
Chicago's hardline on winter parking is back. Starting Friday, dormant cars on 107 main thoroughfares will find themselves in the icy grip of the law from the frosty hours of 3 a.m. to the slightly less frigid time of 7:00 a.m., as reported by the WLS.
Drivers who miss the memo can wake up to a frosty $60 ticket and, in a true cold snap, snag a toe-numbing tow costing at least $150, as detailed by the Chicago Tribune. There is also a daily $25 fee to keep your car on the pound.
The Department of Streets and Sanitation touts that this annual chill pill for parking is crucial for keeping emergency vehicles nimble and the streets less treacherous. "The City's Winter Overnight Parking Ban helps ensure public safety each winter by allowing emergency vehicles and public transportation to move freely and reducing hazardous conditions for motorists, pedestrians, and other travelers," Streets and Sanitation Commissioner Cole Stallard told WLS.
In a heartwarming twist, those looking to avoid the cold shoulder from city tow trucks can find solace at chicagoshovels.org, a shelter from the storm of uncertainty where locations of parking restrictions and the ballet of snowplows are live-streamed in real-time. The website, seemingly all-knowing in its wintry wisdom, was touted by the Chicago Tribune, as a beacon in the blizzard for concerned citizens facing winter's deep freeze.