By Carol McCracken  (Post # 1,251)

Significant snow may be on the way!  With that in mind, the City of Portland wants to remind residents and visitors that they can sign up online at www.portlandmaine.gov to receive email notices from the city when a city-wide parking ban is implemented.  People can also get parking ban updates by either becoming a fan of Portland Cityline at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Portland Cityline/89975485748?v=wall&viewas=1348184770, receiving tweets from PortlandCitylin at www.twitter.com, or turning in to the local news.  Motorists can also call the parking ban hotline at 879-0300 or check the Time and Temperature sign for up-to-date postings.

A city-wide parking ban is called when weather impacts the city’s ability to carry out its winter storm operations and ensure that roads are safe for travel.  When a parking ban is declared, all vehicles must be off city streets by 10 pm until 6 am the following day (times may vary depending upon the severity of the weather).  Vehicles left on the street during a ban will be towed at the owner’s expense (tow – fee – $70, impound fee – $35, ticket cost – $30 and all outstanding tickets must be paid.  Vehicles not claimed within 24 hours will be charged $25 storage fee per day).  Vehicles will be towed to the city’s impound lot located at the Ocean Gateway International Marine Terminal at 40 Commercial Street  (phone number 774-3025).  At the end of the day following a parking ban, unclaimed vehicles will be towed to private tow company lots and storage fees of $25. per day will accrue.

There are a number of places people can park at no charge during a parking ban including: Cutter Street Lots  (off the Eastern Prom), Parking lots on Munjoy Street, formerly known as the Adams School,  and others.

Vehicles can begin to park in these designated areas at 5 pm the night a parking ban is declared.  Vehicles must be moved from the city lots by 7 am the morning the ban is lifted.

The city can also declare a Yellow Zone parking ban for the downtown area onlyl, starting at 1 0 pm and ending at 6 am.  When a yellow ban is accounced, parking is prohitibed from Franklin Arterial to State Street and Commercial Street o Cumberland Avenue.