GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Just in the last two weeks, Grand Rapids police have had to issue 3,000 odd-even parking violation tickets.
"Last year, we wrote 6,000 tickets throughout the whole five month period, and so far this season we've only written 5,000. But 3,000 of them have been in the last two weeks," said Sgt. Cathy Williams with GRPD.
Williams said they would rather not have to issue this many tickets, but it is becoming a priority in order to allow plow drivers and emergency crews to do their jobs.
'Snow birds' or cars that have not been moved in days will sometimes get slapped with an orange sticker. The sticker serves as a 48-hour notice before the car will be towed, but sometimes GRPD is forced to tow vehicles before then.
"If they are obstructing traffic and we cannot get a hold of the owner, we will tow that vehicle so that emergency services can get through," Williams explained Tuesday.
Williams urged residents to check in on neighbors who have left their car parked on the wrong side of the street.
"Are they snowed in? Do they have the means and the capabilities to get themselves out? Offer to help them," Williams said.
"Obviously that would be the first choice," she said, but if all else fails residents can call GRPD's non-emergency line.
► Emma Nicolas is a multimedia journalist. Have a news tip or question for Emma? Get in touch by email, Facebook or Twitter.
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