Cutting in the ferry line seems to be more acceptable today than in years past. On festival weekend, I experienced this twice, both times by islanders that know better. Coming on to Vashon from Fauntleroy, I had a woman driver cut in front of me. I reported this to the ferry worker at the head of the dock. His response was, “Yeah, she does it all the time.”
On Sunday the line departing Vashon at the north end after a fun-filled festival was to the top of the hill near the fire station. We slowly crawled down the hill. At Cunliffe Road, a car pulled into line right off Cunliffe. They were approached and spoken to by several drivers, yet refused to enter the line at the end. We moved down the hill as the next boat loaded.
At this point, I got out of my vehicle and took photos of the license plate and of the people in the car. I spoke with them, letting them know that I would report them for cutting the line unless they chose to go to the end of the line. Another boat loaded, and we were now near the dock. Another person again spoke to them. They were informed that the person that owned the car would receive the citation. At this point, they left the line and yet reappeared a few minutes later driving back down towards the ferry dock. They somehow managed to board the same boat we were on a few cars behind us, indicating they somehow reentered the line ahead of all the cars waiting. I am saddened to experience this type of behavior from Vashon residents.
The ferry workers have their hands tied and are not allowed getting involved.
RCW 46.61.735 prohibits line cutting at any ferry terminal. It is a traffic infraction for a driver of a motor vehicle intending to board a Washington State ferry to “move in front of another vehicle in a queue already waiting to board the ferry.”
It is in the rest of our best interest to call the sheriff’s office’s non-emergency number, 296-3311, and report violators when we see this behavior. The police are the only ones that can immediately act in these situations.
— Tressa Azpiri
