Minneapolis can be your snow emergency BFF

Star Tribune

Last update: December 3, 2008 - 6:55 PM

Minneapolis is turning to America's two most popular social networking websites in an effort to reduce the number of curbside towings during snow emergencies.

Snow emergency information, which includes when motorists need to move their vehicles to allow plows to clear the roads, will now be available on MySpace and Facebook, the city announced Wednesday.

For the past several years, city surveys have found that "many younger drivers were not hearing about snow emergencies" through more traditional communications channels, such as print and broadcast media.

The city is also asking aspiring videographers to create and submit creative videos to help people follow snow emergency parking rules and avoid getting ticketed or towed. The city plans to put the best videos on its cable channels, 14 and 79.

To demonstrate what it's looking for, the city has produced its own video. It will soon be available on YouTube. For information, visit www.ci. minneapolis.mn.us/snowbiz.

Snow emergencies are also publicized by e-mail on the city's website, through a phone alert system, and on a hot line: 612-348-SNOW.

PAUL WALSH

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