NORTHAMPTON — For nearly 40 people, Thursday’s snowstorm contained some additional discomfort on top of what was brought by the ice, snow and cold.
Northampton police report that 38 people had their vehicles towed as part of the snow emergency.
“It seems like the first storm’s always the one that has the most tows,” said Cpt. John Cartledge, of the Northampton Police Department.
The parking ban for the snow emergency was from midnight to 6 a.m. in Northampton, for both city parking lots and street parking, with two prominent exceptions. The Armory Street Parking Lot was open for parking, but had to be vacated by 8 a.m. for plowing. Main Street, meanwhile, had a ban from 2 a.m. to 7 a.m.
Cartledge said that during parking bans, the Department of Public Works calls police to report vehicles that need to be ticketed for tows. The police then ticket the vehicles, which are then towed by private towing companies.
In Northampton, the cost of getting your car towed in a snow emergency is $108 for the hook up plus $35 a day for storage and a $25 police fee.
Cartledge said that typically no more than one tow company is assigned a street, so that its easier to direct people to the company that has towed their vehicle.
“Listen to the snow emergencies,” said Cartledge, who encouraged people to get their cars off the street during them.
Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettent.com.