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The City of La Crosse Municipal Code reads as follows:

Sec. 44-111. - Emergency or maintenance alternate side parking on streets

(a) Declaration of emergency or maintenance alternate side parking. Whenever in the opinion of the Superintendent of Streets, or that person's designee, an emergency exists in the City because of snow, freezing rain, sleet, ice, snow drifts or other natural phenomena which would create or will likely create hazardous road conditions impeding or likely to impede the free movement of fire, health, police, emergency or other vehicular traffic or otherwise endanger the safety or welfare of the community or other maintenance is necessary to prevent or clear road obstructions, such official may declare emergency alternate side parking to exist. A prediction by the National Weather Service for the possible accumulation of three or more inches of snow on roadways for any part of the City of La Crosse is hereby declared as adequate reasoning for the declaration of a snow emergency. Notice of such emergency shall be given by press, electronic notification, radio or television, which news media shall be requested to cooperate with City officials and when given, such notice shall constitute due and proper notice. When in the opinion of such official that such emergency conditions no longer exist for the aforesaid emergency he/she is authorized to terminate the emergency period. Unless otherwise specified by such official, the period of alternative side parking will run for a consecutive forty-eight (48) hours after notice is issued.  Notice of the emergency alternate side parking will be provided at least six hours prior to the penalties section herein taking effect.

(b) Emergency alternate side parking. Whenever emergency alternate side parking is declared, alternate side parking regulations shall immediately be in effect on all streets in the City of La Crosse. Such regulations shall apply as follows:

(1) On odd-numbered days, vehicles shall only be parked, stopped or left standing on that side of the street having odd-numbered addresses.

(2) On even-numbered days, vehicles shall only be parked, stopped or left standing on that side of the street having even-numbered addresses.

(3) The provisions of this section shall not supersede more restrictive parking regulations such as no parking zones, etc. in effect in the City including without limitation.

(4) It shall be considered prima facia evidence that upon six hours after public notification  of the start of alternate side parking, all sections of this ordinance are fully enforceable.  Ignorance is not considered a valid defense for a violation. 

(5) Exemptions. Vehicles are exempt from alternate side parking under snow emergencies declarations where parking is normally permitted only on one side of the street and in the downtown business district.

(6) The provisions of this section shall only be in effect from 12:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.

(c) Vehicles stopped - Removal. In the event any vehicle is stopped, parked, abandoned or left unattended in violation of this section, the Superintendent of Streets, or the Chief of Police, including also all the employees of the streets department, and the Police Department of the City, are authorized to remove or cause to be removed any such vehicle and to have such vehicle towed away.

Failure to follow the Alternate Side Parking rules results in the following citations:

Sec. 44-103. - Parking on City streets and property.

(a) Definitions . The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this section, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this subsection, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Single block face means one side of a single street within the block. For example, the entire south side of the 300 block of Main Street would be a single block face. The entire north side of the 300 block of Main Street would be considered a different block face.

Continuously parked means once a vehicle is parked, the posted time restriction starts and does not stop or suspend regardless of movement within a single block face or after leaving and returning to the same block face.

Register a vehicle means to manually or electronically enter the license plate and other required parking related information into the meter or pay station. All vehicles are required to register for free or paid parking if in a metered or pay station space, ramp or lot.

Payment means coin or currency of the United States, accepted debit card, credit card, or other officially authorized prepaid service or authorized valid permit.

(b) Exemptions. On-duty law enforcement, fire and other City of La Crosse municipal-owned vehicles, while conducting City business, are exempt from time zone restrictions and having to register or provide payment at metered or pay station spaces, lots and ramps. US Postal vehicles in performance of their duties are exempt from time zone restrictions and having to register or provide payment at metered or pay station spaces, lot and ramps.

(c) Time restricted street parking. In any area where free parking on a street is restricted by time and signs, and signs are properly posted to indicate such free parking time limitations, any vehicle parked within a single block face in excess of the restricted time period shall be considered to have continuously parked, and shall be subject to a citation for violation of such parking time restriction.

(d) Limitations on block face parking. In any area where free parking on the street is restricted by time and signs, and signs are properly posted to indicate such free parking time limitations, a vehicle is permitted to park for free within a single block face one time per calendar day. Once a vehicle has parked and then moves, it cannot return to the same single block face until the next calendar day. Vehicles parked in excess of the restricted period/times shall be considered to have continuously parked, and shall be subject to a citation for violation of such parking time restriction.

