Day 3 of Snow Emergency under way, Winter Parking Restrictions resume 8 a.m. Thursday
City crews are continuing to plow and remove snow during the City's 5th Snow Emergency of the season – the most ever declared before Christmas. Minneapolis is currently in Day 3 of the Snow Emergency meaning parking is not allowed on the ODD side of non-Snow Emergency routes. Day 3 Snow Emergency parking rules will end at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 22 and Winter Parking Restrictions will resume at 8 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 23.
Between 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 22 and 8 a.m., Thursday Dec. 23, people should move their cars from the EVEN side of non-Snow Emergency routes to the ODD side to be in compliance when the Winter Parking Restrictions resume. During Winter Parking Restrictions, parking is banned on the EVEN side of non-Snow Emergency routes. Drivers still need to follow all posted NO PARKING signs.
Winter Parking Restrictions were put into effect Friday, Dec. 17 in Minneapolis to ensure reliable access for emergency vehicles after a record December snowfall. Winter Parking Restrictions will be in place until April 1, unless conditions allow the City to lift the ban earlier. Parking is allowed on both sides of Snow Emergency routes and parkways, and the ODD side of non-Snow Emergency routes, unless otherwise posted and provided a Snow Emergency has NOT been declared. Drivers parking in Minneapolis must follow these Winter Parking Restrictions, or they could be ticketed and towed. The decision to enact Winter Parking Restrictions was made by the Police Chief and City Engineer, who were also in consultation with the Fire Chief.
For more information about Snow Emergencies and Winter Parking Restrictions in Minneapolis, visit www.MinneapolisMN.gov/Snow
Spreading the word about Snow Emergencies and Winter Parking Restrictions
The City of Minneapolis uses a number of ways to help folks learn about and follow the Snow Emergency parking rules. We advise drivers to put several of these tools to use, not just one or two. The more ways they have to learn about a Snow Emergency, the less likely they’ll be towed because they didn’t know one was declared.
- Call the hotline - By calling the automated (612) 348-SNOW hotline, folks can find out if a Snow Emergency has been declared and where to park during Winter Parking Restrictions. The hotline will include information on parking restrictions that drivers need to follow to avoid tickets and tows. The hotline includes information in Spanish, Somali, and Hmong.
- Check out the City's website - Go to Winter Parking Restrictions
- Phone alerts - Minneapolis uses a phone alert system to notify residents when Snow Emergencies are declared and Winter Parking Restrictions are instituted. It is an automated notification system that can place thousands of calls per hour. The system automatically calls listed numbers—to also receive a call to your cell phone, go to Snow Emergency Phone Alerts to sign up.
- E-mail alerts - You can sign up to get Snow Emergency alerts automatically e-mailed to you. Go to E-Mail and Text Message Snow Alerts for more details. Winter Parking Restrictions information will also be e-mailed to those who subscribe to these alerts.
- The media - News releases are sent to the media so TV, radio stations and other news outlets can inform their viewers, listeners and readers that a Snow Emergency is in effect or Winter Parking Restrictions have been instituted
- On Cable - Tune in to cable channels 14 and 79. These channels will have information in several languages when a Snow Emergency is declared or Winter Parking Restrictions instituted.
- Facebook – "Like" Minneapolis Snow Emergency on Facebook. Go to www.facebook.com/MinneapolisSnowEmergency.
- Twitter - twitter.com/minneapolissnow. If you have a Twitter account, just follow us. Both the Twitter and Facebook pages will tell fans and followers about Snow Emergencies and Winter Parking Restrictions.
Published Dec. 22, 2010