Thursday, March 10, 2016 (Halifax, NS) – Please be advised that the municipal overnight winter parking ban will be enforced from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. on Friday, March 11, to allow crews to clear the snow and ice that is expected to come overnight.
There is currently a special weather statement in effect for much of the Halifax region. Forecasts are calling for as much as 10 centimetres of snow transitioning to ice pellets and freezing rain early Friday.
The timing of the changeover means the morning commute tomorrow will likely be icy and snow-covered in many areas. Residents should consider delaying travel until later in the morning. If you need to be on the roads, slow down and leave extra time to reach your destination.
Residents are reminded that in addition to the overnight parking ban, Section 139 of the Nova Scotia Motor Vehicle Act states that tickets can be issued and vehicles can be towed any time, day or night, if they are parked in a manner that interferes with snow clearing.
To help ensure the streets are properly cleared, the municipality is stepping up winter parking enforcement this season in areas around hospitals and schools, bus routes and problem streets 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 become a dangerous obstacle for crews. Such obstacles 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 overnight winter parking ban is in effect from now until March 31. The easiest way to stay informed is to sign up for notifications at http://www.halifax.ca/snow/parkingban/notifications.php, call 311 or email 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.
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 www.halifax.ca/snow.
Source: Release