Danielle Smith complained to reporters that she and many drivers could not move their cars because the vehicles were buried under two feet of snow.
Advertisement
Washington D.C. has issued $1,078,000 in parking tickets since the weekend blizzard ended despite cars, city streets, parking spots and sidewalks still buried in snow.
A snow emergency declaration went into effect in D.C. on January 22, and residents were required to remove their cars from designated snow emergency routes until the declaration expired.
As of 1:15 p.m. Wednesday, 5,284 vehicles were issued tickets for parking in the snow emergency routes, says DPW spokeswoman Linda Grant. Workers had trouble plowing the snowy streets because many cars were obstructing their path, officials said. Many drivers were upset at the fines because they claimed they were unable to move their cars from emergency routes due to the heavy snow.
Residents who have questions about the tickets they received should call 311 for help.
Thursday D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser tweeted that citations that were issued on Friday, Jan. 22 would be voided and anyone that had already paid their fees would be refunded.
Bowser said in a news release Thursday that the ticket dismissal was a “small way” the city can help in recovery from the storm.
Advertisement
However, on Friday 2,800 people received citations for $250, plus additional fees for towing and vehicle storage. In either case, all applicable towing and storage fees still apply.
