About 300 Cars Towed For Violating Winter Parking Ban

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Hundreds of drivers got an expensive lesson on parking in Chicago on Saturday, after their cars were towed for violating the city's overnight winter parking ban.

The winter parking ban went into effect along more than 100 miles of arterial city streets at 3 a.m. Saturday.

That means cars parked in spaces with the red, white, and blue snowflake signs, had their cars towed. On those streets, parking is banned between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m. from Dec. 1 through April 1., even if there's no snow on the ground.

CBS 2's Courtney Gousman was there as drivers crammed into the city's auto pound lot on Sacramento reclaim their vehicles.

"They towed a lot of cars and everyone in there is angry. You know, you can see all the snow around here too," said Jim Mullenix, an Evanston resident who says his car was towed after his 25 year-old parked it.

"We was parked in front of the house!" said Chicago resident Jason Gray. "I ain't never paid attention to the sign. I ain't never paid attention to it."

CBS asked Kyle Hack, who drove his girlfriend up to pick-up her car if he feels the December first towing will teach drivers a lesson.

"Uh, no because it happened to me last year and I didn't learn. So no, definitely not a learning lesson," he said.

Drivers had to pay at least $150 to get their cars out of tow, and some were also slapped with a $60 ticket.

The city says about 300 cars were towed Saturday morning.

Drivers whose cars got towed said they realize this is a good way for the city to bring in revenue.

"I think that they love this day. You know they get a lot of money out of it," said Hack.

The overnight winter parking ban runs through April 1, 2013.