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Don't park on hilly streets during a snowfall warning: Coquitlam city hall

Several mountainous roads in Coquitlam are off limits for street parking from Nov. 1 or Dec. 1 to March 15.
snow plough
Don't park on the side of streets during a snowfall warning, Coquitlam bylaw officers say.

Be careful where — and when — you park on mountainous streets in Coquitlam.

That’s the message from the city after a Tri-City News reader emailed a copy of the violation ticket she found on her windshield after parking illegally on Westwood Plateau last Saturday, during a snowfall warning.

The bylaw infraction ticket wasn’t a financial hit, though. It was a warning with the amounts scratched out with a pen. “Unless you stop and read all the way to the bottom, it looks like a fine,” Christine Woodward wrote to the Tri-City News.

She added, “While I appreciate that the intent is to provide information, bylaw enforcement has just ruffled more than a few feathers. Using an actual parking ticket causes unnecessary feelings of hostility and concern for the recipient. I was taken aback at first, and my neighbours are abuzz.”

But Aaron Hilgerdenaar, Coquitlam’s bylaw enforcement and animal services manager, said Woodward was one of many vehicle owners to get a warning on Jan. 23 after public works staff activated the “No Parking When Declared” restrictions for higher-elevation neighbourhoods in Coquitlam.

“None of these warnings came with a monetary fine associated and were issued to remind residents that their vehicles need to be moved on to private property or a legal parking spot to prevent ticketing or towing,” Hilgerdenaar said. “During a forecasted snow event, we count on the community to ensure they are parked legally in order for public works staff to make our roadways safe for everyone.”

“Bylaw officers issuing educational warnings is a regular part of this process,” he added.

Hilgerdenaar said the city lifts the No Parking When Declared restrictions after there is less snowfall than forecasted.

And he suggests Coquitlam residents subscribe to the winter parking notifications through coquitlam.ca/notifyme or coquitlam.ca/winterwise to get an alert. As well, residents can also follow the city’s social media channels for the latest information about parking and road clearing, said Kathleen Vincent, Coquitlam’s communications manager.

NO STREET PARKING 

According to the city website, the following areas have no parking restrictions from Nov. 1 or Dec. 1 until March 15: 

• Westwood Plateau 

• Pinetree Way, north of David Avenue 

• Plateau Boulevard, north of Robson Drive 

• Johnson Street, from David Avenue to Robson Drive 

• Parkway Boulevard, north of Panorama Drive 

• Lansdowne Drive, north of Guildford Way

• Steeple Drive, north of Lansdowne 

• Dolphin Street, west side Mariner to Bosun 

• Strawline Hill Street, west side Sheffield to Harper 

• Chilko Drive, from Talta Place to Sharpe Street 

• Blue Mountain Street, Foster Avenue to Como Lake Avenue 

• Highland Drive, east of Argyle Street 

• Falcon Drive, north of Guildford Way 

• Hamber Court 

• Pritchett Place

• Corona Crescent