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41 Vehicles Ticketed For Parking In Emergency Snow Route

KULPMONT — Tuesday morning’s storm that dropped a few inches of new snow had some folks fired up in Northumberland County. Officials in Kulpmont say...

KULPMONT --- Tuesday morning's storm that dropped a few inches of new snow had some folks fired up in Northumberland County.

Officials in Kulpmont say 41 vehicles were ticketed for failure to move their vehicles from an emergency snow route and those tickets are pretty steep!

“The plow truck had to turn around the way then he got down by that car and had to turn around, look at the pile of snow.”

Standing along Route 61, the main road running through Kulpmont, the mayor points out places were Penn DOT`s snow plows couldn`t do their jobs, clearing snow all the way to the curb.

Mayor Bernie Novakoski says that`s because vehicles were still parked here overnight, despite the fact he had put a parking ban into effect starting at 8 Monday night.

Penn DOT will stay away from the car because of liability so instead of him getting close to that back bumper with his blade, he`ll be 8 to 10 feet away, so that`s a parking place here,” said Mayor Novakoski.

The mayor says 41 vehicles were given a $100 fine by borough police and he says he`s received plenty of irate calls.

While we were talking with the mayor, one of those angry ticket recipients, Mike Getchey, confronted him.

“The sign says snow emergency route,” the mayor explained.

“I understand that.  I've lived here for 12 years, never had a ticket, isn't it funny that 41 people got it today?” asked Getchey.

“No,” said the mayor.

“You don`t think that`s weird? You don`t think that`s funny?” asked Getchey. “It`s not like five people are coming and complaining to you, 41 people!”

The mayor says he declared the parking ban Monday afternoon.

But those who got tickets said that was already too late and they never got word they couldn't park on Route 61.

“When they’re calling for one to three inches and he decides the evening before that he wants a snow emergency, tickets 41 people because they weren't aware of what was going to happen,” said Getchey.

“I understand why they`re mad at me but that`s part of my job,” said Novakoski.

While some said they will fight the tickets, others said they`ve already paid the piper.

“If I`d had known earlier my truck would have been moved, basically,” said Fred Russo. “But yeah, I paid the fine, I try to do what`s right.”

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