EDMONDS — Don’t be that jerk who cuts in the ferry line.
It’s not nice, and you never know who’s going to come after you.
You’ll get the wrath of drivers behind you. You may even get slapped with a $145 fine.
“Law enforcement needs to witness it to issue a citation,” said Ian Sterling, a Washington State Ferries spokesperson.
The Washington State Patrol is watching.
The Mukilteo-Clinton and Edmonds-Kingston terminals are hotspots for offenders and stepped-up patrols. A readerboard warning of a fine is making the rounds at terminals. Permanent road signs warn against line cutting.
“It is a hot-button issue that can lead to something worse. Safety concerns, drivers fighting, that type of thing,” Sterling said. “It is like getting cut off in traffic, only it’s 10 times worse. It infuriates people.”
That one line jumper can mean missing a ferry by one car and having to wait for the next boat.
“There are people out there who do it because they think they can get away with it,” Sterling said.
Last year, Edmonds police assisted in a traffic emphasis patrol to enforce line cutting and defuse other potential road rage situations.
With long lines and delays this time of year, it can be hostile for workers.
“We’ve had guns flashed at employees over line cutting,” he said. “Don’t take it out on them. They can’t write a ticket. That’s what the police are for.”
Some apparent line cutters are legit. The ferry system’s Medical Preferential Load Program lets pre-approved riders with medical conditions get on the next available boat.
As of mid-afternoon Monday, the wait time on the Mukilteo side was two hours.
Andrea Brown: 425-339-3443; abrown@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @reporterbrown.
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