Peabody drivers who like to leave their cars on the street are on the clock tonight. The Peabody Police Department has ordered a citywide emergency parking ban starting at 7:00 p.m. on March 5 so snowplows and emergency vehicles can clear and treat the roads. Residents are being urged to get all vehicles off public streets to help crews work efficiently and to avoid tickets or tows, as forecasters warn of a wintry mix overnight that could leave Friday morning’s commute slick and hazardous.
What the Ban Covers and How It Will Be Enforced
According to the Peabody Police Department, the ban kicks in at 7 p.m. and applies citywide, and any vehicle left on a public road is fair game for ticketing or towing. The department’s snow-parking guidance lists city-owned lots where drivers can stash their cars during a ban, including lots on Foster Street, Central Street, Nichols Street and Mill Street. Vehicles must be moved out of those lots within two hours after the ban is lifted or they may also be ticketed or towed, per the department’s snow-related parking guidance from the Peabody Police Department.
Why Officials Pulled the Trigger Now
The National Weather Service has a winter weather advisory in effect for much of eastern Massachusetts from 5 p.m. Thursday to noon Friday, warning of a messy mix of rain, sleet and snow that could quickly turn roads icy and slick. That advisory helps explain why Peabody, along with other North Shore communities, is getting ahead of the storm and clearing the main arteries and emergency routes before the worst of the weather hits, according to the National Weather Service.
Where to Park and How to Dodge Fines
During an active snow parking ban, Peabody allows vehicles to use designated municipal lots, but they cannot stay there indefinitely. Once the ban ends, cars must be pulled out promptly, and the city’s Parking Division posts permit and ticketing details online. For questions about where to park or how to track down a towed vehicle, contact information for the Parking Division is listed on the department website, and the parking administrator can be reached at 978-538-6312, according to parking details from the Peabody Police Department.
Officials say the ban will be lifted once plows have cut through the priority routes and road conditions improve. Until then, residents are urged to keep an eye on official city channels for updates and to plan on a slower-than-usual Friday morning drive.
