Dearborn Tests New Snow Emergency Plan

Signs have been posted on designated streets in northeast Dearborn and southeast Dearborn announcing that they can be used for temporary parking during snow emergencies. (City of Dearborn photo)

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The City of Dearborn has updated its snow emergency ordinance to include a pilot program to provide temporary parking areas in order to assist residents who have difficulties removing their vehicles from the street during a declared emergency.

When a snow emergency is in effect, parked vehicles must be removed from roads to allow for safer and more effective snow plowing.

Vehicles parked on streets during snow emergencies will be ticketed. Police do not issue warnings. Tickets are $80.

This winter season, the City will be offering a temporary parking option on designated streets for residents in neighborhoods in southeast Dearborn and in northeast Dearborn.

Signs have been posted on streets to notify residents which roads are being made available for temporary parking during snow emergencies.

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Residents are responsible for moving their vehicles back to their own street once the road is cleared so that the temporary parking streets can also be plowed.

Vehicles must be removed from the temporary parking areas within 24 hours of the snow emergency declaration or the owner will be ticketed.

With the previous winter’s large amount of snowfall, the City identified these areas where residents had the most difficulty removing vehicles due to congestion or lack of sufficient driveway space.

Residents in these neighborhoods who cannot park vehicles in their driveways will be able to temporarily park on the following designated streets:

Southeast Dearborn:

Eagle, from Amazon to Salina

Lapeer, from Ferney to Amazon

Lowrey, from Holly to Saulino Court

Westlawn, from Vernor to Burley

Tuxedo, from Ferney to Riverside Drive

Whittington, from Canterbury to Riverside Drive

Berkshire, from Industrial to Canterbury

Morningside, from Industrial to Wyoming

Riverside Drive, from Industrial to Vernor

Northeast Dearborn:

Blesser, from Maple to Oakman

Henson, from Maple to Oakman

Henn, from Chase to Williamson

Haggerty, from Maple to Calhoun

Paul, from Chase to Horger and between Schaefer and Hartwell

Hemlock, from Chase to Oakman

Donald, from Chase to Calhoun and between Reuter and Oakman

Alber, from Reuter to Oakman

A map highlighting these temporary parking areas is posted on the City’s website, www.cityofdearborn.org.

The City Council further amended the snow emergency ordinance by eliminating the discount for paying a snow emergency ticket within the first three days. Previously, tickets would increase to $80 after that three-day period, but will now be $80 from the moment of issuance.

The Council also added a provision that permits police to ticket parked vehicles even after a snow emergency has expired. These specific cases would apply to vehicles that are plowed in by snow plows, covered by snow, or show other signs of never having been moved during the snow emergency.

Snow emergencies may be declared when three inches or more of snow is expected over a short period of time and unfavorable weather conditions are expected to continue.

These declarations are made so that the City can plow streets from curb to curb, allowing ambulances, fire trucks and police cars to reach residents as quickly as possible, and also permitting residents to safely navigate two-lane residential streets.

When a snow emergency is declared, the outdoor early warning sirens will be activated to signal the beginning of the emergency. Parked vehicles must be removed when the sirens sound.

Residents can also check to see if a snow emergency is in effect by checking www.cityofdearborn.org, by visiting the City’s Facebook and Twitter pages, or by calling the Dearborn’s snow emergency hotline at 313-943-2444.

Snow emergency information will be posted on City of Dearborn Television (CDTV) and sent out via email and text alerts through Nixle. Residents can sign up to receive email and text alerts at Nixle.com.

Local TV and radio stations will also be contacted to distribute this information.