LIBRARY PARKING POLICY

Adopted by Spokane Public Library Board of Trustees on June 10, 2024.

Spokane Public Library Parking Policy, Rules and Procedures

1. Policy Statement.

The Spokane Public Library aims to provide safe, accessible, and welcoming environments in its parking lots and on library grounds. The use of these areas must conform to applicable Spokane city laws, regulations, and Library Rules of Conduct. Spokane Public Library parking lots are primarily intended for use by library patrons. During closed hours, their use is limited to library-related activities, such as returning books and accessing WiFi.

2. Purpose.

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that use of library parking lots and library grounds is consistent with the intended use of library activities and adhere to laws and regulations. It also provides guidelines for the removal of vehicles that present a safety hazard, violate library rules governing parking time limits, and/or appear to be abandoned.

3. Policy.

Individuals must abide by the Spokane Public Library Rules of Conduct and all applicable city laws and regulations while on library property. Library staff, in collaboration with local law enforcement and City Parks Department officers for library branches located in City Parks may intervene in any prohibited activities.

4. Specific Rules: Parking Time Limits/Hours.

a. Central Library.

Vehicles may only park in the Central Library paid parking garage during hours of library operation. Vehicles remaining parked in the garage after garage closure will not be retrievable until the garage reopens the next library operating day. Additionally, such vehicles are considered “unauthorized vehicles” subject to immediate impoundment by a registered tow truck operator (RTTO) at the direction of a designated Library official pursuant to the Washington State statutes (RCW 46.55.010(14)(a)(iii) and RCW 46.55.080(1)), and Spokane Municipal Code section (SMC 16A.07.060(A)(6)(c)) set forth below.

b. Library Branch Locations.

Vehicles may only park in Library parking lots at Library branch locations (other than the Central Library Parking garage) between the hours of 6am and 10pm daily. Outside Library hours of operations (i.e., when library is closed), parking in library branch parking lots is limited to returning materials and attending approved after-hours meetings and events. Vehicles remaining parked in library branch parking lot locations after such hours are considered “unauthorized vehicles” subject to immediate impoundment by a RTTO at the direction of a designated Library official per the Washington State statutes (RCW 46.55.010(14)(a)(iii) and RCW 46.55.080(1)), and Spokane Municipal Code section (SMC 16A.07.060(A)(6)(c)) set forth below.

c. Spokane City Parks Library Branches.

Vehicles remaining parked at library branches located inside Spokane City Parks, such as Liberty Park Library located in Liberty Park, and Shadle Park Library located in Shadle Park, in violation of Spokane City Parks parking rules SMC 12.06A.040(B)(3) and/or SMC 12.06A.040(J)(4) (Parks time and/or location rules such as overnight parking in parks) are considered “unauthorized vehicles” for this additional park rule violation. These illegally parked vehicles are subject to immediate impoundment by a RTTO at the direction of a Parks Department Officer per the same Washington State statutes (RCW 46.55.010(14)(a)(iii) and RCW 46.55.080(1)) and Spokane Municipal Code section (SMC 16A.07.060(A)(6)(c)) as other unauthorized vehicles.

d. Spokane Public Schools Library Branches.

Vehicles parked at lots owned by Spokane Public Schools, such as Hillyard Branch, are subject to rules as set forth by Spokane Public Schools. Vehicles parked in lots owned by Spokane Public Library, such as The Hive, are subject to section 4.b above.

e. Prohibited camping.

Camping in library parking lots is also prohibited. Library parking lots are public property. Spokane Municipal Code (SMC) 12.02.1010(A)(1) prohibits camping on public property. Camping includes, but is not limited to, use of a vehicle for living accommodations purposes. SMC 12.02.1002(A). Violation of SMC 12.02.1010 is a misdemeanor. Violation of SMC 12.02.1010 is not a basis for vehicle impound.

