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Snow plow driver in Elba complains about resident repeatedly blowing snow in the road

By Howard B. Owens

Law enforcement is being dispatched to Batavia Elba Townline Road near Pekin after a highway worker reported he had a confrontation with a resident who is blowing snow in the road.

The worker said this isn't the first time the issue has come up.

"He gave it to me and I gave it right back to him," the worker told dispatchers.

The worker said the resident videotaped the encounter.

"He's putting the hazard right back in the road," the worker said.

jeff saquella

With the amount of snow that has fallen so far this winter...where else are residents supposed to blow the snow?....the banks at the end of my driveway are so high that i have no choice but to blow it in the road when i get to the end of it. Don't really think that the little bit of snow that ends up back in the road pose a hazard. just my opinion of course

Feb 25, 2015, 3:50pm Permalink
Raymond Richardson

Jeff, if it's such a problem at the end of YOUR driveway, why don't YOU the property owner higher a contractor to load the snow into a dump truck and remove it?

As Howard stated, it is against the law to blow, shovel, or plow snow from your property into the roadway.

Section 1219 of the V&T Law.

Feb 25, 2015, 4:55pm Permalink
david spaulding

I see this kind of behavior all the time, imo they should be ticketed but the cops are looking for bigger fish like untaxed cigarettes. lol ha ha outta the car buddy you're coming with me you didn't pay tax on these here butts.

Feb 25, 2015, 6:17pm Permalink
Bob Price

Get a better snowblower that can blow it higher...... here's a scenario-you blow the snow in the road-if it's warmer out,it may melt,making the road wet,therefore chancing it becoming ice. If not warm enough,snow stays in road-road is dry until that patch you blew snow into,somebody comes zipping down the dry road then hits your mess you created,do you feel like being responsible for possibly causing an accident? I really hate people who plow snow across the road and leave the ridges of snow in the road.

Feb 25, 2015, 6:32pm Permalink
Rich Richmond

I live on a corner. When the City snowplow turns the corner from Washington to Dellinger my driveway is the first in line to be plugged up with snow.

Because of the way the house next to me on Dellinger and because how our drive ways are situated, I have to snow-blow straight out down my driveway and across the street tight to the snow bank. In practice I am also clearing the street directly in front my driveway forward.

I then will cross the street clean off the sidewalk bordering my neighbor’s house for any blow-over.

It’s more work but better than shoveling.

Feb 25, 2015, 6:51pm Permalink
Mark Potwora

In the city of Batavia they do noting about it..You don't have to shovel your side walk ..you can push snow across the street..you can plow snow on the side walk ...It is just a big joke ..But don't park in the street between 2-6 am because they will give you a ticket.

Feb 25, 2015, 6:40pm Permalink
Mark Potwora

In the city of Batavia they do noting about it..You don't have to shovel your side walk ..you can push snow across the street..you can plow snow on the side walk ...It is just a big joke ..But don't park in the street between 2-6 am because they will give you a ticket.

Feb 25, 2015, 6:40pm Permalink
Joyce Hart

True story...farmer's tanker leaked crap in the road; crap froze (it was winter); town had not plowed crap out of road; a vehicle "spun out," hit a bridge abutment and passengers were injured. A lawsuit was filed and farmer and town were held responsible. So remember this when you feel justified in putting your crap in the road...or in this case snow. As both Howard and Raymond stated, "it is against the law to blow, shovel, or plow snow from your property into the roadway."

Feb 25, 2015, 8:43pm Permalink
Christopher Putnam

How about the county plow drivers that plow snow INTO my driveway. Three times in the last week i have been late to work because of this. I pay a plow service to keep my driveway clear. They come reliably in the early AM everytime there is snow. I hear them plowing while im getting ready for work. Go outside with 40 min for a 30 min drive. Pull to the end of the driveway and what do i find. A 3-4 foot tall 4-6 foot thick pile of snow blocking the entire driveway. Because the county plow truck driver was pushing back the 10 foot pile on the side of the road and he was too lazy to slow down and retract the plow while passing driveways. So now i have to get out in my suit and tie, and shovel for 30-45 min to get to work. You know where i threw the snow? Right in the road. You just showed that you dont care about my driveway, so why should i care about your road?

Feb 25, 2015, 9:27pm Permalink
Kyle Slocum

I am struck by the number of people who seem to think that everyone can afford to pay somebody to clear snow for them or buy the equipment to do so.

Heat the house, feed the family or pay for snow removal that meets the standards of those with the money and political power......

