For many Chicago drivers, it’s not the sight of flowers blooming or a robin pulling a worm out of the ground that indicates spring is here.

And even though spring officially began March 2oth, city motorists mark the beginning of spring as April 1st when Chicago’s winter overnight parking ban ends.

This annual ban from December 1st to April 1st every year prohibits drivers from parking overnight from 3 AM to 7 AM on 107 miles of main arterial thoroughfares within the city. Every year thousands of vehicles get towed off these banned streets much to the frustration and chagrin of their owners and putting over $1.5 million in the city’s pocket.

The ban, unlike the 2″ snow ban,is in effect every night no matter if there’s snow on the pavement or not, allegedly to make it impossible for city snow removal crews to plow out our streets in case of a surprise heavy duty snowstorm.

But drivers should remember, while rarely ever invoked, the 2″ snow ban can be triggered any time there is 2″ of snow or more on the street–even if it snowed in August.

Effected Chicago drivers can go back to parking overnight without fear of being towed along portions of Clark St., Devon, Central, Foster, Kedzie, Milwaukee, Division, Madison, State St., Cermak, Archer, Martin Luther King Drive, Morgan, 60th, Cottage Grove, 78th, 103rd, 106th and Torrence.

Spring is here Chicago!