Winter parking in Milwaukee: If you're not following the rules, you're part of the problem
Milwaukee's Department of Public works handed out about $120,000 worth of tickets Monday night
Milwaukee's Department of Public works handed out about $120,000 worth of tickets Monday night
Milwaukee's Department of Public works handed out about $120,000 worth of tickets Monday night
As Southeast Wisconsin braces for a new round of snow overnight Wednesday morning, many people who live and work in Milwaukee are still dealing with a snowplow street problem: some cars are still buried from previous storms, other streets are not plowed completely to the curb.
Milwaukee's Department of Public works handed out 3,000 tickets Monday night to car owners whose vehicles were not in compliance with the overnight snow clearing parking regulations, a spokesperson said.
The tickets collectively are worth $120,000, based on the $40 initial fine.
David Gonzalez, who lives on Milwaukee's southside said the problem with people violating the rules is especially frustrating.
"They're not letting the plows go through and instead of waiting for the plows to go through, they park on top of the snow. Then they start fighting for parking over there and everything else," he said while trying to fix the starter on a relative's car.
Gonzalez said the vehicle had been stuck since Saturday, but said he called the Department of Public Works to let crews know about the vehicle and avoid a fine.
He was worried not everyone was as considerate.
"If cars are not complying with alternate side parking, snow banks will be left behind," Public Works Spokesperson Brian DeNeve said in an email, "We continuously do clean-up operations to address these areas."
On Harry Fledderman's street, what the city does not get, neighbors do."
We try to get out right after every snow," he said, "I'm really lucky because I've got good neighbors and they watch out for me."
Snow-suffocated residents are collectively hoping this next plow is just one more closer to the last of the season.
"I always ask myself is this the last time this year; and one time it is the last time," Fledderman laughed, "But not yet."
DPW ALTERNATIVE PARKING OPTIONS
Designated Milwaukee Public Schools lots will be available for off-street parking beginning at 7 p.m. This parking option is designed to assist residents who live in congested parking areas to find overnight parking from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. All vehicles must be moved from MPS lots by 7 a.m. the following morning or they may be subject to ticketing and towing. For a list of school parking lot locations, go to milwaukee.gov/snowparking.