Despite even more tow trucks on the streets the second night of Chicago’s overnight winter parking ban, it seems that Chicago drivers are finally starting to pay attention.
According to Streets and Sanitation spokesperson Matt Smith, 164 cars wound up on the hook of a tow truck early this morning between 3 AM and 7AM, the hours of the parking ban.
This compares to 142 in 2008 and 154 in 2007. But it nearly ties what the city did on the first night of towing last year which was 167.
“Hopefully, people got the message,” said Smith. “The first day we were amazed (at all the illegally parked cars.) We’re down a little from last night which is heartening.
On the first night of the winter parking ban, the city towed 234 vehicles.
Smith reiterated the importance of keeping these streets free from parked cars during the winter likening these streets to the arteries in the human heart.
“We just can’t afford to let these streets shutdown,” said Smith. “We learned the lessons from those (the Blizzard of ‘67, etc.) ”
UPDATE: One of my fave local websites, Chicagoist has some interesting analysis on the parking ban. Editor Marcus Gilmer runs some numbers on the past two days of city towing, that as a Geek, I found very interesting.
Posted in 
If this truly wasn’t about revenue, the city would have the decency to post some temporary orange reminder signs on or before November 30 that said something to the effect of, “Hey, we know you have been used to parking here overnight. But starting tonight you won’t be able to. If you do, you’ll be towed.” The fact they don’t take this simple, decent, inexpensive measure to help out residents and visitors is a clear indication of the true motives at work.
the city puts signs up for street cleaning…. people dont move…..city advertises about city stickers….people still dont buy them…..hell…we post warnings….on this pages….and people still park illegal…..wait….wait…lets qoute someone from….streets and sans…. “Smith also explained that his department has been conducting a public information blitz over the past few weeks getting warnings out to the media and posting fliers multiple times on cars along all 107 miles of streets covered by the ban.”
what more you…you want jeff…..maybe a wake up call…..perhaps….we could hold peoples hands….
Of course it would just be a courtesy. But the inconsistency in behavior is interesting. For instance, when it comes to street sweeping, S&San puts up temp signs on my street 2 days or so before the actual cleaning. This is in addition to the schedule which is clearly posted on the city website, etc.
So why go to the trouble to post these redundant signs? The non-cynical part of me wants to think it’s because they really DO want to clean the streets and make sure that people’s cars are out of the way on the day in question. If that’s the case, it’s fantastic. Why not apply it to this case as well (which is only once per year, as opposed to once per month during sweeping season)?
It would be a nice gesture, not “required” by any means. Of course people need to read signs, and if necessary, wait on hold for 311 long enough to get straight answers about parking and conflicting signs.
As far as the information blitz, that’s interesting but I guess I missed it. The only coverage I saw was on this site and Chicagoist.
By the way, nowhere am I saying they are doing anything WRONG. They can put up a permanent sign saying “any car parked here at 2:15 PM on September 22, 2012 will be towed,” and if there is some unlucky sap sitting there, he is justified in having his car hauled off. All I’m stating is that in this case, the motivations are clearly revenue based.
Jeff, you nailed it. Thank you.
-John Adams
“We learned the lessons from those (the Blizzard of ‘67, etc.) ”
They sure did – like realizing all the revenue they missed out on by not having this parking regulation during those years.
Jeff……..you’re brain dead.
The City posts warning info damn near the entire month of November about this 3am-7am parking ban on these feeder streets.
I was out in a Revenue squad today…and was near
kedzie and 78th…..plain as day……signs say…
No Parking……3am-7am
Dec 1 – Apr 1.
If people don’t read…….screw them.
DoR,
You missed half of the sign. Many of them also say “When more than 2″ of snow” SOME of the signs say “OR when more than 2″ of snow”. I won’t accuse the city of deliberately creating confusing signs but I can understand how some people may be confused. Plus, there are so damn many parking signs now — like the new signs for pay boxes — that it confuses the issue. Do you even see banner ads on web sites any more? No. Because there are so many you end up tuning them out.
No…….TAC………….I didn’t miss half of the sign….
there are two types of sign for snow routes this time of year.
Type 1: No Parking; When over 2in of snow..3am-7am.
Type 2: No Parking; 3am-7am December 1 thru April 1.
And they are Perm….posted 365 days a year….Signs.
And its the same set locations…..every year.
The people that park on the feeder streets can’t read or don’t give a flying Puck about what the City Posted Rule says.
I still say…….fuck them.
Actually, although I think the law is a bit ridiculous when it only snows a few days out of those 4 months, but it really doesn’t affect me.
Pretty much ever since the meter deal I refuse to park in a metered zone and feed the meters – I park in the sidestreets – and yes, I know I am contributing to clogging those streets and taking spots away from residents.
But if the powers that be insist on raising the rates and extending the hours on meters, and other powers decide to enforce this silly law on overnight parking – I would say they are contributing to sidestreet congestion much more than I am, as I am sure there are probably hundreds of drivers who do the same as I do because of these laws.