First Peabody, Now Danvers: Should Reading and North Reading Scrap the Winter Parking Ban?

The Danvers Board of Selectmen changing a policy that had been in place for more than 40 years.

The change will be implemented on Jan. 1. The ban will be in effect during snowstorms.

This change follows a trend around the North Shore. Last year, Peabody scrapped its winter overnight parking ban. And that puts Peabody (and now Danvers) more in line with Beverly, Salem and Lynn, which only have overnight parking bans when it's actually snowing.

Should Reading and North Reading be next? In Reading, on street parking is not allowed from Nov. 1 to April 1. However, the police department provides a two week grace period and monetary fines commence on Nov. 15.  In North Reading, you aren't allowed to park in public rights-of-way between Nov. 15 and April 15 from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. other than in the case of an emergency. When it snows, you aren't allowed to park in public rights-of-way at all times.

What do you think? Has Reading and North Reading's winter parking ban been more trouble than benefit? Would you like to see either town change it to allow overnight parking when there's no snow? Or do you think the ban should be kept in place? Discuss in the comments below.