For violators, it's a $210 lesson. Tow trucks snatched vehicle after vehicle in the dark of night.
"That's just how the city works. That's just how the city works. Thank you, Daley," Levar Hall said.
Drivers arrived by taxis to retrieve their towed vehicles from a West Side impound lot.
"There's no warnings. There's no signs. How do you tow a car? Not a ticket, a tow. Seriously? C'mon, man," Levar said.
Signs do mark the more than 100 miles of pavement covered by the ban, according to the city. The mayor also reminded drivers about the annual ordinance on Tuesday at a news conference.
"I wasn't upset because once I read the sign and saw it was my fault, I was like there's not much I can do. I can't blame someone else for, you know, my lack of attention," Antonio Henry said.
As of 7 a.m., 215 vehicles were towed. Fines totaled $210: $150 for the tow, $10 for storage and $50 for a ticket.
"They should stamp that on here. Happy Holidays," said Anneitta Blandford, driver.
Anton Henning had double trouble. His personal car and the truck he uses for his job as a cable TV repairman. "Rude awakening. I've got one down, and one more to go."
"I mean I'm mad I've got to miss work for this, but I didn't see the street sign, so I have to suck it up and just take it as a loss," said Henning. "I'll probably end up sleeping in my car tonight!"
The winter overnight parking ban is not to be confused with the two-inch snow ban. It's in effect regardless of whether or not it snows from now until April first.
Last year more than 160 cars were towed on the second night of the ban.