I suppose it never occurs to those who have money that there are people whose priority is survival, not reducing inconvenience to their betters.

Feb 25, 2015, 10:28pm Permalink
Scott Chismar

What a silly post. The men and women plowing snow are very unappreciated. Did you realize that if they slowed down for every driveway as you suggested that they would not get the roads done at all and you could not get to work in your suit and tie anyway? As Howard points out, it is against the law to put the snow in the road. And you brag about doing it? I would not want to be in your shoes if a tragic accident happened in front of your home. I can hear the lawyers rushing to the scene now. Let's all be thankful for the awesome job that the plow drivers are doing this winter. And when the snow finally disappears, let's not be cursing them for not fixing the pothole in front of your home first. None of our driveways or pothole streets are more important than others. We are all in this together.

Feb 26, 2015, 12:24pm Permalink
Kyle Couchman

To further expand on the OTHER Kyle's point. Take a drive down Swan St, between Ellicott and Main. Residents and the Landlords make a pretty good effort but when you get to the Storage units and the old ice cream factory not only are the sidewalks not even partially clear. But they plow onto them so high that even the city sidewalk plow goes around them. They were reported many times last year but nothing is done.

Howard should go photograph these piles that are heavy plowed and packed snow and almost 8 or 9 ft high from the curb to the bldg wall. Before residents get ticketed this obvious defiance from a local business should be addressed especially on a corridor right to the school on Ross St.

Feb 26, 2015, 2:25pm Permalink
Rich Richmond

Money and power; poverty and survival do not guarantee or exclude responsibility, common sense, courtesy or good citizenship.

When I was 12 years old, I couldn’t afford a shovel so I borrowed one of my father’s snow shovels to earn money by shoveling driveways and sidewalks until I could afford my own snow shovel.

When I was first married, I wasn’t rich by any means, however I owned several snow shovels and I shoveled my driveway and sidewalk on the property I rented; sometimes before and after work. I discovered garage sales or moving sales were a good place to but snow shovels, cheap.

I bought my first house 25 years ago and I still wasn’t rich; however I then could afford several new and used snows shovels to shovel before and after work.

My first snow blower was a used 5hp. It was under-powered in heavy snow and stalled often at the end of my driveway....it beat shoveling before and after work.

I put a little money aside each year; sold the 5hp and bought a new 11hp.

The 11hp doesn’t stall at the end of my driveway and really beats shoveling before and after work. I still own snow shovels and garage sales or moving sales are still a good place to but snow shovels, cheap.

Feb 26, 2015, 3:39pm Permalink
david spaulding

Somebody is angry because his driveway gets snow pushed in by the plow driver.... lol you got to be kidding me....... Everybody who has a driveway will have snow from the road pushed into your driveway when the plow goes by. This has been going on since the invention of the driveway and the plow. Most people will clear their drive after the plow goes by.
To the plow drivers in Pembroke, I say Thank You for the fantastic job you do plowing snow off my street. You are out there every snow fall and do a fantastic job.
I appreciate my highway department and I'll stand up for them any day.

Feb 26, 2015, 3:43pm Permalink
Ron C Welker

Kyle,

Your post mentioned (Before residents get ticketed), have you ever seen on the police blotter a fine for not clearing your side walks? The sidewalk plow made its second appearance this year on Buell St and just ran down the sidewalks that were already cleared and made a mess, when he got to unplowed sections he just cut into the street and continued on his way?.

Feb 26, 2015, 4:15pm Permalink
Christopher Putnam

He isnt pushing the snow from the road. The road was dry and clear. He is pushing BACK the ten foot pile on the side. Knocking the top 1/3rd into my driveway. INTO everyone's driveway. Since this is maintenance of the snow not removal, he has plenty of time to slow and go around driveways.

Feb 26, 2015, 4:53pm Permalink
Kyle Slocum

Many years ago I was sent to pick up a DPW worker who couldn't get out of his driveway to come plow the snow on village streets.

When I picked him up I commented on the irony that he was about to worsen his own situation.

He replied: "You should hear the things I call myself as I shovel that damned snow back out of my driveway."

Feb 26, 2015, 9:44pm Permalink
Kyle Couchman

Ron, I also did not see the Richardson's ticket for violations of this sort with a tree branch. As a matter of fact you don't see any property code violation tickets nor minor code violations in the blotter. Heck we didnt even see this little in the blotter, it was reported by The Batavian because it was on the scanner...

Feb 27, 2015, 5:34am Permalink

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