Suburban street parking rules can be unforgiving.

So to make room on the street for residential guests over the holiday season, the Columbia Heights Police Department is temporarily lifting the winter 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. parking restrictions.

No citations will be issued between Thursday (Christmas Eve) and Jan. 4, the department announced on Facebook and Twitter on Tuesday.

However, wintry weather could ice this gift. If 3 inches or more of snow falls during that period, the usual winter parking enforcement will begin again to make room for snowplows.

"We know that a lot of our residents have their families and guests at their homes over the holidays and that driveways quickly overflow onto the street during this time," said Police Chief Scott Nadeau. "As a service to them, we suspend our otherwise necessary restrictions, weather permitting, so they can focus on what matters — like time with family and friends."

SHANNON PRATHER