(a) Determination of Snow Emergency. A snow emergency shall be declared by the Mayor, or his designee, to be a period of time prior to, during and after a snow fall during which period of time the parking of motor vehicles on public streets would in the determination of the Mayor, or his designee, hinder, delay and obstruct the safe flow of traffic and emergency vehicles and the proper cleaning, clearing and making safe of all public streets of this City. The Mayor, or his designee, using a combination of available forecasts, may declare a snow emergency to exist when the City is expected to receive a snow fall of four inches or more. The snow emergency may be declared prior to the City receiving the snowfall if the snow is expected to accumulate overnight or during snow plowing operations. Such emergency shall continue in effect until an announcement by the Mayor, or his designee, that the snow emergency is no longer in effect. The City shall make a reasonable effort to announce the existence of the snow emergency and shall make similar reasonable efforts to announce the termination of such emergency. Owners and operators of motor vehicles shall have full responsibility to determine existing weather conditions and to comply with emergency parking regulations when a snow emergency is in effect.
(b) No Parking During Snow Emergency. During the period of snow emergency, and continuing until the street is plowed to the curb, no person shall park or cause or permit to be parked, or permit to remain parked or abandon or leave unattended any motor vehicle of any kind or description, upon any and all public streets. However, attended vehicles may be parked for a reasonable period of time (generally not to exceed five minutes, but recognizing additional time may be reasonable to accommodate elderly or handicapped persons) to allow for the actual loading or unloading of passengers, or for actual loading or unloading of property, provided that an operator of such vehicle is immediately available, and provided further that the operator of the motor vehicle shall move the motor vehicle promptly to accommodate emergency or snow removal vehicles.
(c) Removal of Illegally Parked Vehicles. The Director of Public Service, Police Chief or any member of the Police Division is hereby authorized and empowered to provide for the removal of any vehicle parked on any of the designated snow emergency streets or roads during the period of snow emergency, to a garage or other place as any such person deems proper. Any costs incurred in such removal and storage shall be paid for by the owner of the vehicle and such costs shall be in addition to any fines or penalties which may be imposed on the owner or operator of the vehicle, and shall be paid before the violator can recover his vehicle.
(d) Snow Removal. After such emergency has been declared as set forth herein, no person shall push or place additional snow and ice upon streets or portions of streets from driveways, sidewalks, parking lots or from any other places.
(e) Penalty. The owner or operator of a motor vehicle found in violation of the prohibitions of this chapter shall be deemed to have committed a minor misdemeanor parking infraction. On a second offense within one year after the first offense, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If within one year of the first offense, the offender previously has been convicted of two or more offenses hereunder, whoever violates a section of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree. In addition to the penalties allowable by law, the
owner or operator of a motor vehicle found in violation of this chapter shall be responsible for all towing and storage costs for such vehicle during the snow emergency.
(Ord. 7-2015. Passed 3-2-15.)