Aaron VehlingBeginning at midnight Friday, students may find a little something extra on their car windshields if they’re not paying attention to where they park.
It’s that time of year again when calendar parking begins, requiring people to move their cars to the other side of the street each night.
On odd-numbered days, vehicles can only be parked, stopped or left standing on the side of the street with odd-numbered addresses, according to Jack Corey, community relations officer for the Eau Claire Police Department.
The same situation goes into effect for even-numbered days.
Senior Myra Schoen knows the situation all too well from last winter, when she paid an estimated $100 in calendar parking tickets.
Schoen said there wasn’t enough off-street parking for her vehicle and the six vehicles her roommates own.
Many nights when she would come back from the library at 10:30 or 11 p.m., she said the streets would be full as well, sometimes forcing her to park on the wrong side of the street.
The ordinance, which applies to all streets in the City of Eau Claire, is only in effect between midnight and 7 a.m. Corey said that parking is based on the date at midnight, which often confuses a lot of students who are parking their car around 8 or 9 p.m.
The ECPD plans to heavily enforce this ordinance with a $30 citation, Corey said.
“We’d just as soon people comply with the ordinance,” Corey said. “We don’t want to give out tickets.”
The ordinance does not supersede more restrictive parking regulations in the city.
“I think it’s a hassle because it inconveniences people who actually live in the area,” Schoen said.
The ordinance was originally intended to make snow removal possible, but over time it also allowed for street sweeping and other routine maintenance during the low traffic, early morning hours.
Corey said it also helps the ECPD keep track of cars, allowing them to find abandoned cars easier.
“We also catch a lot of stolen cars that way,” Corey added.
Calendar parking will be in effect until April 30.
