Ottawa drivers were buried by snow and parking tickets during the latest winter weather parking ban, with more than $455,000 worth of tickets issued to drivers illegally parked on city streets. The City of Ottawa declared a daytime winter weather parking ban between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Monday to assist snowplow operators with cleanup operations after 14 cm of snow fell Sunday night and on Monday. Bylaw Services Director Roger Chapman told CTV News Ottawa 4,334 tickets were issued to drivers violating the winter weather parking ban on Monday. “Officers have followed up with owners of vehicles that were plowed in to ensure they are moved for future snow-clearing operations and to keep streets clear,” Chapman said. “The safety of residents and visitors is the City’s priority, and we thank everyone for their co-operation when a winter parking ban is implemented.” This was the fourth winter weather parking ban issued by the City of Ottawa this winter. A total of 19,818 tickets have been issued to drivers violating the winter weather parking bans this winter, resulting in more than $2 million in fines issued. The fine for violating the winter weather parking ban is $125, with an early payment option of $105. The city may declare a winter weather parking ban when seven centimetres or more of snow is in the forecast. Only vehicles with on-street parking permits are permitted to park on city streets during the parking ban. “The bans are enacted to help City crews efficiently clear snow from roads with the goal of making them as safe as possible for all road users,” Chapman said. “Parking bans in Ottawa are necessary for ensuring that roadways remain clear for various essential services, including snow removal, street cleaning, and emergency vehicle access.”
