Get those shovels ready.

The Wall Street Journal had a timely article this morning about how localities around the country are tightening their snow-shoveling ordinances. It turns out that the Southern city of Fredericksburg is ahead of at least one New England town when it comes to requiring residents to deal with snow in front of their homes:

In Newton, Mass., which doesn’t regulate snow removal for residents, officials are debating whether to impose a $50 penalty for not clearing sidewalks. Carleton Merrill, an 86-year-old alderman, opposes it. “I’m active,” he said. “But I know better than to go out and shovel snow. No way.”

In case you have been trying to block last winter out of your head forever, Fredericksburg’s ordinance requires residents to clear snow from sidewalks abutting their property within 12 hours of the snow ceasing to fall. You can be fined $50 if you don’t do this. Last year, city police distributed this flier to remind people of the rules.

And while we’re talking about last year, let’s revive the debate over proper etiquette when someone clears an on-street parking space. Does the shoveler have dibs?

Permalink: http://news.fredericksburg.com/citybeat/2010/12/16/get-those-shovels-ready/