PORTLAND, Maine — Snow may not be in the immediate forecast, but Portland is already preparing for winter—specifically, how to keep streets clear when the snow starts falling. City leaders are considering a change that could hit violators harder in the wallet.

Right now, drivers who leave their cars on the street during a winter parking ban face a $40 fine. But under a new proposal being discussed by Portland’s Sustainability and Transportation Committee, that penalty could jump to $175—the same total someone would pay today if their car is both ticketed and towed.

The reasoning? Not every car gets towed during a ban, and city officials believe a steeper fine across the board could encourage better compliance.

"We need the streets to get cleared," said Portland resident Ben Mohney. "We

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