As the snow fell in Davenport Monday evening, fifteen LED lights on various downtown stop lights went from black to bright blue, signaling the city was under a snow emergency.
"I didn't know there were snow emergency lights, I've never heard of them," said Keith Harkey.
The lights are new this year, to try and prevent a problem that happened last year. The city towed 44 cars from January 31, 2014 to February 1, 2014 because crews couldn't plow around them. And while signs were posted about emergency snow routes, drivers protested claiming the emergency went into effect without warning. The City of Davenport reimbursed them at a cost of $10,000.
"Probably not one of the best ideas that the City's had, but ya gotta give them e for effort," said
The lights will be on for the entire snow emergency. This one lasting from 5 p.m. Monday, January 5, 2014 to noon on Tuesday, January 6, 2014. Cars parked on snow routes during the snow emergency will be ticketed and towed.
"I think it's a good idea so that way people don't get towed off the street anymore," said Harkey.
Anyone wanting to park downtown can park in one of the city's three parking ramps for free during the snow emergency.