Village of Warwick to extend nighttime parking ban

Warwick — Daylight Saving Time came early this year. It was part of the federal government’s Energy Policy Act of 2005 that had most of the country springing their clocks forward this past Sunday, the second Sunday in March, instead of the usual first Sunday in April. The return to standard time also is delayed. Instead of falling back an hour in October, we will instead wait until the first Sunday in November. What has this got to do with anything here in Warwick? Well, the village’s overnight parking regulations are based on the time change. Usually, when we spring forward, the ban is off and cars may be parked on village streets overnight. The opposite is true in the fall—when we change our clocks the ban is in place. However, springing forward in March brings a more likely possibility that there will be snow after the time change. And that is the reason for the parking ban—keeping the streets clear of cars to give access to snow removal vehicles. This Monday the Village Board will hold a public hearing to change its ordinances that specify the time changes as the dates related to the parking. Instead, concrete dates will be specified in the local law, designating that no parking on village streets is allowed from Nov. 1 to April 1 each year, no matter when the time changes. For everyone’s information, the village has been distributing flyers asking people not to park on village streets until April 1. As for the early time change, the Secretary of Energy will compile the results of how much energy, if any, is saved by moving Daylight Saving Time. After that report is received, the Congress will decide on whether to resume the old schedule or continue with the new one. According to www.webexhibits.org, this new schedule is supposed to stay in effect through 2009, at least. But it won’t affect Warwick’s parking situation anyway.