November 19, 2014
Mariah Timms
News Writer
Washington, D.C.
The District of Columbia Council approved a bill Tuesday that will impose fines on residents and business owners who fail to clear their sidewalks of snow. City law passed in 1922 states that sidewalks must be cleared within eight daylight hours of a snowfall. If the city must clear the space, the owner can then be sued by the city for the cost. Enforcement of the law has always been spotty, it seems. Tuesday’s bill allows tickets of $25 for a residence and $150 for a business that fails to clear snow within 24 hours of snowfall. Mayor-elect Muriel Bowser was one of three members on the council to oppose the bill, stating, “This is causing more of a problem than it’s meant to solve.”
