VERGENNES — Vergennes police were busy last week spreading the word about the new Vergennes winter parking law, and then enforcing it over the weekend.

The city has adopted a revised ordinance that does not automatically ban overnight parking on city streets, but requires residents and visitors to move vehicles from the streets during nighttime if city officials determine snow is in the forecast.

 People can choose to be notified they must move their vehicles in three ways: They can see notification posts on the city Facebook page or on the city website (Vergennes.org), or vehicle owners can download the Public Safety by Everbridge app to their cellphones. 

That app will automatically notify them when the ban is in effect, and will do so repeatedly until the phone owner confirms receipt of the information, according to Vergennes City Manager Ron Redmond. 

A QR code at Vergennes.org links to the app, and the city also mailed cards to downtown residents explaining the new law and how to download the app or find the notifications online. City officials said as of Monday more than 100 people had signed up for the app. 

The new ordinance, which took effect on Dec. 5, also changes the hours of the ban, it stretches from midnight to 6:30 a.m. That gives the public works department more time to clear the roads. Previously the ban began at 2 a.m. The law is still in effect Dec. 1 through March. 31.

Vergennes police on Dec. 2 and 3 placed cards on cars parked on downtown streets explaining the new ordinance.

On Dec. 7 they were called to enforce the ban despite all the city outreach. At around midnight at the request of the public works department, police ticketed and ordered towed two vehicles left out in violation of the ban. 

On Dec. 8, again at the request of public works, police asked the owner of a vehicle parked in Maple Manor with its driver’s side tire in the roadway to move it, a request that was met with cooperation.

In other action between Dec. 2 and 8, Vergennes police conducted three cruiser patrols, two foot patrols and two traffic stops; responded to two false alarms; processed six preemployment fingerprint requests; and also:  

On Dec. 2 calmed a disgruntled former Addison Housing Works tenant who was causing a disturbance at the nonprofit’s Main Street office. 

On Dec. 3:

• Took a report of a check from a Vergennes business that had been altered and cashed outside of Vermont. Police provided information to the complainant for insurance purposes and referred the case to Homeland Security. 

• Went to Stoney Hill Road in Bristol to help Bristol police at a traffic stop involving a subject wanted on a federal warrant.

• Along with Vergennes Union Elementary School staff, counseled a 5-year-old student who had called 911 twice in the past week.

On Dec. 5 again received a number of voicemails from a Hillside Acres resident with a history of mental health issues. 

On Dec. 6:

• Began looking into a report of a child custody dispute.

• Went to Munsill Avenue in Bristol to help Bristol and Vermont State police and Homeland Security execute a search warrant.

• Checked a report of a suspicious person at an Armory Lane business.

On Dec. 8 checked a report of two men loading building materials into a box truck at the Vergennes Grand construction site. Police determined they had permission to be there.