What is the City’s policy on snow emergencies?

During snow emergencies or heavy snow, vehicles must be removed from the street for at least 24 hours to allow crews to remove snow. Heavy snow means a snowfall with an average depth of 2 inches or more; drifting conditions are also considered heavy snow. Vehicles interfering with snow removal operations may be ticketed by police, subjecting the owner to a $30 fine, and/or the vehicle may be impounded by police.

The exact wording of Union Code Section 351.14 on Snow Emergencies, which was passed Feb. 13, 1978, by City Council reads:
(a) No owner of any vehicle shall at any time during and within twenty-four hours following a heavy snow permit such vehicle to be parked upon any of the streets or parts thereof within the City or in any way cause or permit the vehicle to interfere with the snow removal operations of the City or the State Department of Transportation.
(b) “Heavy snow” means a snowfall having an average depth of two inches or more; however, if, in connection with any snowfall, snowdrifts are formed which create a serious obstruction to the movement of motor vehicles, this condition shall be considered the same as “heavy snow.”
(c) Any vehicle so parked which interferes with snow removal operations may be impounded by any police officer and ordered towed to a place of storage at the owner’s expense. Any person desiring to redeem such impounded vehicle may be required to first pay all expenses and storage charges before obtaining possession of the vehicle. Ordinance 447, passed 2-13-78.