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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spin Control

Parking tickets issued for snow emergency violations

The City of Spokane issued about 20 parking tickets to the owners of vehicles who didn't obey the city's snow emergency rules late last week.

The city declared a stage 2 snow emergency Thursday, which set into motion a plowing of residential streets and an order for vehicles to be parked only on the side of the street with odd-numbered addresses. The city earlier in the storm banned parking along most arterials.

Street Director Mark Serbousek said the city issued tickets along some narrow residential streets where parking along both sides made it extremely difficult for plows to clear snow. But, he added, the rule was violated throughout the city.

"Compliance was terrible out there," he said.

Tickets were issued by city's parking enforcement officers who normally enforce meters.

The city's snow emergency plans were drafted in 2009. This is the first winter in which officials have issued tickets to violators. Next year, the city has said it may begin towing cars in neighborhoods outside of Browne's Addition, where the city has long towed cars that haven't been moved to make way for plows.

Speaking of Browne's Addition, cars parked along north-south streets in that neighborhood on Tuesday will be towed as city crews complete their full-city plow. Cars parked along east-west streets will be towed on Wednesday.

The city's snow emergency plans were drafted in 2009. This is the first winter in which officials have issued tickets to violators. Next year, the city has said it may begin towing cars in neighborhoods outside of Browne's Addition, where the city has long towed cars that haven't been moved to make way for plows.

Speaking of Browne's Addition, cars parked along north-south streets in that neighborhood on Tuesday will be towed as city crews complete their full-city plow. Cars parked along east-west streets will be towed on Wednesday.



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