BROOKINGS – Brookings Police issued 158 snow tickets and responded to 13 accidents due to the recent snow, said Lt. Marci Gebers.
A parking ban went into effect 8 p.m. Friday prohibiting parking of any vehicles, implements and trailers on streets, alleys and avenues until they were cleared from curb to curb. A total of 158 vehicles were ticketed, and approximately that same number were towed, Gebers said.
Thirteen accidents were reported Friday through Monday, with none labeled as injury accidents, although information was minimal on some of them, Gebers said.
She was “very surprised” by the low number for the four-day span.
Gebers reminded everyone to follow the alerts; they can even sign up for notification through the city website, at http://www.cityofbrookings.org/list.aspx.
Some city streets have prohibited parking from November through April; parking may be prohibited on other streets when snow accumulates or is predicted. Parking bans are to give street crews the opportunity to remove snow, and vehicles may not be parked on those streets until they are cleared.
When parking bans are declared, they are posted on the city website and social media, including Facebook and Twitter; Mediacom Channel 9 and Swiftel TV Channel 9, as well as local news outlets. Individuals can receive a text or email when a parking ban is declared by signing up at Notify Me – Alert Center, Emergency Alerts.
“I think that we do a pretty good job getting information out to the public through you guys there at the Register and Brookings Radio and just on social media,” Gebers said.
The City of Brookings website has some winter weather advice on its Snow Removal page:
• Be patient. City crews are working to make the streets safe for everyone.
• Check the sites (for news outlets) for an update about Brookings snow removal operations.
• Do not drive through “whiteouts” caused by plowing or high crosswinds. It is easy to become disoriented and lose control of your vehicle.
• Do not shovel or blow snow from sidewalks, crosswalks, driveways or parking lots onto public streets. It is a violation of city ordinance.
• Do not travel beside snowplows or other snow removal equipment. They can be driven sideways very easily by the force of the snow on the plow blade.
• Expect snowplows to make unanticipated maneuvers such as backing up and making wide turns. The amber warning lights on snow removal equipment are there to alert motorists and remind them to yield the right of way.
• Remove snow and ice from sidewalks and crosswalks adjoining your property within 48 hours of snowfall. If you fail to clear them, you are subject to a bill from the City to complete the work.
• Stay at least 70 feet (four car lengths) back when you are following behind snowplows and other snow removal equipment so the maintenance vehicle driver can see you. Remember that snowplow drivers have limited vision from inside their vehicles.
• Watch local television stations and listen to local radio stations for the most current snow removal information. (City alerts are also posted on the Register’s Facebook page.)
Contact Jodelle Greiner at jgreiner@brookingsregister.com.
