With the inclement weather approaching, please be aware that the Village of Hobart has a Snow Emergency law that became effective July 17, 2018. The law is titled SNOW EMERGENCY AND SNOW EMERGENCY PARKING RESTRICTIONS and reads as follows:
VILLAGE OF HOBART LOCAL LAW TITLED:
SNOW EMERGENCY AND SNOW EMERGENCY PARKING RESTRICTIONS
1. Title
This Local Law shall be known as the “SNOW EMERGENCY AND SNOW EMERGENCY PARKING RESTRICTIONS Local Law of the Village of Hobart.”
2. Declaration of Policy
A. The Board of Trustees of the Incorporated Village of Hobart does hereby find that an emergency exists at any time snow is permitted to accumulate on the streets of the Village of Hobart as defined in Section 3 (B). The Board recognizes that certain acts and omissions of the inhabitants of the Village impede the removal of snow from the streets of the Village, also impede the provisions of fire, police and ambulance service to the residents of the Village and impede the provisions of other necessary services to Village residents.
B. By this Law the Village Board of Trustees seeks to aid the Department of Public Works in its snow plowing and snow removal operations. Snowplowing is difficult in itself due to slippery conditions, but parked cars only add to the number of hazards and increase the time to remove the snow.
C. For the above reasons, the Board of Trustees of the Incorporated Village of Hobart enacts the following provisions.
3. Snow Emergency / Parking Ban Declarations
A. When a snow event is predicted the Village will declare a snow emergency/parking ban. This decision involves a consideration of such elements as the size of the predicted storm, amount of snow already on the ground, time of day, day of week, etc.
B. It shall be unlawful for any motor vehicle (as defined in the Vehicle and Traffic Law of the State of New York) to be parked or otherwise left unattended on any village highway and/or street or parking lot upon declaration of a Snow Emergency by the Mayor or his Designee. A snow emergency shall be deemed to exist whenever three inches of snow or more is predicted to fall within a twenty four hour period.
C. Once a snow emergency is declared the information shall be relayed to local radio stations, the Village website and posted on bulletin boards around the village.
4. PARKING
A. During a Snow Emergency a parking ban shall be in place for a minimum of 12 hours on all streets and parking lots. Individuals who impede the snow removal operations during the snow emergency by failing to remove their vehicles are subject to ticketing and towing at the owners expense.
B. Even when snow emergencies / parking bans are lifted, motor vehicles are not to obstruct roadways. The parking of a motor vehicle upon any roadway where the parking of a motor vehicle will not leave a clear and unobstructed lane at least ten (10) feet wide for passing traffic is prohibited. Not all streets can accommodate parking within this rule when snow accumulates. Parked motor vehicles violating this rule will be subject to ticketing and towing at the owner’s expense. Please be cognizant of where you park your motor vehicle(s) at all times.
C. No motor vehicle shall be returned to any village highway and/or street or parking lot until such village highway and/or street or parking lot has been plowed by the DPW and the snow emergency has been lifted by the Village of Hobart.
5. Moving Snow Onto Public Ways
A. Moving snow onto public ways, such as streets and sidewalks, is also prohibited and is subject to a fine. The owner of the property shall be responsible for any violation, even if the prohibited behavior was performed by contractor hired by the owner or by a tenant of the property.
6. Penalties For Offenses
A. Any person convicted of any provision of this Local Law shall be deemed an offense and shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed $250.00 for each violation. Each day a violation occurs shall be considered a separate and distinct offense in violation of this Local Law.
16 Validity
If any article, section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause, phrase or provision or this Local Law shall be, for any reason, held or adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unconstitutional, such determination shall not affect the validity and enforceability of the remainder of this Local Law.
17. Effective Date
Subject to the provisions of the Laws of the State of New York, this Local Law shall take effect immediately upon its filing in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of New York.
