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Hearing Examiner

BEL-HEX-2025-09-19 September 19, 2025 Public Hearing City of Bellingham 45 min
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The City of Bellingham Hearing Examiner conducted a vehicle impound appeal hearing for Melanie Archuleta, who challenged both the validity of an impound and associated fees for her 2023 Dodge Charger rental vehicle. The vehicle was towed on August 17, 2025, from newly reconfigured angled parking spaces on North State Street by Bellingham Police Department order. Archuleta paid $655.09 in towing and storage fees but contested the impound, arguing she was properly parked within the driver's side line markings. The hearing revealed significant complications with the new back-in angled parking system on State Street, which had been re-striped just weeks before the incident. Even the towing operator, Chris Heston of Heston Hauling, acknowledged that based on the driver's side positioning, he would have advised fighting the impound. The case highlighted enforcement challenges with new parking configurations and the practical difficulties drivers face adapting to changed street layouts. Hearing Examiner Sharon Rice took the matter under advisement after reviewing exhibits including police body cam footage, photographs, and impound documentation. No Bellingham Police Department representative attended the hearing, with the officer unavailable due to other duties. A written decision is due by October 3, 2025.

No formal vote was taken as this was a quasi-judicial hearing. Hearing Examiner Sharon Rice took the vehicle impound appeal under advisement after receiving testimony from the appellant and towing operator. The hearing examiner will issue a written decision within 10 business days (by October 3, 2025) determining whether the …

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The hearing centered on enforcement of newly implemented back-in angled parking on North State Street. Archuleta testified that the parking configuration was changed "literally within a week" of her impound, creating confusion for drivers unfamiliar with the new system. The rental vehicle she was driving was significantly larger than her normal car, adding complexity to the parking challenge. Photographic evidence showed conflicting perspectives on proper parking compliance. From the driver's side, Archuleta appeared to be within the white line markings she was following. However, police photographs from the passenger side showed …
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**Melanie Archuleta (Appellant):** Argued the impound was unnecessary and unfair. She maintained she was properly positioned within the driver's side line markings and was not blocking traffic. Requested consideration of alternative enforcement approaches, such as asking restaurant patrons to identify vehicle owners before impounding. Expressed frustration over missing work and the inconvenience of dealing with a rental vehicle through Enterprise. **Chris Heston (Heston Hauling):** Provided factual testimony about towing procedu…
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**Melanie Archuleta, on the parking challenge:** "So, yes, on August 17th, I had, went over to the restaurant Cornell, and, I noticed for the very first time that the parking was very different on State Street, where it was now back-end angled parking." **Chris Heston, on the recent street changes:** "That road, about… literally within a week of the time that we impounded that, they had just re-striped it on how to park. It's a new system down there where you actually pull past the parking sp…
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The Hearing Examiner will issue a written decision by October 3, 2025, determining whether the vehicle impound was valid and whether fees should be refunded. The decision will be sent by the hearing clerk to both the appellant and Bellingham Police Department via email. If the appeal is successful, the police department…

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A vehicle impound appeal case was formally heard and taken under advisement, with a decision pending by October 3, 2025. The hearing established an official record including 37 minutes of police body cam footage, photographs from multiple angles, and testimony from both the appellant and towing operator. The case documented enforcement challenges with Bellingham's newly implemented back-in angled parking sy…
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**Meeting Type:** Vehicle Impound Appeal Hearing **Date:** Thursday, September 19, 2025 **Duration:** ~45 minutes **Presiding Officer:** Sharon Rice, Contract Hearing Examiner **Case:** HE-25-VI-030 **Key Participants:** - Sharon Rice: Contract Hearing Examiner for City of Bellingham - Melanie Archuleta: Appellant (vehicle owner/renter) - Chris Heston: Owner, Heston Hauling and Heston Towing - Ms. Bowker: Hearing Clerk (Planning Meetings staff) **Case Summary:** Appeal of impound validity and fees for 2023 Dodge Charger rental vehicle towed from State Street on August 17, 2025. Vehicle was impounded by Bellingham Police Department for alleged improper parking in newly implemented back-in angled parking spaces. Total fees paid: $655.09. **Notable Circumstances:** - First rental car impound appeal for this hearing examiner - Police officer unable to attend hearing - New angled parking configuration on State Street - Towing operator acknowledged appellant appeared to be within parking lines on driver's side --- **Primary Issue:** Whether vehicle impound was justified under newly implemented back-in angled parking system on State Street. **Appellant's Position:** - Vehicle was "well within the line" on driver's side - Used driver's side line as parking guide - Rental car was larger than appellant's usual vehicle, creating parking challenge - Officer should have sought vehicle owner before impounding - No traffic obstruction was occurring **Evidence Presented:** - Body cam footage (37 minutes total) from impounding officer - Color photographs showing vehicle position from multiple angles - Impound invoice and payment documentation - State registration of towing rates and fees **Key Testimony - Towing Operator Chris Heston:** "I said it [to appellant]. The photos, from what I looked at, I mean, I don't know how the rules are for Bellingham, but me personally, I mean, if I pull in and I see that the white line is... my …
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### Meeting Overview The Bellingham Hearing Examiner held a vehicle impound appeal hearing on September 19, 2025, to consider Melanie Archuleta's challenge to the impound of her 2023 Dodge Charger rental vehicle and associated fees. Hearing Examiner Sharon Rice presided over the proceedings, which examined whether the impound was valid and fees appropriate. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Hearing Examiner:** An independent attorney who conducts administrative hearings and makes binding decisions on appeals of city actions, operating under contract rather than as a city employee. **Vehicle Impound Appeal:** A formal process allowing vehicle owners to challenge the validity of a police-ordered vehicle impound and associated towing and storage fees. **Back-in Angle Parking:** A parking configuration where drivers must reverse into diagonal parking spaces, recently implemented on North State Street in Bellingham. **Class A Towing Rate:** The highest category of towing fees set by Washington State, applicable to complex or time-intensive towing operations. **Body Cam Footage:** Video evidence from police officers' body-worn cameras, admissible as evidence in administrative hearings. **Impound Invoice:** The billing document showing all charges for towing and storage of an impounded vehicle. **Executive Session:** While not applicable to this hearing, refers to closed meetings for legal matters - this hearing was conducted publicly via Zoom. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Sharon Rice | Hearing Examiner (Contract Attorney) | | Melanie Archuleta | Appellant (Vehicle Owner) | | Chris Heston | Owner, Heston Hauling/Heston Towing | | Ms. Bowker | Hearing Clerk | ### Back…
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Transportation & Infrastructure Government Operations Bellingham Police Department Enterprise Heston Hauling Chris Heston Melanie Archuleta Sharon Rice Angled Parking Body Cam Footage Hearing Examiner Parking Enforcement Rental Vehicle State Street Towing Fees Vehicle Impound