I am writing to bring light to the racket of snow removal towing. On Feb. 3, my car and the car of a friend were towed while parked outside my house on Ash Avenue. I understand the need for a snow ordinance, and I think it serves an important purpose for the safety of the plow drivers.

What I do not understand is how it is legal to tow someone’s car from in front of their house after the street has been plowed. Not only was the street cleared of snow at the time my car was towed, the street had been plowed twice on each side and the snow had stopped falling. I watched the plow finish its work before I moved my car from our driveway to the street.

Incidentally, since my car was towed away, the street has not been plowed again. To me it would seem the city tows cars outside their ordinance, which clearly states: “Parking in snow routes is prohibited from the time the snow ordinance goes into effect until the snow removal operations have been completed for the entire width of the street for said streets.” Maybe I am misinterpreting this statement, but when the street has been cleared completely and the snow plows stop running on it, it would imply to me that cars could be parked upon it.

Personally, I think the City of Ames and the tow stations twist what is a reasonable, safety-insuring law and make it into a personal racket.

Andy Harrison

Sophomore

Pre-business