Southern Wisconsin Times

The City of Janesville recently issued over 600 parking citations during a winter weather emergency that took place the week of January 8. The Janesville Police Department is cracking down on vehicles that violate parking restrictions during these emergencies in order to ensure an efficient snow removal process.

"When a winter weather emergency is declared, all vehicles must be removed from City streets until snow and ice control operations are complete," stated a spokesperson from the City. This is to allow for a more effective removal of snow and ice, making the roads safer for everyone.

To enforce these parking restrictions, the Janesville Police Department has been issuing parking citations, which come with a $50 fine. Additionally, vehicles that violate the parking restrictions may be towed at the owner's expense. During the recent winter weather emergency, the police department wrote a total of 662 parking citations.

The City is urging residents to park their vehicles in their garages or driveways during a winter weather emergency to avoid any citations. Free public parking is also available in any City-owned parking lot. Specifically, the City encourages parking in several downtown municipal lots, including the E. Wall Street Lot, City Hall Lot, S. High Street Lot, Senior Center Lot, Hedberg Public Library Lot, River/Union Street Lot, and N. Parker Drive Parking Ramp.

"One of the best ways to avoid a citation is to be informed of when winter weather emergencies are declared," advised a representative from the City. To stay informed, the City provides various means of communication. Residents can visit the City's website, follow the City of Janesville on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, sign up for Winter Weather Emergency email alerts, Nixle alerts from the Janesville Police Department, or call the Snow Hotline. They can also tune into WCLO 1230 AM and WJVL 99.9 FM or read the Janesville Gazette for updates.

For any general winter weather emergency information or questions, residents are encouraged to contact the Operations Division or visit the City's website.

With these measures in place, the City of Janesville aims to ensure the safety and convenience of its residents during winter weather emergencies, while also facilitating the efficient removal of snow and ice from the streets.