Chicago’s Winter Overnight Parking Ban, the seasonal parking restriction for 107 miles of the city’s most critical arterial streets, is now in effect and will be enforced from December 1, 2011 through April 1, 2012, between the hours of 3 a.m. to 7 a.m., regardless of snow.

When motorists violate this ban and leave their cars parked on these routes they prevent the street from getting fully plowed and salted when it snows. This reduces the streets capacity during a storm to handle critical traffic. As heavy snow falls it gets pushed against these vehicles by passing plows causing a buildup that further restricts the street lanes.

The permanent signage that marks the Winter Overnight Parking Ban route is posted next to signs for the 2-inch Snow Parking Ban along 107 miles of the broader 500 mile long Snow Route System. The Snow Route System was created as a result of lessons learned from massive snow storms, including the Great Blizzard of ‘67.

The 2” Inch Snow Ban is only a factor during the winter months and is not activated often. Motorists who violate it face ticketing and relocation to a nearby site. Motorists need to watch for and obey both restrictions.