No owner or operator of a motor vehicle shall park, or leave unattended, any vehicle on any Town street, highway or county highway within the Town of Union whenever snow has fallen, and the accumulation covers the streets or highways. For the purposes of this article, snow-covered streets or highways shall constitute a "snow emergency." The parking prohibitions under this section shall remain in effect until said streets or highways have been plowed by, or in the direction of the Highway Department of the Town of Union.
[Adopted 3-19-2025 by L.L. No. 3-2025[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This local law also superseded former Art. III, Parking During Snow Emergencies, adopted 1-15-1975 by L.L. No. 1-1975, as amended.
A.
Motor vehicles in violation of this article may be towed and impounded or immobilized with a wheel boot by or at the direction of the Highway Superintendent, a Town code enforcement official, or their designee. Impounded vehicles will remain so until reasonable towing and storage fees are paid.
B.
As an alternative to towing, motor vehicles left on Town streets in violation of this article during a snow emergency may be ticketed. Fines for such violations shall be established by the Board of the Town of Union from time to time by resolution. In the event that the vehicle owner, registrant or operator fails to return the ticket with a plea of not guilty and/or fails to appear in court on the return date, the Justice of the Town Court may enter a plea of not guilty in absentia and set the matter down for a trial. If, following due written notice of trial to the vehicle owner, registrant or operator by the Town Court of the Town of Union, the vehicle owner, registrant or operator fails to appear for trial or otherwise defaults, the Town Attorney may elect, on the return date of the trial or such later-noticed return date set by the Town Court, to proceed civilly against the vehicle owner, registrant or operator for a civil judgment of default, including the costs of the fine and other court costs as may be awarded by the Town Court. Any such civil judgment may be transcripted by the Town of Union Town Court to the Broome County Clerk's office.
C.
The provisions of this article shall not be applicable to areas of the Town of Union where alternate side of the street parking has been established. In such areas, motor vehicles may remain on the side of the street where parking is authorized despite the existence of a snow emergency as such term is defined in this article.
The Highway Superintendent, at their sole discretion, shall determine the nature and extent of appropriate signage to be maintained at all main entrances or other designated areas of the Town of Union from November 15 to April 15 of each year. Such signage shall state: "No Parking on Town Streets, Town Highways and County Highways Within the Town of Union When Roads Are Snow Covered Until Plowed."
[Amended 3-16-2005 by L.L. No. 1-2005; 11-5-2025 by L.L. No. 7-2025]
No owner or operator of a motor vehicle shall park, or leave parked, the same unattended on any Town street or highway or county highway within the Town of Union whenever snow has fallen and the accumulation covers the streets or highways, and prior to said street or highway being plowed by or at the direction of the Highway Department of the Town of Union. For the purpose of this article, snow covered streets or highways shall constitute a "snow emergency."
[5-21-1986 by L.L. No. 9-1986; 2-11-1987 by L.L. No. 4-1987; 2-24-1988 by L.L. No. 4-1988; 3-16-2005 by L.L. No. 1-2005; 3-4-2009 by L.L. No. 2-2009; 11-5-2025 by L.L. No. 7-2025]
A.
The motor vehicles in violation thereof may be towed away by or at the direction of the Highway Superintendent of the Town of Union and impounded until reasonable towing and storage costs are paid.
B.
As an alternative to the towing away of motor vehicles, motor vehicles left on Town streets in violation of this article during a snow emergency may be ticketed. Fines for such violations shall be established by the Board of the Town of Union from time to time by resolution. In the event that the vehicle owner, registrant or operator fails to return the ticket with a plea of not guilty and/or fails to appear in court on the return date, the Justice of the Town Court may enter a plea of not guilty in absentia and set the matter down for a trial. If, following due written notice of trial to the vehicle owner, registrant or operator by the Town Court of the Town of Union, the vehicle owner, registrant or operator fails to appear for trial or otherwise defaults, the Town Attorney may elect, on the return date of the trial or such later-noticed return date set by the Town Court, to proceed civilly against the vehicle owner, registrant or operator for a civil judgment of default to include the costs of the fine and other court costs as may be awarded by the Town Court. Any such civil judgment may be transcripted by the Town of Union Town Court to the Broome County Clerk's office.
C.
The provisions of this article shall not be applicable to areas of the Town of Union where alternate side of the street parking has been established. In such areas, motor vehicles may remain on the side of the street where parking is authorized despite the existence of a snow emergency as such term is defined in this article.
[Amended 11-5-2025 by L.L. No. 7-2025]
The Highway Superintendent shall maintain appropriate signs at all main entrances to the Town of Union between November 15 and April 15 of each year stating, "No Parking on Town Streets, Town Highways and County Highways Within the Town of Union When Roads Are Snow Covered Until Plowed."