Sand Springs Police Warn Residents To Heed Snow Parking Ordinance

The City of Sand Springs is gearing up for the winter weather, and you could be slapped with a heavy fine if you don't follow a new snow parking ordinance.

On Christmas 2009, a significant amount of snow fell in Sand Springs. People were concerned that first responders and snow plow crews wouldn't be able to get to their homes if there was an emergency. And that's what sparked the creation of a new snow parking ordinance.

"I think it was a good result of us listening to the public. They had concerns after the major snow storms," said Sand Springs Police Deputy Chief Mike Carter.

The city is banning all parking along snow plow routes, and on city streets, you can't park on the side of the street with odd numbered addresses.

"That will leave it clear for emergency vehicles and hopefully for our plow crews to be more efficient in what they're trying to get accomplished," Carter said.

He said the city has three snow plowing crews on standby for emergencies and several others will be out monitoring the road.

"Police officers notify our crews when they start seeing the streets becoming covered and the plow crews are activated," Carter said. "They'll come out and start plowing until conditions improve."

The ultimate goal is to keep people safe and to tow as few cars as possible.

"We wanted to get the word out. That way, if people were planning on leaving town tomorrow that they didn't leave a vehicle parked on the odd side of the street," Carter said.

Go here to see a map of the city's snow plow routes.