http://bostinno.com/2013/01/16/parking-bans-in-boston-when-it-snows/

That's not true. It's not illegal to save your spot, and the Mayor asks you not to do 48 hours AFTER the snow emergency has been lifted. As of 5pm 2/10 it is still in place. Take a chill pill. It's a lot of work to dig yourself out.

In South Boston, DPW workers typically go around collecting all of the items people put out to "hold" their spot after they have cleaned out their car and left. The streets are NOT private and no resident has the right to think that because they took the time to clear out their car and leave, that that space should be empty upon their return, You can clear off your car and leave it parked, but once you leave that spot becomes available to whomever comes along. And for the record, I already called the Mayors Hotline and they said people cannot save parking spaces on public streets.

1. You live in Eastie now. So welcome to the wild, wild East.
2. He has repeatedly said 48 hours after the emergency is lifted, and the DPW doesn't pick anything up until then either.

I have lived in East Boston for three years and I have lived in Boston since 1996. Bottom line is if you clear your car off of snow and drive away the space becomes available to whomever. BTW: Three of my neighbors left in their vehicles after clearing the off of snow and three people looking for parking spaces pulled up, removed the chairs, crates and crap that people left by tossing the stuff onto the sidewalk and parking in those spaces. I had parked my vehicle out at one of the MBTA garages on Thursday....why?? Because I am a true city person and know what to expect. I just spoke to a police officer who is outside on my street and he said people (with the exception of law enforcement, DPW and emergency workers has the right to take parking spaces and hold them. Citizens do not.

And as the Mayor's Office has stated, " there is no rule on the books about putting milk crates and broken furniture down and claiming a shoveled spot as personal turf.

“While not written into the law, the Mayor is mindful of the work that goes into shoveling out a parking space,” according to a statement from Menino’s office. “We request that space savers be removed within 48 hours of a snow emergency being lifted.”

They are not discouraging the practice of people using space savers or whatever term seems to fit, but they are not encouraging people to do it either. What they are saying is that if someone attempts to use a space saver and is lucky enough to get away with it, then 48 hours is the max it will be tolerated after a snow emergency has been lifted.

There is no law or statute on the books legalizing the use of space savers.

I cannot wait until tomorrow when all the people who work at East Boston neighborhood health center drive around the neighborhood looking for parking and see these "space savers" and then toss them aside and park in the empty spaces.

You know they have a private lot right?

Also, just because there is no law making them legal, it also doesn't make them ILLEGAL.

Then there is no justification for anyone to enforce or pay mind to it if it is not legal.

In other words, if someone digs out their car and places a "space-saver" in place of their vehicle, there is no law backing them that they have a right to that spot when they return. They can place the space saver there, but you, I or anyone else has the right to move it and park in that space. Maybe you are right....in essence it is not illegal because there is no law or statute on the book stating it is such.

And in turn it is not legal to use a "space saver" as no law exists on the books making justification.

It comes down to this. If you dig your car out and leave a chair, crate, trash barrel, baby walker, or child's car seat (as in the case of my neighbor), expect one of two things to occur. 1) You may get by with keeping that space for 48 hours without incident or (2) Someone is going to look at that "space saver", toss it aside and park there.

I guess it's all in what the resident is willing to do for a parking space. Since there is no law on the books stating that once you put the "space saver" there that your entitled to that particular parking spot, then don't get upset when you return and your space has been taken.

The reason the DPW begin removing all the space savers in South Boston was because resident's were going far beyond the 48 hour bench mark from the mayor's office and it was leading to physical (and often violent) altercations between residents in that part of the city.

There are a few people in Boston city government working to outlaw people using the practice of "space savers" city wide.

I'll let the city leaders work it out.

Issue Closed