Town of Palmer, MA - Winter Parking and Snow Removal Ordinances and Regulations

Chapter 207, VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Selectmen 11-24-1970.EN Amendments noted where applicable.]

ARTICLE V, Parking

§ 207-20. All-night parking prohibited

It shall be unlawful for the driver of any vehicle, other than one acting in an emergency, to park said vehicle on any street or any municipal off-street area for a period of time longer than one hour between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. from December 1 of one year to March 31 of the next year.

ARTICLE XII, Towing of Vehicles [Added 2-14-1984]

§ 207-57. Authorization to remove vehicles.

The Chief of Police, or such Sergeants or other officers of higher rank in the Police Department as he may from time to time designate, is hereby authorized to remove to some convenient place through the agency of a person or persons in the employ of the Police Department or by an independent contractor any vehicle parked or standing on any part of any way under the control of the town in such a manner as to obstruct...or impede in any way the removal or plowing of snow or ice.

Emergency Parking Bans

The town also has the authority to impose additional parking restrictions when winter weather emergencies arise. These additional restrictions usually involve extending the hours of the parking ban during severe storms. When this occurs the public is notified in the following manner:

1.	Parking ban information is posted on the Emergency Banner of the town's web site (www.townofpalmer.com)
2.	Local print and broadcast media outlets are contacted and asked to relay the information to residents.

Amendments to the All-Night Parking Ban

In its original form, the Town's all-night parking ban prohibited all parking on all streets from December 1 through March 31. Through the years, so as to address certain hardships, the Town, by virtue of its authority to make or amend parking regulations, has exempted portions of certain streets from the all-night parking prohibition.

The approved exemptions are broken down into two categories:

CATEGORY 1:

Streets that are exempt from the all-night parking ban only on days when there are no snowstorms.

During snowstorms or predicted storms, vehicles parked on Category 1 streets may be ticketed and/or towed if they are parked on the street.

CATEGORY 1 STREETS:

PALMER:

CHESTNUT STREET: Northwest side.

Exempt area: Beginning 270 feet west of South Main and Chestnut Street intersection for a distance of 100 feet.

CENTRAL STREET: Northwest side.

Exempt area: Beginning 150 feet northeast of Converse and Central Street intersection for a distance of 30 feet.

KNOX STREET: Northeast side:

Exempt area: Beginning 100 feet northeast of Foster and Knox Street intersection for a distance of 65 feet.

THREE RIVERS:

FRONT STREET: Northeast side.

Exempt area: Beginning 20 feet northeast of Maple and Front Street intersection for a distance of 200 feet.

PARK STREET: West side

Exempt area: Beginning 30 feet northwest of Front and Park Street intersection for a distance of 150 feet.

CATEGORY 2:

Streets that are always exempt from the all-night parking ban.

PLEASE NOTE: Vehicles parked on Category 2 streets may be ticketed and/or towed when:

a.	A Weather Emergency has been declared and vehicles are ordered off of all streets;
b.	The Department of Public Works Director or his designee has determined that a vehicle is obstructing or impeding the removal or plowing of snow or ice (Ordinance 207-57).

CATEGORY 2 STREETS:

PALMER:

FRENCH STREET: Northwest side.

Exempt area: Beginning 140 feet northwest of French and Central Street intersection (Eager Playground gateway only), 25 feet.

FRENCH STREET: Dead End

Exempt area: Northwest of Walnut and French Street intersection (Dead End area to Legion Field), 90 feet.

THREE RIVERS:

MAPLE TERRACE: East side.

Exempt area: East side

BONDSVILLE:

MAIN STREET: Northwest side.

Exempt area: Beginning 75 feet northwest of intersection of State and Main Streets for a distance of 260 feet.

MAIN STREET: Northwest side.

Exempt area: Beginning 175 feet northwest of intersection of Depot (Rte. 181 bridge) and Main Streets for a distance of 810 feet (to fire station property).

MAIN STREET: Northwest side.

Exempt area: Northwest of intersection of Center and Main Streets for a distance of 200 feet (after fire station).

MAPLE STREET: North side.

Exempt area: Beginning 65 feet northeast of the intersection of Main and Maple Streets for a distance of 120 feet.

HIGH STREET: East side.

Exempt area: Beginning 25 feet south of intersection of Maple and High Streets for a distance of 450 feet.

REMOVAL OF SNOW FROM THE ROADSIDE AFTER A STORM:

After every major storm, the Department of Public Works removes plowed snow from the roadsides in the areas of business districts, schools, churches, funeral homes, etc. This occurs in the early morning hours within a day or two after the storm ends.

Whenever the Department of Public Works undertakes the overnight removal of snow banks, unless some emergency condition exists which requires immediate attention they will make every effort to:

1) Notify Police Department on the evening before the morning the snow removal will take place.

2) Commence the snow removal after 2:00 a.m. so as to insure that all business traffic has left the area.

The Police Department will assist the Department of Public Works in clearing the area of vehicles impeding the removal of the snow.