LYNN — Pity the poor motorists who failed to heed the city’s snow emergency warning last week.
While weather forecasters predicted up to eight inches of snow for what was supposed to be the region’s fourth nor’easter of the season Wednesday night, the snow missed the area, confounding meteorologists, and causing some car owners to ignore the parking ban.
Robert Stilian, the city’s acting parking director, said despite just a dusting of the white stuff, 210 vehicles were towed. The owners face a $170 tow fee, the possibility of a $150 ticket, and a $35-a-day storage fee for failure to comply with the parking ban.
“Unfortunately, when a snow emergency is called, vehicles must be cleared from the streets,” he said. “Once the Department of Public Works and the Parking Department called it, our office went into action with ticketing and towing.”
Luckily, the storm never materialized, but once the operation is launched, there’s no turning back, he said.
“The people who did the right thing and moved their vehicles had nothing to worry about,” he said. “But if you didn’t follow the rules, you may have been ticketed and towed. It’s simple: don’t park in an emergency.”
During a snow emergency, the blue lights flash at various locations citywide and cars must be removed from streets, according to the Office of Emergency Management.
“If we forgive the tow charges and the tickets, the next time there’s a storm people might think it will be a light snow and not do anything,” he said. “In advance of every storm, we get inundated with calls to make sure the cars are towed. I’m not trying to hurt anyone, but we have to be consistent.”
