Chicago’s winter overnight parking ban kicks in Sunday

Chicago’s winter overnight parking ban begins at 3 a.m. Sunday, and so will the towing of vehicles parked along the prohibited routes.

From Dec. 1 to April 1, vehicles parked on the more than 107 miles of streets between 3 and 7 a.m. will be towed.

While the ban is primarily to ensure that streets can be safely plowed during snowfall, it is enforced regardless of the weather.

"The city’s Winter Overnight Parking Ban helps ensure public safety each winter by allowing emergency vehicles and public transportation to move freely and reducing hazardous conditions for motorists, pedestrians and other travelers,” Department of Streets and Sanitation Commissioner Cole Stallard said in a news release.

"Having this consistent rule for overnight parking allows snow removal crews to plan and execute their operations more effectively, and we ask residents and visitors to please follow the posted parking restriction signs so critical routes can be fully salted and plowed during winter weather events."

Signs reminding drivers of the ban are permanently posted along the routes. The department said it has put flyers on vehicles parked on streets covered by the winter parking rules.

Cars parked along the route during the ban will be towed to Pound 2 at 10301 S. Doty Ave. or Pound 6 at 701 N. Sacramento Ave. Owners will face a minimum $150 towing fee, a $60 ticket and a $25 per day storage fee.

Chicago residents can go to shovels.chicago.gov to see a map of streets covered by the parking ban and to check if their car was towed. Motorists can also call 311 to find out if their vehicle was towed due to the ban.