Boaters in Portland take heed, the city's transportation bureau is cracking down on unauthorized nautical parking, as evidenced by a recent pre-seizure notice handed down to the owner of a white Tollycraft boat. The Portland Bureau of Transportation Parking Enforcement Division has announced its intent to seize the "Flying Fuster" fishing boat if it's not removed from the public right-of-way by 7:00 A.M. on March 13, as per an official statement.
Labeled as an "Abandoned vessel" under ORS 830.908 (1), this white boat has found itself in violation of Portland City Code 16.20.170 for taking up space illegally, leaving the owner facing potential costs of salvage, towing, and storage, with the risk of the vessel being sold or destroyed if expenses are not settled. According to the notice, steep fines may loom on the horizon for the boat's owner who, if fails to comply with the instructions, might see the "Flying Fuster" meet a watery demise or a transition into new hands.
To offer due process, the enforcement agency is allowing the vessel's owner a chance to contest the seizure, stating, "An owner of a vessel may request a hearing before an enforcement agency seizes a vessel under ORS 830.908 by submitting a request for a hearing to the enforcement agency not more than 10 business days after the notice required by this section is given." Owners must argue that their vessel isn't abandoned or derelict, or present other grounds challenging the seizure, within the given time frame as indicated in the notice.
Should the boat owner choose to appeal the pre-seizure decision, they are instructed to seek a hearing with the City of Portland Code Hearings Office, a process that requires an online appeal hearing request to be submitted within, again, 10 business days following the determination. The request must include a description of what you believe makes this determination invalid along with copies of any evidence you wish to submit, marking yet another step in the potentially long and winding road towards claiming back their property or waving it goodbye.
Though the name “Flying Fuster” suggests an air of freedom and rebellion, Portland city rules anchor firmly in the law, and the boat's owner is now caught in the currents of bureaucracy, where only swift action can save their ship from being ensnared by government protocols and potentially hefty fees. For more details on the case and the procedure, visit the City of Portland's official announcement.
