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SALT LAKE CITY — Three days of snowstorms have buried cars along the Wasatch Front, and that's causing problems for parking enforcement agencies.
It all starts with the storm covering the car, then add in a shovel full from a snow plow going by and you can barely see the hood. Vehicles obviously can't stay on the side of the road until the spring thaw, but try moving a vehicle with that much snow on it.
It's a problem keeping Salt Lake City Parking Enforcement employees busy right now. "It's been a challenging winter," said Ben Roberts, compliance director for the agency.
Roberts said the city's impound lot is packed, and complaints keep rolling in.
According to city ordinance, drivers can only park a vehicle on a city street for 48 hours before its towed. That can become an issue with a series of storms like the city's seen recently.
Roberts said Parking Enforcement employees aren't out looking for violators; they usually only respond when a complaint comes in. And they do show leniency for drivers who are trying, albeit unsuccessfully, to get their vehicle moved.
"Somebody actively trying to remove the vehicle is going to be different than it just staying there for long periods of time," Roberts said.
If that's you, Parking Enforcement can help. Those in need are asked to call the agency, which can then send a crew out to help remove a vehicle. The phone number is 801-535-6628.
