WASHINGTON — After the snow stops, and the shoveling starts, it’s a common sight — a cone or a folding chair sitting in a parking space along the street. But in Washington, D.C. that’s actually not allowed.
“No one owns a parking space,” says D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier. “As tempting as it might be, once you pull out, that spot can be taken by someone else.”
Lanier says squatters’ rights do not apply to any parking space along a D.C. street. “We ask people to try and be as considerate of their neighbors as possible,” Lanier says. “There’s always a few disputes among people who are trying to save their spaces.”
It’s also illegal to park along Snow Emergency routes while a Snow Emergency is in effect. As of Saturday afternoon, D.C.’s Department of Public Works had issued more than 2,800 tickets to drivers who chose not to obey this law. More than 400 vehicles also had to be towed.
