Calgary starts spring street sweeping with $120 tickets for unmoved cars

Calgary starts annual spring street sweeping with $120 tickets for unmoved cars

The sun is shining, the snow is melting, and that can only mean one thing here in Calgary…

… You’re in danger of getting a $120 parking ticket.

Now that all the winter weather is finally in the rearview (knock on wood), the city’s street sweepers can get to work clearing all the sand and debris to make our city look sparkly clean as we head into the summer.

The one downside to the street sweeping is that your car will likely be in the way of these fine city workers plying their trade.

Not to worry, as the City of Calgary will be putting up new street sweeping signs that will indicate when and where residential streets will be swept, meaning that when you see the sign, you’ll need to get your car out of there before they start (bright and early at 7 am).

Calgary’s new street sweeping sign (City of Calgary)

If you happen to forget, you’ll likely get stuck with a $120 parking ticket – but if you pay it within 10 days, it comes down to only $80.

Even cheaper than that is not getting dinged at all, and the city has a few ways to help you make sure you’re ticket-free.

Calgarians can head over to the city’s website to see when and where the sweeping will occur, search their address to determine when their street will be cleaned, and even sign up for a text alert to make absolutely sure they’re not $120 poorer by the end of the cleaning.

The sweeping will start on Monday, April 23 and continue on until June 30.

“The unprecedented duration of this year’s winter means it is vital for crews to sweep neighbourhoods in a timely fashion,” said Bill Biensch, maintenance manager of roads with the City of Calgary, in a release.

“We ask that citizens keep an eye out for our new street sweeping signs, which will indicate when our crews are coming, and when cars must be moved off the roadway. Failure to move your vehicle will result in a ticket.”

A live map of the sweeping is also available here, and the release states that is important to check daily, as the schedule will likely be updated on the go.

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