Municipality will be towing during snowstorms

A snow covered stop sign and road after a snowstorm on Feb. 2 in southern Nova Scotia.
Snowstorm on Feb. 2 with significant snowfall and wet conditions. Photo by Ed Halverson.
Ed Halverson - QCCR/CJQC - LiverpoolNS | 15-12-2022
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Drivers in Liverpool are being put on notice, don’t park on streets during a snowstorm.

At the most recent Region of Queens council meeting councillors discussed who would be responsible for winter parking enforcement.

RCMP say they don’t have the capacity to be involved but told municipal staff the Region has the legal authority to have offending vehicles towed.

Under the Nova Scotia Motor Vehicle Act it is illegal to leave parked cars where they will interfere with road clearing.

The car can be towed leaving the owner responsible for the costs.

Parked cars not only make snow clearing more difficult but can also be dangerous for plow drivers, pedestrians, and other drivers when snowbanks are left in place.

Mayor Darlene Norman says the safety of everyone on the roads must be the priority, but no one wants to tow a vehicle.

“In the past we have had our bylaw officer, who’s very diligent, has at times, on her own initiative, tried to track down who owns these vehicles, knocked on doors,” said Norman,

She says staff can use their discretion when to remove a vehicle, but it was not determined if it will be the plow truck driver or a supervisor who will make that call.

The Region is responsible for snow clearing around the former town of Liverpool while the province plows the remainder of roads in the county.

The mayor says regardless of where people live, for everyone’s safety council wants to beef up communication with the public about the importance of not parking on the streets during snowstorms.

Norman said, “Our message to the public will be, please do not park on the streets during periods of snow when we have to have snow removal.”

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

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