A Christmas gift from Seattle's parking-ticket writers

Merry Christmas, parking scofflaws!

The City of Seattle has issued no overtime parking tickets since last Thursday. If the snow sticks around, this Friday might be free, too. Thursday, of course, being Christmas, is always a freebie.

"The parking enforcement officers have not been working since the snow hit," said Mark Jamieson, a Seattle police spokesman.

He pointed that if you had a problem driving in the snow with your car, try using one of those three-wheel Cushman scooters that the city's 80-some parking enforcement officers often use.

Jamieson said that you will get impounded if you abandon your vehicle, or block a thoroughfare or a bus lane.

But overtime parking on city streets on the last day of Christmas shopping?

"If people want to go out and try and park in some of these conditions, you know, more power to them," said Jamieson. "We've got more pressing concerns than citing somebody illegally parked."

Erik Lacitis: 206-464-2237 or elacitis@seattletimes.com