Since snow began to fall Friday, thousands of drivers received tickets for parking in D.C. snow emergency routes, and nearly 600 cars have been towed, leaving residents wondering how to get their cars back.
Two feet of snow fell on D.C., prompting Mayor Muriel Bowser to declare a snow emergency that left many residents' cars snowed in. Drivers were advised to move their cars from emergency routes, but many drivers said they couldn't.
"They gave me a $250 ticket just for being snowed in. I couldn't get no help,” driver Danielle Smith said.
Your car still could get towed if it's parked on a snow emergency route; the snow emergency is in effect through Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
If your car was towed, recovering it may not be easy. Many cars were not taken to District-owned impound lots. Instead, they were relocated to side streets or sent to private tow lots.
To find your car, call the Towed Vehicle Locator office at (202) 541-6083.
To get a car out of impound, residents must pay the $250 parking violation, in addition to a $100 towing fee and a $20 per day impound fee. Car owners must also bring proof of their ownership and a valid driver’s license.
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Paying tickets and fees is not the end of the process. Many tow lots are still heaped with snow, said Cynthia Jones, of the D.C. impound lot.
"If you're coming to the [city] impound lot or a private lot, you better bring a shovel,” Jones said.
