SDOT is encouraging people to keep their sidewalks clear of snow and ice on Twitter and Facebook: “Remember to clear your sidewalk before leaving home today. Let’s keep those pathways open for pedestrians.”
This isn’t just a suggestion, it’s also the law, according to the PI’s Seattle 911 blog:
“Property owners and occupants, whether business or residential, are responsible for removing snow and ice from sidewalks that abut their properties,” Department of Transportation spokesman Rick Sheridan said. “The penalty for non-compliance is $250 for the first citation and up to $500 for subsequent citations.”
Police say people should not call 911 about sidewalk ice violations, and if their neighbors are a problem, they should contact them in a cordial manner.
Meanwhile, “SDOT will deploy pedestrian safety crews to clear specified curb landings and stairways. These areas were selected using Pedestrian Master Plan criteria.” It’s not exactly clear which curb landings and stairways these are, but they are likely to be well-traveled areas.
