Parking Downtown Seattle Afterhours

OK.. I often go downtown after 6pm and can never figure out if I can park in some places. I know you can park in any meters after 6pm but what about those loading zones that are yellow and say loading 6am-6pm and below the yellow part it says TOW AWAY ZONE. How confising can they be. Does that mean between 6am and 6pm I can be towed if I park there or does it mean I will be towed anytime, expecially between 6am and 6pm. Worry no more! I found the definition on the City of Seattle Website with the sign definitions! Check it out! We can be the informed few who park closer to where we are going!!!


http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/transportation/parking/parkingload.htm


Load Zones
Generic Load/Unload Passenger Load/UnloadTruck-only Commercial Vehicle Load ZoneHow to License Your Vehicle as a Truck
A load zone is a type of curb use that restricts a portion of the curb for loading and unloading activities. It is second in the prioritization of curb use in Seattle. Seattle uses four distinct types of load zones which are described below along with their curb colors. Some load zones are metered and some are not. Some load zones are in effect only for certain hours (such as 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.) while others have no hours posted and are in effect 24 hours a day. The sign for each load zone will have specific information for that load zone posted. Seattle also designates Bus Zones, which are indicated by an alternating red and yellow curb.Loading and unloading activities are not the same as parking, and load zones should not be used for parking. Using a load zone for anything other than it's intended purpose can result in a fine. Some load zones are also Tow-Away Zones when not being used for loading and unloading activities.In addition to the load zones described below, the City also designates curb space for bus zones and taxi zones. Businesses interested in possibly locating a load zone adjacent to their place of operation may call (206) 684-ROAD (7623). A Temporary No Parking Zone can be requested for uses such as allowing a moving van to park adjacent to a building for loading or unloading activities by calling (206) 386-9012.

Generic Load ZoneTime limit: 30 minutes (unmetered)Sign Wording: "Load and Unload Only"Curb Color: YellowPurpose: To be used for several types of loading and unloading activities, including dropping off or picking up passengers, loading or unloading items from private vehicles (such as personal or company cars or trucks), and loading or unloading from items from commercial delivery vehicles.
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Passenger Load ZoneTime Limit: 3 minutes or 15 minutes (may be metered)Sign Wording: "3 Minute Passenger Load and Unload Only"Curb Color: WhitePurpose: To provide a place to load and unload passengers for adjacent dwellings and businesses. These are intended for quick passenger drop-offs and pick-ups, and should not be used for loading or unloading items from a vehicle.
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Truck-Only Load ZoneTime Limit: 30 minutes (unmetered)Sign Wording: "Truck-Only Load Zone"Curb Color: YellowPurpose: The purpose of this load zone is to provide a place to load or unload products, merchandise, or other objects. Only vehicles licensed as trucks may use this type of load zone. See How to License Your Vehicle as a Truck for more information.
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Commercial Vehicle Load ZoneTime Limit: 30 minutes (metered)Sign Wording: "Commercial or Permit Vehicle Load Only"Curb Color: YellowPurpose: Commercial Vehicle Load Zones (CVLZ) are for commercial service delivery vehicles to conduct loading and unloading activities (such as trucks that deliver or pick up beverages, food supplies, large merchandise, etc.). Regular Truck-Only Load Zones do not adequately meet the needs of these vehicles. A Commercial Vehicle Permit is required to use a CVLZ. For information on Commercial Vehicle Load Zones or Permits, call (206) 684-5086.