Above: The annual parking bans are in place, allowing plow operators to do their jobs when unexpectedly needed. (Photo by Susan Fitzgerald)
If you’re in the habit of parking on the street overnight, it’s time to make new arrangements. Southborough’s annual winter parking ban is now in effect.
That means through March 15, there is no overnight (midnight to 6:00 am) parking on any public way regardless of the weather.
During snow or ice events, street parking is also not allowed at any time of day or night. Vehicles violating those rules could be towed at owners expense.
Selectmen approved the seasonal ban at last night’s meeting retroactive as of December 1st. (Why they keep passing this with a retroactive date each year, instead of passing in November or revising the date, is beyond me.)
Language was the same as in past years.
It’s worth noting that the notice refers to a bylaw that allows towing of cars on the street during unusual snow/ice storms outside of the specified period. (Which means that if there’s another freak April or October snowstorm, you’re still responsible for moving your car to allow plowing.)
The Ban states:
Effective December 1, 2021 there will be no parking on any public way in the Town of Southborough from 12 midnight until 6:00 a.m. and furthermore, there will be no parking on any public way during any snowstorm in the Town of Southborough. Vehicles parked will be towed at the owner’s expense (according to the Town’s Code). This Ban will be in effect from December 1, 2022 through March 15, 2023.
Illegal parking during unusual storms occurring before or after the Ban will be dealt with according to Section 152-6 of the Code of the Town of Southborough which states:
“The Superintendent of Streets, or other officer having charge of the ways, shall be authorized, for the purpose of removing or plowing snow or of removing ice from any way, to remove or cause to be removed to some convenient place, including in such term any public garage, any vehicle interfering with such work, and the liability for the cost of such removal and the storage charges, if any, resulting therefrom shall be upon the owner of such vehicle”.
