WASHINGTON — Most of the cars parked in D.C.’s snow emergency routes have been moved, say D.C. police – hours after Police Chief Cathy Lanier urged drivers to make room for public works vehicles.
D.C. issued a snow emergency that took effect at 9:30 Friday morning. Around noon, Lanier said many cars were still parked along main thoroughfares. By 6 p.m., D.C. police said most of the cars parked in the snow emergency routes have been towed or moved.
Cars parked along snow emergency routes will be ticketed and towed.
Drivers face a $250 fine, a $100 towing fee and a $25 impound fee for violating the emergency declaration, which D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced Thursday.
View a map of D.C.’s snow emergency routes here.
As of noon, Lanier said more than 30 vehicles had been ticketed along Pennsylvania Avenue and were waiting to be towed for violating the snow emergency.
The vehicles that haven’t been moved yet are keeping Department of Public Works crews from pre-treating main roads and are also blocking lanes that commuters will need as they head home early, Lanier said.
“Once the snow starts falling, [it’s] too late to clear those emergency routes,” she said. “We really need people to help us out here.”
Lanier also reminded residents that police response times could be slower during the storm but that police will continue to respond to emergencies. She said the department has four-wheel drive vehicles available and access to Humvees if they are needed to traverse the heavy snow.
Residents will be able to submit reports by phone and, in some cases, online. But if an officer is needed, one will be sent, she said.
