warning: Skamania County money grab in effect at state parks

[Chip Down]

Here's my story of a parking citation at a trailhead.

I returned to the Equestrian Trailhead (near Beacon Rock) to find a citation on my windshield. The official (.gov) page for the trailhead makes no mention of a parking fee. There are no signs on the approaching roadway or the parking lot or at the start of the trail. After seeing the citation, I did look more closely and realized there's a pay station at the informational kiosk. Easy to overlook that. No more than a notice among other notices, and one of those insert-your-payment-in-this-pipe things.

My citation explained the fine and how to pay or dispute. My only option to appeal, per the citation, is to request a court date. Obviously, one can't take a day off work and travel to the courthouse to contest a $99 penalty, so I had no choice but to pay. I had the "option" of buying an annual pass for $30 (in reality it's $35 if you buy online directly from the .gov site, but in the interest of simplicity let's go along with their fiction that it's $30) in exchange for a fine reduction to $59. So in reality the fine is $59 and a mandatory pass purchase.

The citation didn't explicitly state who the check should be payable to, so I went online to seek clarification, where I just happened to encounter a form that allows me to submit a written explanation in lieu of a court appearance. Hey, great...but why isn't that explained on the citation? So I started to fill out the form and noticed that I'm actually expected to submit a check for a larger amount than the citation says I owe, and the court may reduce the fine. Oh, so now I'm gambling. If I explain the circumstances, I might actually end up paying more than if I just accept the penalty on the citation. How can this possibly be considered right, just, fair, decent?

So I took my chances, filling out the form and explaining the circumstances. I submitted my check, proof of annual Discover Pass purchase, and a printout of the .gov website for the trailhead.

I received no notice of the outcome of my case, but my check was cashed. I called to inquire about the status of a possible refund (as described on the form), and was told there will be none.

If I had elected to simply pay the fine with no explanation of circumstances, I would have paid less. If I had defiantly chosen to take my chances at the trailhead, I would have paid less. If I had I failed to pay because I'm an anarchist, or because I was so drunk I didn't know what I was doing, I could have paid less. I was specifically punished because I explained the circumstances. When I submitted that form, I knew this was a possible outcome, but I hoped that the Skamania County Court might display a modicum of reason, fairness, justice. Nope!

The random arbitrary nature of the whole scheme is distressing. What a ridiculous ball of confusion and corruption.

I can only conclude that these clowns are immensely incompetent, or that they deliberately devised a kafkaesque scheme with the intention of making the world a worse place. Either way, I'm disgusted.

Now, I know how the internet works, so I know some readers are thinking "hey, you violated the rules, you need to pay up". Okay, here's a quick summary: The .gov website for the trailhead didn't mention a parking fee. There was no signage on the approaching roads or at the parking lot, and only a discreet notice at the start of the trail. The whole citation/fine process is ridiculously convoluted and contemptuous of visitors. So no, you can't just paint me as a scofflaw who needs to be punished.

[Webfoot]

I was specifically punished because I explained the circumstances.

... they deliberately devised a kafkaesque scheme with the intention of making the world a worse place.

That's plain crooked.

[kepPNW]

Okay, here's a quick summary: The .gov website for the trailhead didn't mention a parking fee.

Well, the official site for that park is actually http://parks.state.wa.us/474/Beacon-Rock and the need for a parking pass is clearly stated. Not sure why they're using us.gov, rather than one under the wa.gov TLD, so I'm curious what page you're referring to. But anyway, it's a Washington State park. WTH? They all require a Discover Pass. Pretty hard to see a local, especially one who's hiked that park many times before, not being aware of that.

[drm]

I think it's a state money grab (state park), wouldn't blame this one on Skamania County. Isn't there a sign where you turn off SR14? The welter of confusing options once you get the ticket combined with the gambling nature of it is ridiculous. Somebody should do some kind of open records request to see how often, if ever, people who send in that note get the reduction.

[kepPNW]

I think it's a state money grab (state park), wouldn't blame this one on Skamania County.

Yep. DNR, too.

Somebody should do some kind of open records request to see how often, if ever, people who send in that note get the reduction.

I know of one person who was cited, sent in a "bite me!" letter (sans check), and never heard back. Only other time I've heard someone respond rather than cower.

[BigBear]

I am sorry that you received a ticket, but also find it ironic given our discussion over the Mt. St. Helens TH question.

I am not at all surprised that you have to have a Discovery Pass for the equestrian trailhead since this pass is required at ALL state park & DNR sites, event he ones with no facilities (which begs the question: what am I paying for...enforcement?). If there is an exception to this "All" I haven't found it in my travels.

I am rather surprised you were able to park, change shoes, cinch up your pack and stride out into the forest without one of the park rangers racing into the parking lot, skidding to a stop and wrestling you to the ground. They must be slipping. Perhaps it must be a mid-week slump on their behalf. I can't even get out of my car before they have the pass-sniffing dogs on me, and even when I do hold up my pass they look at it like it must be a forgery. Never feel like I'm welcome at their park unless I put something into their coffee fund that day.

[miah66]

They are rather aggressive at this trailhead. Almost everyone I know that has been fined was fined at THIS particular park. I know of no other spot in all of Oregon and Washington where people have been fined for failing to display a parking pass. I wish we could get some of that enforcement on the scofflaws on the popular trails and campgrounds.

[Bosterson]

I can only conclude that these clowns are immensely incompetent, or that they deliberately devised a kafkaesque scheme with the intention of making the world a worse place.

Everyone already knows the Discover Pass is idiotic, so I'm not going to jump on the "you should've known better" bandwagon. Instead, kudos for finding a very appropriate usage of "kafkaesque" - it does seem apt for this. What a stupid ticket process. (I really don't get why you had to send them a check for more than your ticket...? And while dangling the carrot of possible fine reductions that don't happen? That part does sound like a money grab by the county courts...)

Anyway, regarding the "kafkaesque" aspect of this process, having appealed to the court and now paid your fine, I hope no one stabs you before you find out whether or not the ticket has been settled.

[kepPNW]

I really don't get why you had to send them a check for more than your ticket...?

Unless the process has changed in the last 2-3 years, I'd gently suggest that's yet another misunderstanding. When a friend was cited about that long ago, there was no requirement to send any money along with the mitigation appeal.

[retired jerry]

for some reason, Beacon Rock State Park is way more strict about parking passes than any other place

I can't think of anyone being ticketed for not paying anywhere else