### 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 | ### Background Context This case represents the intersection of changing city infrastructure and enforcement policies. North State Street recently underwent a major parking reconfiguration, switching from standard parallel parking to back-in angle parking - a system that requires drivers to reverse into diagonal spaces. This change created a learning curve for drivers unfamiliar with the new system. The hearing also highlighted unique challenges with rental vehicle impounds, as towing companies must verify authorization before releasing vehicles to non-owners. The case demonstrates how administrative hearings provide due process for citizens to challenge government actions, particularly when new policies may create confusion or unintended consequences. ### What Happened — The Short Version On August 17, 2025, Melanie Archuleta parked a rental Dodge Charger in the newly configured back-in angle parking on North State Street while dining at Cornell restaurant. Bellingham Police determined the vehicle was improperly parked and called for impound. Heston Towing removed the vehicle, charging $655.09 total. Archuleta appealed both the validity of the impound and the fees. During the hearing, the towing operator acknowledged the vehicle appeared within the driver's side parking line and stated he had advised Archuleta to appeal. The hearing examiner took testimony, reviewed body cam footage and photographs, and will issue a written decision within 10 business days. ### What to Watch Next - Decision deadline: October 3, 2025 (10 business days from hearing date) - Potential refund of $655.09 in towing and storage fees if appeal succeeds - Precedent-setting implications for future parking enforcement on reconfigured North State Street ---