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.