CHICAGO (CBS) — Be careful where you park overnight in Chicago this weekend, as the city’s winter parking ban goes into effect Saturday evening.
It happens every year, and every year motorists are caught off guard, with hundreds of cars towed on the first night of the ban.
Even when there is no snow on the ground, parking is prohibited between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m. on 105 miles of the city’s main streets between December 1 and April 1, to ensure that snow plows, CTA buses and emergency vehicles can move freely snow was allowed to fall on the city’s busiest streets.
Signs have been placed in the affected streets warning motorists of winter parking restrictions. City officials said as an additional reminder, flyers will also be posted on cars parked on those streets before the parking ban.
“This consistent overnight parking rule will allow snow removal crews to plan and execute their operations more effectively. We ask residents and visitors to follow posted parking restriction signs so that critical routes can be fully salted and plowed during winter weather conditions.” Cole Stallard, commissioner of Streets and Sanitation for the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation, said in a statement.
Cars parked on affected streets during the winter parking ban will be towed and the car owner will be subject to a $60 fine, a $150 towing fee and a $25 storage fee per day. Vehicles will be towed to one of two impound lots in the city – at 10301 S. Doty Av. or at 701 N. Sacramento Blvd.
In addition to the winter overnight parking ban, the city also prohibits parking on 500 miles of city streets when two inches or more of snow is expected. Although rarely activated, the 2-inch parking ban on snow is intended to help the city clear other main streets during heavier snowfalls. Cars parked on those streets when the 2-inch snow ban takes effect could be ticketed or moved to another street.
Chicago residents can visit shovels.chicago.gov for a map of the streets affected by the ban and to view the city’s snow plow operations in real time during a storm. Motorists can also call 311 to inquire if their vehicle has been towed due to the ban.
