We all know the rules when it snows here in Maine.

While we are surely getting less snow than we used to, there are still those times every winter when we get dumped on.

With snow storms in Maine come the usual warnings but we’re all so used to the chaos, it can be easy to ignore what just feels like a recommendation.

Portland, Maine, Winter Parking Bans

One of these rules that is far from a recommendation is Portland’s parking bans.

You’re going to think I’m dumb for what happened but hear me out.

First off, this is my first time ever living in Portland, and any time there has been a “parking ban” I have seen physical signs on telephone poles clearly stating: WINTER PARKING BAN. DO NOT PARK.

Okay, easy enough, I will not park there.

Now what I did not put into consideration is that when it snows and the words “parking ban” are getting tossed around, you have to Google where those bans are? Or it’s just ALL of Portland streets? I STILL DON’T KNOW.

Anyway, I told my boyfriend he could park on my street last night in Portland because there were 12 cars on the side of the road when we got home. It seemed innocent enough.

Until 11:30 p.m. came around and we woke up to the suspicious sound of some giant rig hooking up to something right outside my house.

Uh oh.

Yeah, it was my boyfriend’s truck getting towed.

The poor guy, who doesn’t live in Portland and is even more clueless about this than me, ran outside in his PJs and negotiated with the tow guy and officer to get his car off the bed of the truck and move it into my driveway.

Yes… I have a driveway. That’s the kicker.

The rest of the cars that had previously been on the side of the road were then gone, some having probably moved because they are smart Portlanders and others were towed. There were police officers driving down the road and multiple tow trucks carrying cars away.

If I woke up in the morning and my car was missing I would immediately think it got stolen. It would take me a minute to figure out that it had gotten towed.

Well, you can avoid that from happening by just parking where you’re legally allowed to park.

Oh, and don’t park on the side of the street when there’s a parking ban in Portland.

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