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

[ringrose.livejournal.com]

Is it possible that what you're looking for lies in http://library.municode.com/html/11580/level3/PII_C12_AI.html#PII_C12_AI_s12-9

Specifically, there it says you can shovel your snow or ice into the street provided "said snow or ice is broken up and spread evenly, to a thickness of no more than three inches, during daylight hours, when the mean temperature for that day is above 40 degrees Fahrenheit."

[turil.livejournal.com]

That's a horrible thing to do because it makes the street very slippery in one spot, which is even more dangerous because people aren't expecting it.

[ringrose.livejournal.com]

I'm not positive what you're binding "that" to. If you mean shoveling on a warm enough day, it doesn't seem too bad. People can see it and the snow will melt into something no worse than the rest of the runoff.

If you mean at night when people might miss it - or you might hit someone you did not see - or you mean when it's cold enough for the snow to not melt completely... yes. I agree with you, although I find it a little hard to get terribly worked up about snow ordinances.

[squirrelitude]

I think you've disagreed with every solution I've seen on this page. What do *you* propose people do about snow? What's your grand plan?

[turil.livejournal.com]

I already suggested it (maybe you missed it, though). The government is responsible for cleaning government owned property. Either they make the sidewalks a priority, or they make it clear that it's legal and appropriate to use the roads for walking.

Added to that, which I also already mentioned (did you miss that one too?) is investing in solutions for emergency transportation during normal winter weather, so that we don't have to worry about whether the streets have snow in them or not when it comes time for the ambulance or fire trucks to come visit.

[squirrelitude]

But where should the government employees put the snow? On many streets you can just shuffle it around and make a path, but the problem being discussed here is the set of streets with narrow sidewalks and no yards. Are you suggesting carting it away somehow?

Government clearing also raises problems that don't exist otherwise, such as individual control over how salt and snow are distributed. Maybe I don't *want* my sidewalk salted, poisoning my yard and front garden...

I've never been hassled for walking on the road when the sidewalks are bad. However, that's just my limited experience in the area, and I could believe that it happens.

I totally agree about having more winter-ready emergency services. Maybe ambulances on tank treads... :-D

[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.