In a statement today, Mayor Mike McGinn announced that the city will now allow drivers to pre-pay for two hours of parking the morning after they park their cars in the Pike-Pine neighborhood and on Capitol Hill, so that people who feel they shouldn't drive home won't be ticketed for parking overnight. The idea behind the so-called "liquor sticker" is to allow people who've had too much to drink to pay for parking, take a cab or transit home, and pick up their cars the following day.

Additionally, McGinn announced that the state liquor control board has agreed to new rules require clubs to show that they have a written safety plan, to provide safety training for bouncers, and to demonstrate that they're complying with the city fire code in order to get a liquor license.

The change, which will eventually apply at paid parking spots throughout the city, is part of McGinn's Nightlife Initiative, which also includes new late-night taxi zones, a new noise limit of 65 decibels, and promotion of Metro's late-night transit options. Some aspects of McGinn's proposal, including expanded late-night transit and later bar hours, are in the hands of other government agencies, not the city.