A local software developer has created a tool designed to help drivers communicate about common parking issues without confrontation.
Pankaj Luthra, a longtime Seattle resident who previously lived in Fremont, said he built the web-based app PlateBuddy after years of dealing with blocked driveways and other parking frustrations common in dense neighborhoods.
“I got tired of the parking conflicts that come with living in dense neighborhoods,” Luthra told the neighborhood blog Wallyhood. “After years of dealing with blocked driveways in Fremont, either by leaving frustrated notes on windshields or calling parking enforcement … I decided to build a solution.”
PlateBuddy lets users send a message to a vehicle owner using their license plate number. Messages can be sent by text or email, and are designed to address situations such as blocked driveways, minor vehicle damage, or issues like headlights being left on.
PlateBuddy allows drivers to communicate by searching a vehicle’s license plate and sending a message tied to common parking scenarios, such as blocked driveways or vehicle issues. Messages are selected from a pre-written list, and senders can choose whether to remain anonymous or share their contact information.
The system relies on drivers voluntarily registering their vehicles. Users sign up with their license plate number and contact details, which are stored privately and not shared publicly. When someone searches a registered plate, they can see that the vehicle is in the system and send a message, but they cannot access the owner’s personal information.
Vehicle owners receive notifications by text or email when a message is sent and can choose whether to respond. The app operates through a web interface and does not require a download.
According to Wallyhood, the app currently has about 700 registered users, including roughly 150 in Washington state.
“I know Ballard has the same issues—tight streets, permit zones, constant visitor parking conflicts,” Luthra told My Ballard in an email. “I genuinely want to understand if this helps solve a real problem, and if there’s a better way we should be thinking about neighborly communication around parking.”
Photo: Bumper-to-bumper parking on NW 59th St in Ballard (Google Image Capture Sept 2025)