With Thursday’s snow, Newton residents are reminded there are two phone numbers associated with the city’s snow ordinance. To find out if on street parking is prohibited call 641-791-SNOW (7669) or check the City of Newton’s website. Information about Downtown Snow Hauling District operations can be obtained by calling 641-792-0411. To get a text or email when snow operations go into effect, sign up for City of Newton Snow Alerts. 

A ticket issued by the Newton Police Department for violating the snow ordinance is $35. Vehicles can be impounded if they create a hazard to traffic, impede the ability to safely plow the street, or remain on the street 24 hours after snow plowing has been completed.

Outside of downtown, Newton Public Works Director Joe Grife says Newton’s snow ordinance prohibits street parking once snow accumulation hits two inches.  

“The biggest thing residents can do to help us is keep cars off the street when we are doing snow removal. And if residents do snow removal themselves, don’t push the snow across the street or back into the street. That’s a big thing we see. We may be done with the street and now we have issues.”

Parking is prohibited in Newton’s Downtown Snow Removal District between 12:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. when downtown snow removal operations are declared and the downtown snow removal district line has been activated. The city must make that declaration by 7 p.m. the evening before hauling operations.