If you live in a part of the District where street-sweepers force you to engage in a weekly ballet of car-moving before you head off to work, you'll be able to rest easy as of next week -- the city's street-sweeping program goes into hibernation on October 31. more ›

The transition to street sweeping season is always a stressful one for drivers around the District of Columbia -- moreso when drivers are getting tickets during the so-called grace period. more ›

Last month, we highlighted the city's new, clearer street sweeping signage -- and while those signs indicated that the District's sweeping would begin on March 1, we weren't sure when the Department of Public Works would actually start handing out tickets to people who don't move their cars. Now we know! Monday, March 21 is the first day that you can earn a citation for failing to move your chariot on the appropriate day and time. more ›

The weather gods' decision to reward us for surviving last February's snowpocalypse with some absolutely glorious weather this month has us thinking spring. And you know what that means: street sweeping season is nigh! more ›

Rejoice D.C. drivers, for you have almost reached your annual winter reprieve from having to move your car for the city's mechanized street sweepers. (And you've even been informed in advance this year!) After last year's miscommunication regarding the date residential sweeping ended, DPW was really on the ball this year, announcing that weekly street sweeping on residential streets will cease for the season on October 29. more ›

We told you before, and now we're telling you again. Residential street sweeping starts back up in the District today, with all the alternate side parking restrictions (and $30 parking tickets) that come along with them. Although to clarify, you still have a week to get used to the old routine, as enforcement won't resume until next Monday, March 29. more ›

Spring must really be right around the corner, because the District's Department of Public Works is already planning on resuming residential street sweeping later this month. Daytime mechanical street sweeping is set to return on Monday, March 22, with enforcement of alternate-side parking restrictions returning a week later, on March 29. Street sweeping tickets cost $30 a pop, so be sure to mark your calendar to remember to start moving your car again in a few weeks. more ›

The D.C. Department of Public Works suspended street cleaning for the winter starting on Friday, Nov. 6, a fact which they did not announce until Monday, Nov. 9. On top of not getting the word out until the following Monday, it appears they didn't manage to let all of their parking enforcement officers know of the change on time, either. Several residents reported getting street-sweeping related tickets on Monday and Tuesday, which led to some fairly intense back-and-forths on various neighborhood email lists. Here's a sampling of what went down on Tuesday on the Columbia Heights community email list:

• "What is someone from DPW giving out incorrect information? folks in Columbia heights be on alert ... street cleaning doe snot end until Nov 20"
• "No. Street cleaning ended. It's just that the enforcement agencies didn't pay attention. more ›

That date marks when alternate-side street sweeping-related parking restrictions go back into effect after the winter season, though the city gives us a week to get used to it again before issuing $30 tickets: those won't start until March 30. more ›

Give thanks! The annual winter parking ticket reprieve, courtesy the D.C. Department of Public Works, finally arrives this Friday, when the city will suspend alternate-side residential street sweeping for the season. The official release is just about to be posted to the DPW web site, according to spokesperson Linda Grant, but here's the text from the announcement:

The DC Department of Public Works (DPW) announced today that weekly (signed), residential mechanical street cleaning will end for the season Friday, November 28, 2008. “No parking/street cleaning” restrictions will be lifted and motorists may park along posted, alternate-side, daytime street sweeping routes without being required to move their cars on street-cleaning days. more ›

We haven't yet gotten the official press release from the Department of Public Works, but the agency's online public calendar shows that residential street sweeping is set to resume on Monday, March 24. As happens every winter, street sweeping and the parking restrictions that come along with it were suspended on Nov. 30. more ›