5. Statutes/SMCs governing public vehicle impounds.

a. Public Impound. (a) “Public impound” means that the vehicle has been impounded at the direction of a law enforcement officer or by a public official having jurisdiction over the public property upon which the vehicle was located. Public officials include a Library designated official as well as Parks Department Officers for libraries located on Parks property and law enforcement officers

b. “Unauthorized vehicles” definition. “Unauthorized vehicles” are vehicles left unattended in public property locations such as publicly owned or controlled parking lots posted with signage described in RCW 46.55.070 which identifies the times a vehicle may be impounded as an unauthorized vehicle. Unauthorized vehicles include vehicles parked in Spokane City Parks in violation of posted Park rules such as SMC 12.06A.040(B) (pertaining to parking location and time limits).

c. Statutorily required signage posting requirements. RCW 46.55.070. The sign posting requirements for an unattended vehicle legally to be considered an “unauthorized vehicle” are:

• Entrance location. The sign must be located near each entrance and on the property in a clearly conspicuous and visible location to all who park on such property that clearly indicates;
• 1. Notice of times. The sign must provide notice of the times a vehicle may be impounded as an unauthorized vehicle; and
• 2. Contact information for vehicle retrieval. The sign must identify the name, telephone number, and address of the towing firm where the vehicle may be redeemed. Note: Library can defer to Parks signage for libraries located inside City Parks. For other branch libraries, the sign should identify Crime Check with phone number to address this “contact information” signage component given the tow company will be selected from a rotational list therefore Library will not know in advance what tow company actually tows vehicle.

d. Immediate Impounds. “Unauthorized vehicles” are subject to immediate impoundment per RCW 46.55.010(14)(a)(iii), RCW 46.55.080(1) and SMC 16A.07.060(A)(6)(c).

e. Discretionary 24-hour notice. The law permits immediate impound of “unauthorized vehicles” from public property that is properly posted per RCW 46.55.070 and no other notice is legally required. Nevertheless, without waiving this legal authority, the Library may, at its discretion, provide additional 24 hour notice of possible impound by placing a flyer warning that the vehicle is subject to impound as an unauthorized vehicle. Library designee should make and retain a copy of such completed signed notice.

6. Towing/Impound Procedure.

• Library staff should contact the designated library official with the following information to initiate towing: 
  • Library branch location.
  • Vehicle description and license plate number. 
  • Reason for towing. 
  • A statement identifying whether a 24-hour “Courtesy Notice of Vehicle Impound” flyer was placed on the vehicle and date/time of such placement. Again, Library designee should make and retain a copy of such notice. 
  • Identification of any other attempts made to encourage vehicle to move. 
  • Name of the Library staff member handling the situation. 
  • Per RCW 46.55.080, the designated Library official requesting public impound from Library parking lot shall provide a signed authorization for the impound at the time and place of the impound to the Registered Tow Truck Operator (RTTO) before the operator may proceed with the impound. If outside business hours, Law Enforcement Officer may sign authorization.

Towing Companies (Spokane Area). Equipped with the information listed above, the Designated Library Official seeking to have a vehicle towed may contact any of the below to initiate tow:

Parks Department. For Library branches located inside City Parks (Shadle and Liberty Parks), Designated Library Official needs to contact Parks Department for vehicle parked in violation of Parks rules. The cell number for the On-Duty Park Ranger is (509)994-1424. Parks Department retains authority to decide whether the vehicle is in violation of Park rules and whether tow/impound is legally acceptable. The Library does not possess legal authority to authorize vehicle tow/impound in City Parks.

Crime Check (509-456-2233). For vehicle parked in violation of Library parking rules at other Library Branch parking lots. Typically, Crime Check call receivers triage calls to the appropriate responder who likely will be law enforcement in this situation. A rotational tow company list likely will be accessed to identify next-in-line tow company for the response. Before Tow operator hooks up the vehicle, their practice is to contact Crime Check to run the VIN to make sure the vehicle is not stolen. Crime Check can later locate the call by the address from which the vehicle was towed to facilitate identification of tow company for vehicle owner who subsequently wants to know where their vehicle is.

Library procures its own RTTO services.

Central Library. A Registered Tow Truck Operator (RTTO) must be procured by Library for Central Library Parking Garage.

Library branch locations – non-Park. As an alternative to contacting Crime Check for Tow, Library may elect to expand the RTTO tow/impound services procured for the Central Library Parking Garage location to include tow/impound services for other Library branch parking lot locations.

Related Policies

• Spokane Public Library Rules of Conduct.
• Other relevant Spokane Public Library policies