Chicago begins towing cars with winter overnight parking ban in effect
City handed out flyers instead of towing cars during grace period on Sunday
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Some Chicago drivers were in for a rude awakening Monday morning with the city's overnight winter parking ban in effect.
The amount of vehicles towed Monday morning seemed lighter than in years past, perhaps because the city gave drivers a grace period Sunday to account for the holiday weekend.
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"I came out and I was like, 'Where is my car?' And it was gone," said, Martin Wauson, whose car was towed.
That's a reaction many shared Monday morning.
"I thought it was stolen," said Muriel Williams, whose car was towed.
"Taking our cars for no reason at all," said Miguel Rivera, whose car was towed.
Enforcement of the winter parking ban went into effect Monday. It's one day later than usual as the city decided to hand out warning flyers instead because of the holiday weekend.
It's the first time they've offered a grace period in recent years.
"I was freaking out," Wauson said. "Had to Uber to work. Not a great way to start the day, you know?"
"Actually, it was my boss," Williams said. "She said, 'Try this number. Go through the city to see if they towed it.' But I was like, 'There's no snow?'"
Regardless of snow, the parking ban is enforced on 107 miles of main streets throughout the city - from 3 to 7 a.m. between Dec. 1 and April 1.
This allows emergency vehicles and public transportation to move freely through the winter months and snow removal crews to salt and plow critical routes at any point during winter weather events.
There are signs permanently posted along the affected routes, so it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise.
Still, some drivers were very frustrated.
"It ain't fair," Rivera said. "We are poor people. We ain't rich."
If you do fall victim, like some folks trying to collect their car Monday from this auto pound in Humboldt Park, you'll face a minimum $150 towing fee, a $60 ticket and a $25 daily storage fee.
"Lesson learned," Williams said.
If you woke up Monday morning and realized your vehicle was gone, try calling 311 to see if it's been towed and where to pick it up.
Vehicles will be towed to Pounds 2, located at 10301 S. Doty Ave., or 6, located at 701 N. Sacramento Ave.
Visit shovels.chicago.gov for a map of streets impacted by the ban. Motorists can also call 311 to find out if their vehicle was towed.
