Bethlehem, PA Parking Rules: Snow Removal Parking Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Ban takes effect
- 4 hours after declared emergency
- Route signage interval
- every 600 feet
- Even-side tow days
- Mon/Wed/Fri, 7 a.m., 24 hrs
- Odd-side tow days
- Tue/Thu/Sat/Sun, 7 a.m., 24 hrs
- First offense fine
- $50 or 30 days jail
- Third offense fine
- $300 or 90 days jail
Summary
Once Bethlehem's Snow Emergency Coordinator declares a snow emergency, parking is banned on designated Snow Emergency Routes four hours later unless signs say otherwise. The Director of Public Works marks these heavily traveled thoroughfares with signs every 600 feet, and violators risk towing plus fines under Article 523.
"Snow Emergency Route" is a city street that has been so designated and when a snow emergency is declared, the police start removing vehicles and the plow trucks open the street wide enough so as to provide for a free flow of traffic when vehicles are permitted to return to the allowed parking areas on the street. ... (a) The Director of Public Works shall, by regulation, designate streets which are heavily traveled and are necessary thoroughfares for the movement of vehicular traffic through the City as snow emergency routes. ... All streets designated as snow emergency routes shall be posted with suitable signs or markers at intervals not exceeding 600 feet, which signs or markers shall bear the words snow emergency route. ... Four hours after a snow emergency has been declared, and during its existence: (1) No vehicle shall be parked on a snow emergency route unless the snow emergency route signs permit such parking.
Full Breakdown
Article 523 defines a Snow Emergency Route as a city street designated so that, once a snow emergency is declared, police can clear parked vehicles and plow trucks can open the street wide enough for traffic before vehicles return to allowed parking areas. ' The Snow Emergency Coordinator, a City employee designated by the Mayor, declares an emergency when expected snowfall will create hazardous conditions, announces it to local radio, television and news services, and the declaration does not take effect until at least four hours after the announcement.
Four hours after declaration and for its duration, no vehicle may park on a snow emergency route unless the posted signs permit it; a vehicle that becomes stalled there without chains or mud-and-snow tires, or is left unattended, is itself a separate violation. for 24 hours, unless otherwise signed. Vehicles can be towed by the Police Department or anyone the Coordinator authorizes.
Violations & Fines
Section 523.99 fines any Article 523 violation, including parking on a posted snow emergency route during a declared emergency: $50 or thirty days imprisonment, or both, for a first violation; $150 or sixty days for a second; and $300 or ninety days for a third or subsequent violation, on top of towing costs the vehicle owner must pay to reclaim an impounded vehicle.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Bethlehem's snow emergency parking ban start?
How do I know which streets are snow emergency routes?
What day is my side of the street towed during a snow emergency?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bethlehem
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