Photo by Cora Dow)
The Sitka Police Department said this was one of the two devices they have leased, and this was only the second time they have used one.
The department said police tried to contact the owner, and inquired at nearby businesses in attempts to have the vehicle moved “to prevent it from being barnacled.”
“The main thing is safety, because if the officers leave a ticket, the owner could drive off and they could potentially hit pedestrians, with the street closure,” said police spokeswoman Serena Wild. “We’re not looking to target anyone or catch them violating downtown parking, we just want to make sure pedestrians don’t get hit – they might not be looking for vehicles.”
The equipment was leased with part of the $123,000 the Assembly approved in the spring dedicated to “supplies” to cover the costs associated with an increase in tourism, and closing Lincoln Street on busy cruise ship days. The budget was approved with estimated costs, but there was no itemized list, city staff said. Garbage cans, barricade signs, bathroom and cleaning supplies would be examples of other items under “supplies.”
“Until we got more into it, we didn’t know what would be needed, and we certainly didn’t spend the whole budget,” Finance Director Melissa Haley said.
This is the first time Sitka has ever used vehicle immobilizing devices to enforce parking regulations.
Mayor Steven Eisenbeisz said he was not aware that the devices would be used, but added, “As an Assembly member I don’t get into the detailed day to day operations of the police department and believe that if they are using this method that it was a vetted method in order to enforce downtown parking restrictions.”
Assembly member Kevin Knox agreed. “We don’t tell them how to do their jobs. The police chief and staff are the experts at public health and safety. When it comes to police duties I trust they are doing the right thing.”
The Sentinel went to the barnacle website and entered the “device number” printed on the Sitka truck barnacle. The website responded with pictures of the truck taken before the barnacle was installed, and instructions on paying the $100 fine to have it removed. The owner also was issued a $25 parking ticket, the police department said. Towing a vehicle would have cost the owner $205 for the tow, a $50 impound fee, plus any storage fees, Wild said.
