First it snows, then they tow.

http://my.yahoo.com/ Trucks lined up overnight hauling illegally parked cars to the impound lots.

In Minneapolis more than 1,100 vehicles were towed and in Saint Paul there were about 600 vehicles hauled away.

Both cities say they are doing everything they can to let people know the rules, so how come so many people aren't getting the 'snow emergency' message?

While most of us slept, the grim reapers were busy hauling in the season's first harvest of illegally parked cars.

Fishing reports varied driver to driver, "Uh I got six." "About a dozen." "It's been a long night and I've lost track."

He may have lost count, but the cities say despite phone calls, mailed brochures and media announcements, more than 1,700 people got towed.

Mike Kennedy of the Minneapolis Public Works Department says those numbers don't tell the whole story, "We won't see that in the numbers, and it's simply because we don't have the capacity to tow all the violators that are out there."

Kennedy says city contractors can only tow about 2,000 cars which is about 25 percent of those that are ticketed.

In Saint Paul, Hamline student Mariama was one of 600 deprived of their rides. The ransom, $169 plus a parking ticket.

"That is a lot of money. I'm a college student. That's money I don't have," complained Mariama.

Alex Guzman was leaning on pal Francisco Hernandez to rescue his wheels.

"Mucho dinero!"

No translation needed for the sentiment shared by hundreds trying to get their cars back.

The 600 towed in Saint Paul is actually a smaller number than the haul from last year's first snow emergency, signs the city's new calling system may be working.


By John Croman, KARE 11 News

Last Updated: 12/15/2005 6:48:05 PM