WASHINGTON — D.C. issued more than $1.3 million worth of tickets to more than 5,400 drivers who the D.C. Department of Public Works says parked in the District’s snow emergency routes.
To accommodate for the snowstorm that dumped feet of snow in the region, D.C. issued a snow emergency that took effect at 9:30 a.m. Friday and ended at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. In a snow emergency, cars parked along snow emergency routes will be ticketed and towed.
By the time the snow emergency ended Wednesday evening, 5,479 vehicles were issued tickets for parking in the snow emergency routes, says DPW spokeswoman Linda Grant. Also, 690 vehicles were towed during the same time period, Grant says.
Drivers face a $250 fine, a $100 towing fee and a $20 impound fee for violating the emergency declaration.
When DPW comes across a vehicle parked in a snow emergency route, either DPW tow truck drivers or D.C. parking enforcement officers can issue a ticket. If the parking enforcement officer writes the ticket, it has to wait for a private company to move the vehicle. This results in the difference in ticketed versus towed vehicles, Grant says.
“A vehicle must be ticketed before it can be towed,” Grant said in an email.
DPW could not project how much revenue it will make from the snow emergency infractions.
“Since a snow emergency ticket may be adjudicated and dismissed, revenue projected based on this ticket number can be erroneous,” Grant said in an email.
If the more than 5,400 ticketed drivers received the $250 fine alone, D.C. issued more than $1.3 million worth of tickets.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect the latest towing and ticketing numbers as of 6:30 p.m.
