City crews say the way you park could make it difficult for plows to get through

GRAND FORKS, ND (WDAZ)--A rule no one knows is keeping your street packed with snow.

The Streets Department said they can't plow dozens of residential streets because of where people are parked.

"It’s kind of an obstacle course to get through sometimes,” said East Grand Forks resident, Richard Van Eck.

Streets in Grand Forks are packed with cars on both sides.

"You've got to start planning well in advance who's going to get through which gap and stop and pull over and let the other one through,” said Van Eck.

Causing a struggle for drivers on their way to work.

"I just try not to even go down that street in the winter because  you're just kind of meeting cars head on all the time and it's really tight to get through there,” said Van Eck.

But tight parking is also an issue for plows; forcing them to avoid as many as 20 streets each time it snows.

"Otherwise we'd do damage to the vehicle, and then that ties my guy up, and ties up the operator so that's really not conducive to getting the streets done either,” said Mark Aubol, of the Streets Department.

City leaders are asking you to stagger your parking -- so your car isn't directly across from another.

"As snow starts to accumulate on the berms and it kind of gets higher and the road gets necked down a little more it's almost impassable,” said Aubol.

It's a change that could help get crews clearing snow faster -- and make it easier for drivers to get through.

"People park wherever they can park closest to where they park because we're all freezing I get that,” said Van Eck.