City Hall issues reminder of winter weather parking ban

Libby Police Chief Scott Kessel is reminding residents that parking restrictions are in effect within city limits through the end of March.

Between Nov. 1 and March 30 parking is curtailed on city streets during a “snow event” to ease plowing operations. Offenders risk getting ticketed and towed, though Kessel emphasized that law enforcement and snow removal personnel try to avoid doing so.

“If the guys have time, they try and knock on doors at a reasonable time,” he said. “On the other hand, we don’t want to have snow plows run over a car.”

Curbside parking is forbidden on streets running north-south between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m. The ban applies on east-west running streets between 8 a.m. and noon.

For the following sections of streets, parking is forbidden between 2:30 a.m. and 6 a.m.: Mineral Avenue, between First Street and 10th Street; Louisiana Avenue, between Second and 10th streets; Montana Avenue, from First Street to 10th Street; California Avenue, between Ninth and 10th streets; Main Avenue, from Second Street to 10th Street; Idaho Avenue from Second Street to 10th Street; Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth streets, between Louisiana Avenue and Idaho Avenue; Lincoln Boulevard, between Louisiana and Idaho avenues; Eighth Street, from Montana Avenue to Idaho Avenue; and 10th Street, between Louisiana and Idaho avenues.

A ticket for violating the parking ban runs $50. But a tow could cost upwards of $180 warned Kessel. Vehicles that are impounded for multiple days could rack up storage fees as well, he said.

But that can be avoided by keeping an eye on the weather and moving a vehicle off the road ahead of a storm, Kessel said. While the city has thus far avoided a big snow event, the police chief said that he and Mayor Brent Teske wanted to proactively remind residents of the restrictions.

Kessel said that the department would issue subsequent reminders on social media ahead of any predicted snowstorms.

“I would rather have people move cars than tow them,” he said.