This article was originally published at The Dearborn Patch by Beth Dalbey and can be found on their website here.

DEARBORN, MI – Dearborn Public Service Days will be in effect for 2016, beginning April 4 and running through Nov. 26.

An easy way to remember what to do is this motto: “carts out, cars in.”

That means that parked vehicles should be off the street on the day that residents set their trash and recycling carts at the curb.

For example, if a neighborhood’s trash day is Wednesday, the Public Service Day is Wednesday. If the trash day is Thursday, the Public Service Day is Thursday. It is the same pattern throughout the week.

Parking tickets will be issued to any vehicle left on the street between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on trash days/Public Service Days. Also, trash and recycling carts should not be placed in the road at any time during a neighborhood’s Public Service Day.

“Public Service Days allow us to sweep the streets curb to curb and provide other important maintenance work,” Mayor John B. O’Reilly Jr. said in a statement

“Residents across the city pay for services with their taxes and they deserve to have them delivered in their neighborhoods in a thorough and effective manner,” O’Reilly said. “Keeping parked cars off the streets gives us that chance.”

New ordinance amendments, as approved by the City Council on February 25, set the penalties for Public Service Day violations as the following:

• First violation in a calendar year is $15 (or $7 if paid within three days);
• Second violation in a calendar year is $30;
• Third violation in a calendar year is $70;
• After the fourth violation in a calendar year, the vehicle will be towed at the owner’s expense.
• Under the new changes, the first violation is the only one that receives a reduction within a calendar year (only if paid within three days).

In each neighborhood, multiple street signs list the days parking restrictions are in place. Tickets also will be issued to vehicles parked across sidewalks, on the easement or on lawns.

Public Service Days permit more efficient and safe collection of trash, recyclables and yard waste set at the curb. In addition, crews can better manage tree-trimming and sewer and catch basin maintenance.

For parking issues related to Public Service Days, call (313) 943-2294. Parking hardship exemption applications are available at www.cityofdearborn.org or at the front desk of the Dearborn Police Station, 16099 Michigan Avenue.