[Adopted 9-11-2019 by L.L. No. 15-2019]
The Town Board hereby finds as a matter of legislative determination and by the authority of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law that it is in the best interests of the inhabitants of the Town of Rotterdam to expedite the removal of snow on the public streets so as to prevent the congestion of traffic and to expedite the orderly movement thereof during snow and other natural emergencies.
Whenever road conditions in the Town of Rotterdam shall become hazardous after a snowfall in excess of three inches, as determined by the National Weather Service, or when the free movement of fire, health, police, emergency or other vehicular traffic may become impeded by reason of snow, freezing rain, sleet, ice or other natural causes, the Town of Rotterdam Superintendent of Highways is hereby authorized to declare the existence of an emergency.
No owner or operator of a motor vehicle shall park the same unattended on any Town or county street or highway following any snowfall of three inches or more in depth until said street shall have been plowed by or at the direction of the Highway Superintendent of the Town of Rotterdam.
The declaration of an emergency as specified in § 247-28 above shall be conveyed to the public by radio and television announcements, which shall constitute notice to the general public of such emergency.
A. 
A snow emergency shall commence at either 8:00 a.m. or 8:00 p.m.
B. 
Such snow emergency shall be in existence for a forty-eight-hour period.
C. 
If conditions warrant, the Town Supervisor, upon the advice of the Chief of Police and Highway Superintendent, is authorized to continue the snow emergency for an additional forty-eight-hour period. Continuation of such snow emergency shall be conveyed to the public by radio and television announcements.
During a declared snow emergency, the following parking restrictions shall apply:
A. 
After 48 hours have elapsed from the commencement of the snow emergency, the snow emergency will be officially declared ended, unless such emergency is continued as specified in § 247-31(C) of this article.
B. 
The Town may restrict parking in designated areas for additional snow removal. Temporary appropriate signage will be posted in such areas which shall constitute public notification.
C. 
During a declared snow emergency, all ordinary parking regulations will be suspended excepting those parking regulations relative to fire hydrants, fire zones, driveways and handicap zones.
Information relative to the existence of a snow emergency, when commenced, and regulations pertaining thereto can be obtained by contacting (518) 355-7722 or visiting www.rotterdamny.org.
In addition to the penalty specified in § 247-35 of this article, any vehicle parked, stalled or otherwise unable to be moved during any snow emergency in violation of the provisions of this article or any rules and regulations promulgated hereto may be towed or caused to be removed under the direction of the Police Department. The vehicle shall be towed at the vehicle owner's expense, and such towing charge shall be paid prior to the release of such vehicle.
[Amended 12-11-2019 by L.L. No. 21-2019]
The penalty for this offense is specified in § 266-4 of this Code. The owner of any vehicle parked in violation of this article or any rules or regulations promulgated hereto shall be issued a parking ticket in accordance with § 247-35 of the Code of the Town of Rotterdam, and shall subject such vehicle owner to a fine of $100.