Orange sticker does the trick

COEUR d’ALENE — Many of the snowbound vehicles tagged last week for a possible tow in Coeur d’Alene were removed before being hauled off, city officials said.

Street crews had placed warning stickers on nearly 400 buried cars throughout the city. On Monday they began the process of assessing and prioritizing which to remove.

Fortunately, many of the abandoned cars had been dug out and moved, said Officer Mario Rios of the Coeur d’Alene Police Department.

“They’ve made it through checking on about 200 vehicles and of those, only about 10 or so had to be towed,” Rios said Tuesday. “For whatever reason a 2-foot berm around their car doesn’t get their attention but a bright orange sticker does.”

City street crews and code enforcement officers will be out again today looking for tagged cars for possible removal, but Rios said he’s hopeful the number of tows stays low.

“I think everybody did a real good job getting their vehicles moved when push came to shove,” he said.

Meanwhile, police said the snowier-than-average February is taking a toll on the roads and drivers’ nerves.

“The roads are still pretty bumpy — almost like a washboard,” he said.

With more snow on the way, he advised motorists to use extreme caution.

“We’re going to get more snow on top of icy roads making conditions even worse,” he said. “So slow speeds will be required.”

To report an abandoned vehicle within the city of Coeur d’Alene, call 769-2390. In Post Falls call 773-3517.