Swampscott urges early adoption for 2010 winter parking waivers

SWAMPSCOTT – With Halloween just around the corner, the police department is urging residents to apply for winter parking waivers now instead of waiting until snow flies.Police Lt. Gary Lord said the winter parking ban starts the morning of Dec. 1 and remains in effect through March 31.?All vehicles except those with parking waivers must be off the road between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m.,” Lord said. “Cars without a waiver will receive a parking violation. If the vehicle is impeding snow removal it will be ticketed and is subject to being towed at the request of the Department of Public Works.”DPW Director Gino Cresta said the ban is necessary so the DPW can clear streets during the winter.?When my guys are on the route they call in when a car is impeding snow removal,” Cresta said. “If possible the police try to locate the owner and have it moved but if there’s a major storm we just have to get it out of there. We tow maybe half a dozen cars a year.”Cresta said the flashing blue lights at every major intersection in town, which are activated when there is a snow emergency, have helped alert residents.?This year we will be using the reverse 911 (call notification system),” he said. “That should also help alert residents when cars get moved off the street.”Residents without adequate off-street parking for the number of vehicles registered at their address could apply for the waiver. Applications are available at the police station, 86 Burrill St., and online at www.swampscottpolice.com.A $30 non-refundable application fee is required to process each request for a parking waiver. The fee must be paid by money order or personal check made payable to the town. In order to qualify for a waiver, all vehicles at the residence must be registered to that address. Lord explained if there are three vehicles at one residence and only two off-street parking spaces, all three vehicles must be registered to that address in order to qualify for one waiver permit. A copy of the registration for each vehicle must be submitted with the application.The police, fire and Department of Public Works are all required to approve the waiver.Lord said all cars parked on the street, including those with a waiver, must be moved when snow is predicted, when it snows or when a snow emergency has been declared. He said if there is a snow emergency prior to Dec. 1, the police would notify residents through the local media and its resident telephone notification system.According to police, any vehicle parked on the street between 1 a.m. and 6 p.m. during the winter parking ban without a valid winter parking sticker will receive a $20 ticket. Any vehicle with or without a winter parking sticker will receive a $25 ticket when snow is forecast. Any vehicle including those with waivers that are left on the street during a snowstorm will be fined $50 and towed at the expense of the registered owner.Lord emphasized that parking violations, including impeding snow removal, could result in revocation of the parking waiver.