It's illegal to put snow on city streets

Pat Schneider  —  12/24/2008 5:45 am

Don't dump -- that means push, shovel or blow -- snow on the streets, say city of Madison officials.

It is illegal. It can cost you. And it makes things harder for everyone else.

The city on Monday issued the season's first citation, to a property owner who hired a snow removal service, for dumping snow in the right of way in violation of city ordinance, said George Hank, director of Neighborhood Preservation and Inspection.

Fines and fees for such violations run $109 for a first offense to $172 for subsequent offenses each season. They apply to commercial snow removal services and residents wielding a snow blower or shovel.

Only a handful of such citations were issued last year, Hank said. Many more snow removal outfits and property owners received warning letters, however, often after a complaint.

City street officials are so worried by the early, heavy accumulation of snow this season that they are sending out a mass mailing to all known snow removal services restating the ordinance prohibition on snow dumping and penalties for violating it, Hank said.

Snow plows that push snow into the street create a bump-out of snow that is hard on city snow plows and the operators, he said. "We've got some very overworked city crews that are doing their best to keep the streets clean."

Snow dumped on the plowed streets also can become a hazard for motorists as it is tamped down and freezes over, causing slick spots, Hank said.

Residents who put snow in the street "make it harder for everyone in the neighborhood to get around," he said.

And they add to the wall of snow nearly certain to get pushed into the driveways of their neighbors down the street.

Hank said he figures commercial snow removal services know the law, but may be finding it hard to find legal places to put it.

Homeowners illegally dumping snow shoveled or blown from their walks and driveways may not be aware of the ordinance, or may just be taking the easy way out as pitching it to the top of the piles on the terraces gets harder and harder, he said.

Pat Schneider  —  12/24/2008 5:45 am