Real Briefings
Hearing Examiner
The City of Bellingham Hearing Examiner conducted a virtual appeal hearing regarding the Memorial Day weekend impound of Callie McSpadden's 2012 Toyota Highlander with Nevada plates. The vehicle was towed from Franklin Street on May 24, 2025, as part of citywide no-parking enforcement for the Memorial Day Parade staging areas. McSpadden challenged both the validity of the impound and the associated towing and storage fees, which exceeded $600. The case presents a classic tension between municipal event management needs and resident notification requirements. City staff testified that proper advance notice was given through temporary signage posted by May 20, following established procedures for the annual parade. However, McSpadden argued she received no effective notice due to visual obstructions from hedges, her recent relocation from Nevada, medical mobility limitations, and the lack of door-to-door notification for residents along the staging route. Hearing Examiner Sharon Rice will issue a written decision within 10 business days, by June 30, 2025, determining whether the impound was valid and whether McSpadden is entitled to reimbursement of her fees.
No formal decisions were made during this hearing. This was an evidentiary proceeding where testimony and documents were submitted for the Hearing Examiner's consideration. The appeal challenges the validity of a Memorial Day weeke…
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The central policy issue involves balancing municipal authority to clear streets for public events against due process requirements for property owners. The city's enforcement approach relies heavily on temporary signage posted several days in advance, with registered owner notification sent to vehicle registration addresses regardless of actual residence location.
McSpadden raised constitutional due process and equal protection arguments, noting that another vehicle…
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**Greg Coulter (City Parking Code Compliance Officer):** Defended the impound as following proper procedures. Signs were posted by May 20, four days in advance. The Memorial Day Parade is an annual event requiring significant advance coordination with multiple city departments. Franklin Street serves as a staging area for floats and school bands. The street was completely clear after enforcement, allowing proper parade preparation. Another vehicle seen later was not towed because it appeared to be assisting with f…
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**Sharon Rice, on accepting testimony:**
"I'm able to accept your statement that you work remotely. I'm going to accept that at face value and believe that it's true."
**Greg Coulter, on enforcement procedures:**
"The whole purpose of our impound was to make sure that the streets were clear, so they had adequate space for their preparation."
**Callie McSpadden, on notification failures:**
"There's no signage visible from that point. We have large green hedges, and there's no ability to have…
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- **June 30, 2025:** Deadline for Hearing Examiner's written decision (or July 1 if clerk is unavailable) - **Post-hearing submissions:** McSpadden will provide timestamped photographs as additiona…
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This hearing established a complete evidentiary record for determining the validity of a Memorial Day vehicle impound. The case now awaits a binding decision that will either uphold the city's enforcement action or order…
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## Meeting Overview
On the afternoon of June 16, 2025, Hearing Examiner Sharon Rice convened a virtual Zoom hearing to address a vehicle impoundment appeal filed by Callie McSpadden. The case, designated as files HE 25 VI 015 and 25 PW 00735, centered on the towing of McSpadden's 2012 Toyota Highlander with Nevada plates during Memorial Day parade preparations in Bellingham. Rice, an attorney who contracts with Bellingham and nine other Western Washington jurisdictions, presided over what marked the first hearing for both the appellant and the city's parking enforcement officer.
The proceedings unfolded with careful attention to legal procedure, as Rice explained the virtual format's requirements and established the evidentiary framework for what would become a contentious debate over due process, equal enforcement, and the rights of new residents caught in the intersection of civic celebration and municipal authority. The case would reveal deeper questions about notification requirements, enforcement discretion, and whether a military family's Memorial Day should have been spent retrieving an impounded vehicle rather than honoring service members.
## The Memorial Day Impoundment
Greg Coulter, the city's parking code compliance officer, provided methodical testimony about the Memorial Day parade preparation that led to McSpadden's vehicle being towed. "Since this is an annualized event, there's quite a lot of preparation that happens ahead of time," Coulter explained, describing his first year working public parking enforcement for the parade. The planning process began with a pre-meeting on April 14 involving the Streets Department, Police Department, and event stakeholders to coordinate road closures and enforcement.
The enforcement timeline was precise: no parking signs reading "8 o'clock AM to 3 o'clock PM" were completed by the Streets Department on Tuesday, May 20 by 2:15 PM, providing four days' advance notice before the Saturday, May 24 parade. Coulter coordinated with both Johnson's Towing and Heston's Towing, scheduling three tow trucks five days in advance on May 19.
"When we arrived on Franklin Street at 8:15 AM, we saw the vehic…
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### Meeting Overview
The City of Bellingham Hearing Examiner conducted an appeal hearing regarding the impound of a 2012 Toyota Highlander with Nevada plates that was towed during Memorial Day parade preparations. Appellant Callie McSpadden challenged the validity of the impound and sought reimbursement of towing and storage fees.
### Key Terms and Concepts
**Hearing Examiner:** An independent attorney who works on contract to hear appeals and make quasi-judicial decisions for municipalities. Sharon Rice serves this role for Bellingham and 8 other jurisdictions.
**Appeal:** A formal challenge to a government action, filed with appropriate fees. McSpadden paid the required fee to contest her vehicle's impound.
**Impound:** The legal seizure and storage of a vehicle by law enforcement, typically for parking violations or public safety reasons.
**Memorial Day Parade Logistics:** An annual event requiring extensive advance planning, road closures, and temporary no-parking zones to accommodate staging areas and parade routes.
**72-Hour Rule:** Bellingham Municipal Code requiring vehicles to move at least one city block every 72 hours to avoid being classified as abandoned.
**Due Process:** Constitutional requirement that government provide fair notice and opportunity to be heard before taking action affecting someone's rights or property.
**Burden of Proof:** In appeals, the challenger must prove their case. The appellant gets the last word in testimony.
**Registered Address:** The official address on file with the Department of Motor Vehicles, where legal notices are sent regardless of where the vehicle is currently located.
### Key People at This Meeting
| Name | Role / Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Sharon Rice | City of Bellingham Hearing Examiner (contract attorney) |
| Callie McSpadden | Appellant (vehicle owner) |
| Greg Coulter | City Parking Code Compliance Officer |
| Christina Bowker | Hearing Clerk |
### Background Context
The Memorial Day Parade is an annual Bellingham event requiring extensive coordination between multiple city departments. Adv…
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