New snow shovelling policy

[pjmorgan.livejournal.com]

I'm going to pick a fight in a passive aggressive way, if that is possible.

So Somerville fines if you shovel snow into the street??!!!
http://www.wickedlocal.com/somerville/news/x1689216222/Fines-set-for-Somervilles-non-shovelers

This is bogus on so many ways.

First of all, during the last storm, right after I shoveled my sidewalk and "shoveled" snow onto my sidewalk. Not just into my driveway (which I've come to expect). Can I fine the city for that?

So is this defined as into the middle of the street, or along the edges? Sometimes you have to shovel just a little bit into the first couple feet of the street. If someone shovels out their car, will that trigger it?

In general, I find it annoying that my real estate taxes go to clearing the roads (which I don't even use since I'm doing my part by not driving) so I guess I have a chip on my shoulder.

And hopefully I just don't understand the regulation. What is the definition of shoveling into the street that they are going off of?

Comments

[daviscubed.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link. According to the link, you need to clear 3.5' of sidewalk (42"). Not the whole sidewalk. I'd be surprised if this wasn't a reasonable task for 95%+ of homes. I don't think my sidewalk is particularly wide, and it's got to be 5 or 6 feet.
Also, has anyone ever got a ticket for this? I don't think the rule is actually new, maybe just the fines. I'd be more concerned with who is enforcing it. If it takes a neighbor's call, I'd be fine with that, but I'd prefer not to have the Traffic folks checking every sidewalk with a tape measure.
I think the rule is pretty standard in areas with sidewalks.

[ringrose.livejournal.com]

That same link tells you who enforces it. "Will be fined in accordance with section 1-11" - if you look in section 1-11, it tells you who enforces what.

In this case "Police; commissioner of public works; inspectional services; health inspectors, traffic and parking" for both shoveling sidewalks and not shoveling your snow into the street.