CITY HALL — The annual Dec. 1 howls of motorists who've had their cars towed overnight from designated snow routes might be delayed — at least for a day or two — if a Northwest Side alderman has his way.
Ald. Roberto Maldonado (26th) has submitted a proposed ordinance so that motorists will first receive a warning citation before getting towed due to the city's winter overnight parking ban. And that's for any first violation, not just for first-day violations on Dec. 1.
Imposed to deal with blizzards and unexpected overnight snows on main arteries, the parking ban takes effect each Dec. 1 on designated streets and lasts until March 31. It calls for any car parked on those streets between 3 and 7 a.m. to be towed.
Despite warnings issued every year, many drivers routinely fall victim to the seasonal parking ban, which costs a minimum of $230: $60 for the parking ticket, $150 for the tow job and an extra $20 for an auto-pound storage fee, which of course can continue to amass if the car isn't picked up the same day.
Maldonado's proposal, however, would amend the city ordinance so that "a city ticketing agent shall issue a warning notice for the first violation."
Without taking a position on the proposal, the Mayor's Press Office pointed out that the Department of Streets and Sanitation typically places fliers about the winter ban on parked cars along snow routes in the days leading up to December.
The proposal has been sent to the Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety.
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