Police cite motorists for not obeying parking restriction

The Libby Police Department saw a spike in citations in January owing to widespread failure to obey the city’s snow parking restrictions.

Chief Scott Kessel told Libby City Councilors the department issued 47 citations during the month, up from just 16 this time last year. Officers handed out more than 20 during the bit of light snow the region received in January, he said.

“People apparently forgot all about our local ordinance,” he said.

From Nov. 1 to March 30 parking is banned on streets running north-to-south between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m. From 8 a.m. to noon, parking is restricted on streets running east-to-west. For all other streets, the parking ban is in effect from 2:30 a.m. to 6 a.m.

Kessel told city councilors the department also towed nearly a dozen cars during snow events in January.

Overall, the department responded to 299 calls and made 25 arrests last month, he said.