Prepare to be towed: Chicago’s overnight winter parking ban is now in effect. Here’s where

Some in Chicago may be waking up to find their cars gone now that the city’s winter overnight parking ban is officially in effect.

The ban, which is enforced regardless of snow, went into effect at 3 a.m. for more than 100 miles of main streets. It remains in effect daily through 7 a.m. until April 1.

The ban “helps ensure public safety each winter by allowing public transportation and emergency vehicles to move freely and reducing hazardous conditions for motorists, pedestrians, and other travelers,” Department of Streets and Sanitation Commissioner Cole Stallard said in a release. “Having this consistent rule for overnight parking allows snow removal crews to plan and execute their operations more effectively,” including salting and plowing.

The ban applies to 107 miles of main streets through the city, with permanent signage already posted. And vehicles left parked in violation of the ban can expect to be towed, with car owners facing minimum $150 towing fee, $60 ticket and a $25 daily storage fee.

A full map of streets where the ban is in effect can be found here.

Fliers posted on cars ahead of the banned warned drivers “Do not park at this location between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m. from until until April 1 or you will be ticketed and towed.”

A separate snow related parking ban exists for another 500 miles of main streets, according to the City of Chicago, and can be activated after there are at least two inches of snow on the street, no matter the time of day or the calendar date.

“While the 2” inch snow ban is not activated often, motorists who are parked there when it snows could receive a ticket or find that their vehicle has been relocated in order to facilitate snow clearing operations,” the city’s website said.

According to the city, both of parking bans were implemented on designated arterial streets to prevent recurrences of problems that happened in 1967 and 1979 when Chicago came to a traffic standstill due to major snowstorms.

Vehicles in violation of the ban are towed to either Pound 2, located at 10301 South Doty Avenue) or Pound 6 (701 North Sacramento).

If you think your vehicle may have been towed due to the ban, you can search for it here or call 311 for more information.