Even if there's no snow on the ground, you still can't park in certain areas until April 1.
It's a lesson anyone who's been towed won't forget.
The warning was issued and the winter parking ban went into effect early Sunday morning and hundreds of drivers were still caught off guard.
"We park there every day," said Devita Williams. "That's where we live at and we parked there last night woke up (Sunday) morning going to church, the cars were gone."
Along 107 miles of city streets "No Parking" signs are up, reminding drivers not to park in that area from 3 to 7 a.m. from December 1 thru April 1 or when there is over 2 inches of snow on the ground.
The winter parking ban helps snow plows and trucks get thru critical routes during the winter season, but the rules are in place regardless of snow.
Just ask Dorothy Jackson, who learned her lesson the hard way last year, and escaped a tow and fine this year.
"No one is thinking about the snow as long as it's not snowing, but they didn't read the sign. It says snow or 3 a.m. to 7 a.m.," she said.
By the time the ban ended Sunday morning, 239 vehicles were towed and impounded.
"All those cars all this money around the holidays?" Williams said. "I mean come on Chicago there's not even snow on the ground."
The cost of getting your car back is pretty hefty, $150 for the towing fee, a $60 ticket and a $20 per day storage fee. And the timing couldn't be worse. Just ask Jackson's daughter.
"As you can see I have a 2-year-old daughter," Dorothea Jackson said. "I need to give a Christmas too. This will put a damper in my pocket."
