Friday, January 3, 2014

Digging Out

Like a lot of northern cities, we have parking bans during major snow storms in Portland. Most of the bans involve getting vehicles off the packed peninsula streets, so city plows can strut their stuff. The ban usually goes into effect at 10 PM and runs until 7 AM. There are streets and school parking lots available to get your cars into for the night. However, if you are a lazy sort, accidentally forget to move your car, don't hear about the ban or just think it's too cold and you'll just roll the dice, you're are probably headed for a big headache. There is a fine involved, but certainly the real 'pain' is the search for your car, the towing fee and then the added torture of a storage fee on the lot. So the bottom-line for your laziness can be up to around $450 bucks removed from your wallet. I do have a towing experience once. Don't ask. All I'll say is that the storage lot did not take plastic, and I had to scrape up the cash. Hopefully, that policy has changed.
So, you think a 2 foot snowstorm is a real pain?
Try throwing $400-500 on top of that.
Luckily, I've never had to be concerned about moving my car in snow.
Another perk of country living.

17 comments:

  1. Cold, frigid weather is no picnic nor is a parking violation tow and fine. Great to live in these climes!

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  2. My sincere sympathies (for once!). I do not envy what you are dealing with up there. But I thought you were on your way south?

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  3. Love the snow as it builds up on stones and evergreens.

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  4. snow plows - a blessing and a curse. :)

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  5. The kind of problem I did not even imagine!...

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  6. I understand from the news that you got hit pretty hard with the white stuff last night. Are you shoveling out this morning?

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  7. Country living - healthy for you and your wallet!

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  8. Oh man that looks cold Birdman, talk about freezing into the new year!

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  9. Trying again, apologizing if there is a duplicate...Good luck down there...Yes, THAT IS a super pain...I had my car towed in my youth once or twice, don't even remember why. For another "portrait" of this storm, hop over to my post today...

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  10. I hope your snowblower is working!

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  11. Snow is beautiful except when its under 20 inches of the stuff -- barbara

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  12. That would make me crazy, not to be able to park near where I lived. . . and then to have to park outside in the snow and ice and. . . yep, that would make me consider moving south.

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  13. This is terrible. It was cold down here, too. 60. (Was that good, Elenka?)

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  14. There are BIG advantages to living in the country. That fine would make a huge dent in most wallets!

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