Increased patrols at the Edmonds ferry line due to road rage incidents, assaults
Police say they have had traffic complaints that turned into angry road situations.
EDMONDS, Wash. – Heat is simmering on state ferry lines, leading to arrests and road arrests.
The situation was dire at a ferry terminal, police and state patrol is stepping in and suppressing the line breakers.
On a sunny summer Friday, it’s not uncommon to see the ferry line in Edmonds take two hours or more, as everyone prepares to head out of town. But some want to get there before others.
Ferry workers say cargo cuts happen every day in Edmonds.
Passenger Randy Matthews asked: “What makes people think they can do it?”
Workers reported having at least four mowers in less than three hours on Friday. Among them was a couple on vacation from Georgia.
The driver said it was an honest mistake, that he was an “accidental tourist”.
“I got stuck in the wrong lane. I was a guest. Our two wives in the back told us we had to turn around, we had to turn back. We were like ‘OK, we’ll be back,'” we’ll be back,'” said Chris Little of Atlanta.
There have been at least two arrests in recent weeks for assault and harassment on the ferry route.
Edmonds Police and the State Patrol are now tracking roadbreakers with focused patrols. Police posted a tweet that read: “We’ve had too many complaints turn into road rage situations.”
“When you’re sitting here and you’re waiting and waiting and waiting and someone cuts in front of you, it doesn’t surprise me,” passenger Sabin Broadfoot said as he waited in line.
Ferry staff regularly receive complaints from frustrated passengers.
“They can get pretty grumpy,” said ferry worker Jason Gartner. “It’s not much for us, but for the situation in general. They’ll tell someone not to cut the line and that person will roll up their windows.”
Traffic officers keep an eye on violators, but they tell us unless one of them catches a mutilator doing this act before he reaches the toll station, the driver will be free.
“I let them know I’m sorry. I want to kick them out, but there’s nothing I can do. Unless our cashier sees that, there’s really nothing they can do.” Gartner said.
Enforcement is delegated to local police and the State Patrol Agency.
Cut a ferry line that comes with a ticket $139.
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