Somerville erases no-snow emergency fines

The first major obstacle of new Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone's term was almost as hard as cleaning up the four inches of snow that didn't fall on the night of Jan. 27.

Curtatone gave a reprieve to the 200 residents whose cars were towed and 3,000 who were issued tickets during the snow emergency declared two weeks ago.

The mayor declared a snow emergency at 7 p.m. on Jan. 27, but less than two inches of snow fell on the city.

Still, cars were ticketed and towed anyway as part of Curtatone's new snow policy, implemented after local businesses complained about blocked streets and parking spaces. The new policy identifies an emergency as a projected snow-fall of four or more inches.

The snow emergency of Jan. 27, declared six hours before the storm was to begin, gave residents four hours to move their cars to the odd-numbered side of the street or to alternate parking such as school and library lots.

Because the new policy was launched the day of the Jan. 27 emergency, the city was not able to advertise the change.

"Apparently [the emergency] was called the night before," said senior Zachary Chrisco, who was issued a ticket.

"In the morning, we wake up and there's no snow," he said. "We didn't know it was even for our street -- there were previous storms, but we didn't know there was no parking on one side of our street."

According to the Somerville Journal, it cost the city a total of $13,605.29 to pay additional staff to issue the tickets and tow the cars.

Many residents demanded refunds at the office of Parking and Traffic the following day. "People were coming in, saying 'I've lived in Somerville for 25 years and this has never happened,'" senior Jenna Sirkin, who was also ticketed, said.

Although Curtatone initially planned to follow through with the penalties, public outcry and claims of miscommunication forced the new mayor to back down.

"We're going to grant -- one time, one time only -- amnesty on all tickets given as a result of not following these snow emergency policies," Curtatone said in an interview with the Boston Herald.

Because of the confusion caused with the launch of the new ordinance, Curtatone has undertaken plans for extensive publication of snow emergencies.

Curatone announced Feb. 2nd that e-mail alerts for snow emergencies would be set up for Somerville residents. The city is also working to set up a hotline. Information on snow alerts and snow policy is broadcast on local television.

According to the Herald, Somerville would have made $179,000 had the towings and tickets not been issued a reprieve.

The city hopes that improved communication will make the snow removal system run more smoothly. "We're committed to following through on this policy," Curtatone's press release continued. "Making sure the streets are clear of vehicles is the only way we'll be able to make our streets safe and drivable."

The record of tickets issued will be erased by the city, and those who have already paid the ticket can go to the Somerville office of Traffic and Parking for a refund. Those whose cars were towed can go to Pat's Towing for a refund, according to Community Relations Director Barbara Rubel.

Rubel questioned whether Tufts students will be properly notified under the new plan. "I'm not sure if students are aware of the winter parking bans," she said. "It would be a service that the Senate might take up to notify students of winter parking regulations on and off-campus."

Unlike Somerville, Medford did not issue a snow emergency on Jan. 27th

"I didn't feel it necessary because we watched the weather," Medford Comissioner of Public Works Paul Gere said. "They were saying there was going to be a lot of snow, but during the evening they downgraded it," he said. "We decided against it."

Vice President of Operations John Roberto said on-campus students also find parking shortages during snow emergencies. When plowing the lots, he said, "we always suffer some loss in available spaces due to the snow being pushed into piles."