Prepare for winter: make sure you’re ready for a Snow Emergency

With winter weather fast approaching, the Department of Public Works is now ready and equipped to plow and treat Minneapolis streets. Drivers should also make sure they’re prepared by knowing how to find out when a Snow Emergency is in effect.

Snow Emergencies are declared whenever there’s enough snowfall to warrant a complete plowing of our streets. When the snow flies, City Public Works crews have enormous jobs to do, with more than 1,500 miles of streets, parkways and alleys that need to be cleared. It’s important for drivers to follow the Snow Emergency parking rules so plows can do the best job possible clearing snow. Vehicles parked on the street in violation of Snow Emergency rules can be ticketed or towed.

Have multiple ways of learning about a Snow Emergency

Contrary to what many people assume, Snow Emergencies are not moneymakers for Minneapolis. Towing and impounding vehicles is expensive and leads to plowing inefficiencies, so it’s in everyone’s interest to help drivers follow the parking rules and avoid a ticket and tow.

Minneapolis offers residents, workers, and visitors a number of tools to help people learn when Snow Emergencies are declared, and what to do when they are. We’re advising drivers to put many of these tools to use, not just one or two. The more ways they have to learn about a Snow Emergency, the more prepared they will be to do their part, and they’ll be less likely to be towed because they didn’t know one was declared.

Published Nov. 12, 2010