1,063 drivers ticketed for violating Calgary's snow route parking ban

Calgary has ticketed more than 1,000 drivers in the day since the snow route parking ban came intoin effect.

The city issued the 72-hour ban Monday at noon to get cars off the road and make room for plows to clear the streets.

Parking officials were busy from the start, Calgary RoadsspokespersonChrisMcGeachy said Tuesday. They issued 376 tickets in the first 3 hours.

They had ticketed 1,063 vehicles by 9 a.m. Tuesday.

During a snow route parking ban, drivers must move their vehicles off Priority 2 streets or face a $120 fine.

Priority 2 streets are collector roads, major community access streets and bus routes. If you're not sure if you're parked on a snow route, you can check the address here.Priority 1 routes arecleared during the snowfall.

Calgary received 11.1 centimetresof snow from Friday to Sunday, adding to the snow still frozen on the ground from the recent weeks ofminus double-digit temperatures.

No excuse, city says

A snow route parking ban should have been expected, even on Family Day long weekendwhen people might be away, McGeachy said.

"The road isn't a permanent spot for your vehicle," he said. "You do need to be cognizant a snow route could be a called, and there was snow in the forecast."

The ban is scheduled to continue for 72 hours, and while the city typically lifts it early, he said drivers should expect to be careful where they park until then.

"I don't want to jinx anything," McGeachy said.

Environment and Climate Change Canada was predicting snow flurries for Wednesday in Calgary but sunny skies and warmer temperatures for the rest of the week.