RICHLAND, Wash. -- Sidewalks are meant for walking, but in some Richland neighborhoods, they're being used for parking.
"This is actually a slow time, it gets worse in the mornings and at nights," says Sterling Deaton.
He sees cars parked on concrete or gravel sidewalks where no parking signs are clearly marked.
We found out under a state RCW, it's illegal to park on sidewalks.The fine for not moving is $20.00.
Because of some narrow streets, residents are allowed to park on one side, leaving the other side clear to walk.
But Deaton says that's often ignored, and people are left playing Russian roulette every time they walk down the street, "It's really bad when there's two cars coming in opposite directions, it really limits the space on the road and it makes it dangerous for my son and other kids."
"Sometimes we have to walk in the street because all the cars are parked right in the walkway that we usually go," explains Deaton's son Zaeden Deaton.
Richland police say they give violators a chance to move their cars before writing tickets and most of the time, they don't have a problem. They add it can be frustrating, but the problem is nothing new, "in some neighborhoods it's been this way for multiple generations," says Richland Police Captain Mike Cobb.
Richland police say the only real option for residents is to give them a call at their non emergency number 509-628-0333.
