A snow emergency is automatic 2 hours after the accumulation of 3 inches of snow.

We have the same problem on Downs,between Ten Broeck & Brown. Then they shovel their snow to the opposite side of the street! I know KPD has other things to do but I need to start calling them.

thanks for the info jen...

I just wanted to report back that 1 of the 2 cars always left in the road is still there. We did call the police and DPW...we were told that if was hampering the clean-up, it would be towed. As no shock to me, it did not hamper clean-up for them, because they do not live in my house...so, my family and I are heading out to shovel so that we can clear what should have been plowed!
I have to admit, I am very disappointed.
Jen, I appreciate your input. And while I am being overly dramatic,I am sure that you can understand why so many of us don't think Government is effective-- excluding you and a few new Alderpeople, I should add!

I'm sorry for your experience. If the car is still on the street during normal business hours at City Hall during a snow emergency you can call the Comptroller's Office and they will send out parking enforcement to ticket. Calling DPW will get you nowhere because they are too busy plowing. The KPD with only 5-6 patrol officers on the road can get hung up on traffic accidents during a snow emergency- taking statements for fender benders, etc. Hoffman has the same issues with a municipal lot right they could park in on the corner.

I always thought it was an automatic citation if you didn't move your car. I had always moved my car onto my lawn (not enough driveway space for multiple vehicles) the night before a large storm was expected. It also makes it easier to deal with shoveling out once the plows come. My guess is the people don't know, aren't actually there at the time, or are ignorant.

Thanks for replying Jen.

I would belive it is Call KPD and DPW both, DPW has to more or less make the complaint for KPD to do anything, it seems if a tax payer/renter complains it is a blow off more or less.

Vehicles are being towed and ticketed throughout the city. Unfortunately, towing is time consuming so it is a slow process to get those vehicles off of the street. A list has been compiled and these vehicles continue to be towed during each snow emergency. Vehicles that impede emergency access and plow vehicles are the priority and others will follow. In the mean time, tickets will still be issued to those vehicles left on the street. If you know of someone that is elderly or unable to move their vehicle, see if there is anything that you can do to assist them.

I will bring this issue up at out Finance meeting on Tuesday when all the Depts are there and get some resolution. DPW has enough on their plate without enforcing parking laws. The KPD and Comptrollers office are going to have to step up and issue more tickets at the very least because that is the only thing that is going to serve as a deterrent.

I will bring this issue up at out Finance meeting on Tuesday when all the Depts are there and get some resolution. DPW has enough on their plate without enforcing parking laws. The KPD and Comptrollers office are going to have to step up and issue more tickets at the very least because that is the only thing that is going to serve as a deterrent.

I think all the ticketing and towing talk is excessive. We live in the NORTHEAST, and snow happens. All of these "snow emergencies" are fabricated and manufactured. When was the last time Kingston truly required a "snow emergency route" for evacuation purposes? What I am witnessing is a gross overreaction on the part of the DPW, KPD, and other City agencies, unfairly victimizing and unnecessarily penalizing residents, restaurant and business patrons, and those without a driveway, garage, or parking lot. Park in the municipal lots, you say? How about applying a CONSISTENT policy, that is not a shell game of sometimes posting signage, sometimes not, sometimes enforcing the regs and sometimes not. The only consistent fact is this: the ridiculously high $100 ticketing over the past three storms has taken place when there has been LESS THAN 3" OF SNOW ACCUMULATION. Go to the NOAA and plug in the exact times of each storm to confirm this FACT: http://www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/interactive/html/graph.html?units=0&station=41.9301_073.9973

I think this is terribly unfair. I am the mother of a resident in Kingston, NY. He has only street parking for his apartment. There are no signs posted and he was issued a $100. ticket for being parked where he is meant to be parked. I have been trying to find any of these laws somewhere and am unable to do so. There is no place to bring the car except for private parking lots that say " cars will be towed". I am here right now visiting him and I am ill. What are the regulations and how am I to know. He got a ride to work and I have been looking for information. Since there is only about 3-4 inches, I assume this is not a snow emergency. How does one even find out. Am I supposed to go out and have to walk 6 blocks to the public parking and get pneumonia? A frustrated mother.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/24382133/Snow-Emergency-Parking-Rules

Wow, great response, Alderman Fuentes. So much compassion exhibited in posting a link to the parking rules without any narrative offered. Guess what? I checked the official City of Kingston website this morning and clicked on "Snow Emergencies." NOTHING. This is the problem with the parking rules, which are UTTERLY USELESS if not applied evenly and consistently. An emergency is posted when we have an inch of snow, as we did early in January. And no emergency is posted now, in the middle of an "historic snowstorm." This City is so badly run and disorganized. Cherie, I'm with you, this excuse for a "system" or "rule" is terribly unfair.

UPDATE: City posted a snow emergency at 10 am. It was not posted in time for Cherie, and probably dozens of other ticket victims, despite six hours of heavy snowfall. The snow emergency should have gone up hours ago, with information on where to park posted along with it, EACH and EVERY TIME...not buried in the arcane City Codes. People should be INFORMED, and not have to wonder every time it snows if they will be hit with another, obscene $100 ticket.

Here is how the City of Hudson announces a snow emergency:

http://cityofhudson.org/content

Informative, instructive, and alerting people well ahead of storm arrival (not in the middle of one, as Kingston just did 45 minutes ago). It provides exact times and clear, concise directions . A comparison...

Hudson: "News: Hudson Snow Emergency January 31, 2011 - A snow emergency has been declared in the City of Hudson beginning at 8:00 PM on Tuesday, February 1st, 2011. All vehicles parked on City streets must be moved to the even numbered side of the street at 8:00 PM Tuesday, and remain there for 24 hours until 8:00 PM Wednesday at which time vehicles must be moved and parked only on the odd numbered side of the street until 8:00 PM on Thursday. The Snow Emergency will terminate at 8:00 PM Thursday unless conditions require an extension. Please check back here for updates. Note that violators will be ticketed and towed."

Kingston: "A snow emergency is declared as of 10:00am Feb 1, 2011. "

Is respect for the citizenry - and a little extra effort - too much to ask of our City?

@ Brad:
I thought Fuentes post was complete and informative: a link says it all, and avoids the bouncing back and forth, and if nothing else, presents a great foundation.
As to the city posting an emergency, not sure how that is defined: a snow emergency exists when conditions dictate, and that (in this case for sure) seriously preceded the posting by the city.
The ticket policy in Kingston: that's another problem. $100 is a terrible hit and its not clear what a citizen is to do: drive around for hours until the emergency is over? The regulation says you cannot park unless the streets have been plowed. And there's another kicker: even if the snow emergency is over, you have to wait 24 hours to park if your street hasn't yet been plowed.
I suggest problems in Kingston services are systemic and pervasive, and that the snow problems are just another manifestation: this is a strong mayor system and we have no leadership or communication from the top.
If you know of an office in Kingston that is well run, that provides excellent service, list it here, please. As a model of how it should be done.
When service is at the top of the bar the customer is pleased in no uncertain manner, the customer is delighted.
I must say that most of the time I am delighted with the care at Academy Green.
However, this snow season is a bit over the top, and everyone is getting screwed. Kingston government doesn't help by just beating the snot out of the citizens, insult to injury, by ignoring reality and writing $100 tickets. Those tickets should be rescinded in light of the impossibility of todays storm.
That's where a strong mayor could step in and stop that kind of punitive nonsense. And our alderpersons might speak up.

The city needs to have alternate side parking for the winter,that should help for plowing and parking!