Arguments in Favor of an Overnight Parking Ban

The Roads need to be Cleared for Plowing

This is the biggest argument in support of overnight parking bans.

However, to suggest that all roads must be cleared is only half true. It would be more correct to say: narrow streets need to be clear for plowing, and if there is a large amount of snow, then all streets need to be cleared.

Before the invention of modern technology (including text messaging, smart phones, and social media), it would not have been possible to get the roads cleared without a winter parking ban. But things have changed, and it’s time for the rules to change.

It is possible to have both (1) overnight parking when there is no snow, and (2) parking bans during snow emergencies.

Crowded Roads are Hard to Navigate

On narrow roads, this is true. But this doesn’t justify a blanket parking ban for all streets, nor does it make sense to only ban parking at night only.

Vehicles are parked too close to resident’s driveways

This occurs when there is a high population density and lack of off-street parking options. Banning all parking is not a fair solution to solve an issue that is caused by zoning regulations that allowed for insufficient off-street parking.

A lack of “visitor parking”

Crowded streets make it difficult for visitors to find parking. Although the complaint is legitimate, there is no justification for placing the needs of visitors above the needs of residents.

To discriminate against lower income residents

Some of the arguments in support of overnight parking bans are thinly-disguised discrimination. These arguments include:

• Keeping out “noisy people,” “the riff raff,” etc.
• Limiting the number of renters.

Arguments in Favor of Overnight Parking

Lack of off-street parking options

The higher the population density, the higher the demand for on-street parking. Thus, it is the town’s zoning regulations that ultimately decide how many residents will require on-street parking.

Parking Bans Cause Hardships

People who do not have access to off-street parking are adversely affected.

Parking Bans Result in a Lack of Respect for “The Rule of Law.”

Regulations that are unnecessary are often ignored by residents and poorly enforced by the police department.

Parking Bans cause Division in the Community

Some individuals are triggered by people who ignore parking regulations. This leads to conflicts in the community.