RACINE — The City of Racine winter parking rules have moved back to what they were in previous years, 2 a.m. until 6 a.m.
In a new ordinance, the city proposed moving the hours to 2 a.m. until 2 p.m. during snow emergencies. The city said the change would save the city about $60,000 in overtime costs and would allow DPW drivers the ability to get some sleep before continuing snow and ice operations during the day on a regular shift.
The ordinance was passed and was listed to begin on Dec. 1. However, when that day rolled around, the city received numerous calls from residents about the restrictions. The callers were asking why the new times were in place every single day, not just during snow emergencies.
As it turns out, the ordinance was not drafted correctly and didn't list the new times as only in effect during snow emergencies, Mayor Cory Mason said in a press release Wednesday.
Mason asked the city attorney to draft a correction, which he would bring before the council next week, but the city attorney informed him that the initial ordinance was never filed properly.
"The city attorney noticed that the ordinance change was mistakenly never attached to a Council agenda, meaning that the Council never actually voted to enact the ordinance change. Therefore, the changes are not in effect," Mason said.
So, with no new ordinance in effect, the winter parking times have reverted back to what they have been in years past which is 2 a.m. until 6 a.m.
Alternate side parking regulations are in effect Dec. 1 to April 1, except for Christmas and New Years Day, the city's website says.
Vehicles must part on the even-numbered side of the street on even-numbered calendar days and the odd-numbered side on odd-number days.
Cars who violate the rules could be ticketed and receive a $20 fine.
During snow emergencies, no parking is allowed on arterial or collector streets and there will be odd/even side parking restrictions in effect when there's an emergency declared.
For more information, click here.
