City snowplow crews have encountered fewer than expected vehicles parked in their way in residential neighbourhoods.
Between Jan. 1 and Feb. 7, about 154 vehicles were ticketed and towed throughout the city for parking on the street where snow clearing was underway.
“I thought there’d be a lot more. It doesn’t seem so bad considering it’s the entire city and how many vehicles there are,” said Joyce Boon, co-manager of the city’s Inspections and Licensing Department.
In 2010, roughly the same number of tickets had been issued during the same period, Boon said on Tuesday. But this year, the cost to parking offenders has about doubled.
On Jan. 1, new parking violation rules went into effect. Drivers now pay $70 to the city for being towed, on top of their $60 parking ticket. Previously, towing costs were passed on to taxpayers.
Tickets are reduced to $40 if paid within 10 days, but the $70 tow cost remains.
Residential snow clearing started in late January after a combination of heavy snow and warm spells that made driving difficult on local roads. Commissionaires have been knocking on doors to try to find the owners of vehicles that are in the way of snow crews. If no one can be found, the vehicle is towed around a nearby corner so it’s out of the way.
If the vehicle does not have a valid licence plate, it’s towed to the towing company’s yard.
The city’s Public Works Department keeps a record of where the vehicles are towed.
Boon said the city has received a few complaints from vehicle owners.
“I’m sure it’s startling to get a ticket for that much money. But you’ve got to move your car.”
If crews simply plowed around vehicles, snow would remain piled on the streets, interfering with traffic and parking, she said.
“How I see it is the offenders are paying.”
Sixteen appeals by vehicle owners are underway.
In residential neighbourhoods, the city was posting signs 12 hours in advance of snow clearing to warn residents to move their vehicles.
During road clearing, crews have been making windrows in front of homes with even-number addresses. The city alternates which side to leave windrows each time residential plowing is done.
Crews are trying not to obstruct driveways, but windrows will reduce some on-street parking. The city has only plowed residential streets a handful of times in the past few years, including last winter.
szielinski@www.reddeeradvocate.com