Friday, Dec. 4, 2015 (Halifax, NS) – When and where you park in the winter can have a big impact on clearing. The municipal overnight winter parking ban will be in effect again this year starting on Tuesday, Dec. 15.
As in previous seasons, the ban will be enforced between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m., during declared snow and ice events and extended clearing operations only. Residents are encouraged to plan ahead when snow is in the forecast and secure off-street parking for when the overnight parking ban is enforced.
To help ensure the streets and sidewalks are properly cleared, the municipality is stepping up winter parking enforcement this season in areas around hospitals and schools, bus routes and problem areas for snow equipment and emergency vehicles.
Officers will also be ticketing vehicles obstructing sidewalk clearing. Vehicles hanging out of a driveway or parked on the sidewalk are prone to damage and are dangerous obstacles for crews. Such obstacles also prevent crews from clearing the sidewalks properly, which can quickly become an accessibility issue for pedestrians, including seniors, people with mobility issues and parents pushing strollers.
The easiest way to stay informed is to sign up for notifications of the overnight parking ban. Register online at contact@halifax.ca. Subscribers will receive timely alerts by phone, email, and/or text message when the ban is in effect and again when it is lifted. Residents who received these notifications last winter will continue to receive the service this year. Standard text messaging rates apply.
Weather conditions and snow clearing operations will determine how long an overnight parking ban will be enforced, as it may continue for more than one night. In addition to CityWatch notifications, the municipality will issue public service announcements to alert residents and business owners when the ban will be enforced and when it has been lifted. Timely information will also be posted online at @hfxgov. Residents can also call 311 at any time for up-to-date information.
The municipality wants to remind residents that Section 139 of the Motor Vehicle Act also requires that people remove their vehicles from the streets, day or night, in the event of a snow or ice event or ongoing clearing operations. Vehicles obstructing snow clearing can be removed at the owner’s cost, regardless of the time or date.
To help avoid a ticket and the hassle and costs of being towed, residents should ask themselves these three questions when considering parking on the street this winter:
Is your car causing a safety issue? Is it making the road impassable? Is it impeding snow operations underway in the area?
If the answer to any of these questions is yes, do not park on the street. The municipality doesn’t want to ticket or tow — the objective is to keep people off the streets in the first place to facilitate efficient and safe clearing to ensure emergency vehicles, buses and other traffic have proper access.
Think before you park this winter — it will help make the season a little easier on everyone. For more information on municipal winter operations, please visit
Source: Release