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Dozens of Cars Towed, Ticketed During Lancaster Snow Emergency
City's aggressive outreach efforts credited for fewer vehicles left on snow emergency routes compared to previous storm.
Published on Feb. 23, 2026
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As a snowstorm hit Lancaster, Pennsylvania on Sunday, the city's snow emergency went into effect, leading to dozens of cars being towed and ticketed from the main roadways. Tow truck drivers said they saw far fewer vehicles parked along snow emergency routes compared to a previous storm in January, which they credited to the city's aggressive outreach efforts to warn residents ahead of time.
Why it matters
Clearing snow emergency routes is critical for allowing plow crews and emergency vehicles to safely navigate the streets during winter storms. The city's ability to effectively communicate the snow emergency and enforce parking restrictions helps minimize disruptions and ensure public safety.
The details
Beginning at 5 p.m. on Sunday, parking was prohibited on Lancaster city's main roadways to allow plow crews and emergency vehicles to move safely through the streets. Vehicles left along snow emergency routes received not only a ticket but also a trip to the impound lot, as tow trucks quickly cleared the roadways. Tow truck drivers said the city used multiple methods to warn residents ahead of time, including text messages, emails, loudspeaker announcements, and door-to-door outreach.
- The city's snow emergency went into effect at 4 p.m. on Sunday, February 23, 2026.
- Towing and ticketing of vehicles began at 5 p.m. on Sunday, February 23, 2026.
The players
Lancaster Fleet and Auto
A tow truck company working on behalf of the city to clear vehicles from snow emergency routes.
Mike Weidman
A driver with Lancaster Fleet and Auto who said the city's aggressive outreach efforts led to fewer vehicles being towed compared to a previous storm.
What they’re saying
“I think it's still fresh in everybody's minds from the last time. So, things are running a lot smoother this time around.”
— Mike Weidman, Tow truck driver
“Between the text messages, the emails, they were using the loudspeaker downtown, driving up and down the snow emergency routes to try and get people's attention, knocking on doors. They actually started a couple hours before they sent the tow trucks out to try and ease it a little bit [and] speed up the process. It seems to be working.”
— Mike Weidman, Tow truck driver
What’s next
With additional snow still in the overnight forecast, drivers said they hope conditions continue to cooperate so emergency crews can respond quickly if needed.
The takeaway
The city's proactive communication and enforcement of snow emergency parking restrictions helped minimize disruptions and ensure public safety during the winter storm, demonstrating the importance of effective municipal coordination and outreach to residents.
