Editor,
Over Labor Day weekend, my partner and I made the trip from Portland up to one of our favorite day-trip spots, Moulton Falls. We love splashing around in the swimming hole, taking in the natural beauty of an almost ethereal, magical place. Once the sun started to set, we headed back to where we had parked to find we had been towed by the Sheriff’s department, and we were stranded. Two young women in the middle of the forest, an hour away from home and any friends we could call, daylight and strangers around us dwindling.
We had been so sure we were fine where we were parked, as we were on the blunt side of a no parking arrow between about five other cars.
I have been told my whole life that the police and law enforcement are here to protect and serve us, but we found ourselves stranded.
Uber didn’t have a driver for us to connect to. Our friends wouldn’t have made it out until it was pitch black. AAA told us they couldn’t help us. A stroke of luck got us to safety: I decided to try Uber one more time after several failed attempts. Someone in Battle Ground had canceled their ride so there was a single driver within miles and miles, and I managed to connect. When he pulled up he said, “You two are lifesavers! I would have driven all this way for nothing!” OK, Bradley, we’re so glad that we are the lifesavers here!
If not for Bradley and that canceled ride, we would have been out in the middle of nowhere by ourselves in the dark. The sheriff made us far less safe. I believe I was parked legally, but if I made a mistake, give me a ticket. Make it hefty. Make me learn my lesson. Sure.
But putting me and my partner in danger is not how you protect the community. The tow truck driver told us at impound that the sheriff had been “aiming for 20 cars” that day. The sheriff’s job should be to help people and keep them safe, not abandon them, including young women, in the middle of a forest with no lights and low signal: reckless, predatory and dangerous behavior from law enforcement.
And charging me a nearly $500 towing fine is a really great way to make sure I never step foot again in Clark County to spend more money. You already got plenty of mine.
Liz Preston
Portland
