Parking ban planned for Northfield

By Marshall Bates
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

With winter coming, Norwich University and Northfield residents are preparing for the yearly inundation of snow. This year, a new ban on parking might mean residents who leave their cars parked in the streets overnight will awake in the morning to find that their vehicles have been towed by the Northfield Police Department, even if there has been no snowfall.

Starting Nov. 15, 2001, the town of Northfield will institute a parking ban on all town streets for the winter season, regardless of the present conditions.

According to a notice from Northfield Town Selectman and Village Trustees, "There will be no all-night parking of motor vehicles on the streets or roads of Northfield Town and Village from the hours of midnight to 6 a.m. from Nov. 15, 2001 through April 15, 2002."

Michael Scruggs, a Northfield police officer, said that "if it looks like it is going to be a snowy night, then, for snow removal purposes, the vehicle will be towed by either North Main Services or Baroffio's garage or whichever company is available."

"The owner of the car will be responsible for paying the towing charges," Scruggs said.
This ban may cause problems for many commuter students. Many students are given parking tickets, according to the Northfield Police Department.

According to Scruggs, the first offense will result in a $10 parking ticket, payable at either the Police Department or at the Municipal Building. After four unpaid violations the vehicle will be impounded until the owner pays the violations and the towing charge.

"The owner will have 15 days to pay the violation," Scruggs said. "If there is no response, the vehicle will be impounded until everything is paid."

Michael Abraham, Norwich University Chief of Security/Safety, said he hopes the message gets out to Norwich University students in time.

"We will do our best to notify the student body as soon as we possibly can," Abraham said. "We don't want our commuter students who come to visit or stay overnight to find their vehicle towed when they return to where they left it."

Abraham said he understood that it is "an inconvenience to the students to have to move their cars." Abraham promised that Norwich security will "do their best to notify students of when the parking lots will be plowed."

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