Before the City of Seattle's parking enforcement officers start putting boots on cars for past-due tickets, they're showing some mercy.
The Seattle Municipal Court will waive collection fees and interest on past-due tickets in the months of May and June, if the owner of the scofflaw vehicle (one that has four or more overdue parking tickets) pays the full past-due amount up front by cash, check, money order or credit card.
In other words, amnesty is only offered to those who can afford it.
People who can't pay up entirely -- including the hundreds who have amassed tickets while living in their cars on Seattle streets -- are out of luck. They can request a payment plan with the court's collection contractor, AllianceOne, but they still have to pay every last dime of the fees and interest charged.
"The Court does not wish to cause any harm to those who are homeless and living in their cars," court spokesperson Patti McBride said in an earlier statement on car campers. But they've had a chance to pay their fines, she said, and "there is no practical way for the Court to confirm whether any particular vehicle is serving as someone's residence."