Ignored parking bans cause frustration

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Parking bans are meant to free up the streets for plowing, but when cars remain parked...that cleaning process slows down.

When the blue light flashes in downtown Springfield, the parking ban is in effect.

But not everyone chooses to observe the parking ban.

"Some people paid attention, some people didn't. Seems people were like 'where would you like me to put my car,' because they didn't have a place to put their car," said Rajie Bourke from Springfield.

DPW Deputy director John Rooney told 22News that all those drivers who ignored the parking ban made a costly mistake.

The city of Springfield issued 533 tickets and towed 213 cars from Friday through Sunday morning.

When you ignore the parking ban, you risk getting your car plowed in, and it makes it much harder to clear snow off that street, which leads to the recent frustration with unplowed roads.

It might only take one illegally parked car to stop a plow from clearing the entire street, especially a narrow street.

"Unfortunately I think those people probably do ruin those streets, just because they can't plow so they probably do the bare minimum and pass by those streets, just because there are cars there," said Lisa Santos from Granby.

For a list of any parking bans in effect, click here .