After record-breaking snowfall hit Madison hard last winter, the Common Council voted Tuesday to approve an ordinance that doubles parking fines during snow emergencies in order to more efficiently allow for snow removal.
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said the ordinance will increase the ticket for parking violations during snow emergencies to $60 citywide, up from previous fines of $30 in the downtown area and $20 outside downtown.
George Dreckmann, spokesman for City of Madison Street Division, said that many times last winter the city was unable to plow to the curb due to people not moving their vehicles. The fine increase aims to discourage people from parking on the street during snowstorms to allow for plowing, and vehicles not complying could be towed by the city.
Ald. Brenda Konkel, District 2, voted against the ordinance, arguing that the penalities might be too harsh for Madison residents struggling to accommodate their vehicles during the winter months.
I don't think it's fair to double the fines and suddenly start towing both at the same time,"" Konkel said. ""I think that towing was a significant increase for people who live in the area who essentially don't have a lot of options of where they're going to put their cars.""
Konkel did, however, applaud another facet of the ordinance that would work to increase notification of snow emergencies and winter parking regulations. Dreckmann said one of the most innovative new techniques the city plans to use is a text message alert system informing Madison residents of snow emergencies.
Ald. Eli Judge, District 8, said alders are also trying to better inform students of winter weather updates through the Facebook group ""Madison Snow Emergency News."" Overall, a majority of the council supported the components of the ordinance in hopes of a safer and easier winter season.
""Hopefully it won't snow a hundred inches this year,"" said Ald. Marsha Rummel, District 6. ""But if it does, we'll be ready.""