(e) Time restricted ramps and parking lots. In any area where free parking in a parking ramp or parking lot is restricted by time, and signs are properly posted to indicate such parking time limitations, a vehicle may park for free for the restricted amount of time posted one time per calendar day. A vehicle parked in a ramp or lot shall be considered to have continuously parked and shall be subject to a citation for violation of such parking time restriction. Once a vehicle has parked and then moves, it cannot stay in or return to the same parking lot or ramp and park for free until the next calendar day.

(f) Metered/pay station paid parking compliance. No vehicle shall be parked on city streets, parking ramps or parking lots designated as a metered or pay station parking area, except pursuant to the terms and conditions regulating parking on said streets, ramps or lots as indicated upon signs or meters/pay stations as approved by the Board of Public Works and erected in the area.

(g) Metered or pay station restricted parking spaces. Any vehicle parked in a metered or pay station parking area shall be parked parallel to the curb and in a manner that does not infringe upon another metered space. Any vehicle parked in an angled or perpendicular metered or pay station space shall be parked entirely within the area designated by lines or markings. Trucks and other commercial vehicles using parking meters shall park in such a manner that the least number of metered spaces are occupied.

(h) Duty to register vehicle and deposit payment. When a vehicle is parked on a street or in a ramp or lot that is metered or has a pay station, the operator of said vehicle shall, upon entering a parking space, immediately register such vehicle at the meter or pay station, or by other approved means, and deposit or cause to be deposited any required payment, and the said parking space may then be lawfully occupied by such vehicle during the period of parking time which has been prescribed for the part of the street, ramp or lot in which said parking space is located. If a vehicle remains in any such parking space beyond the parking time limit, the vehicle shall be considered as parked overtime and such parking shall be a violation.

(i) Commercial trucks, commercial vehicles. Commercial trucks and vehicles may use metered spaces on public streets for loading and unloading merchandise to the abutting premises before the hour of 12:00 noon, without payment, and such vehicle must park centered as nearly as possible in a single metered space. In no case shall the stop for loading or unloading exceed 30 minutes.

(j) False or unapproved payment prohibited. No vehicle may be parked in a metered or pay station space where a person has deposited or caused to be deposited any false or unapproved form of payment.

(k) Tampering with marks. No person shall intentionally, by physical or mechanical means or force or by the use of an instrument or device, damage, obliterate, erase or tamper with any mark placed by a City of La Crosse police officer or designated employee on the tire of a vehicle when the purpose for placing such mark is to identify the time such vehicle was found in a parked position. Damaging, obliterating, erasing or tampering with a tire mark placed by a City of La Crosse police officer or designated employee within the parked position or parking slot shall be evidence of intent to violate this subsection.

Section 44-115. - Immobilization; removal; impoundment; and disposal of motor vehicles based on nonmoving traffic violations.

 (a) Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this section, shall have the meaning ascribed to them in this subsection, except when the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Habitual parking violator means a person who has received, more than 60 days previously, five or more citations for nonmoving traffic violations from the City of La Crosse that remain unpaid and for which the person has not scheduled an appearance in court in response to the citations.

Immobilization device means a device or mechanism which immobilizes a motor vehicle by locking around a wheel, thereby making the motor vehicle inoperable.

Nonmoving traffic violation is any parking of a vehicle in violation of a statute or ordinance.

Owner means a person who holds the legal title of a vehicle, except that if legal title is held by a secured party with the immediate right of possession of the vehicle vested in the debtor, the debtor is the owner for purposes of this chapter. Additionally, with respect to a vehicle that is registered, or required to be registered, by a lessee of the vehicle under this Section, includes the lessee of the vehicle.

Parking enforcer means a traffic officer or any other person who enforces nonmoving violations and who is employed by a municipality including, but not limited to all sworn police officers of the City of La Crosse.

Unregistered motor vehicle means any motor vehicle that is located upon a highway and that is not displaying valid registration plates, a temporary operation plate, or other evidence of registration as provided under Wis. Stats. § 341.18(1) for the vehicle's current registration period or for a registration period for the vehicle that expired within the immediately preceding 31 days.

(b) The City of La Crosse Police Department shall have the authority to immobilize, remove, impound, and dispose of vehicles owned by habitual parking violators. The Police Department shall have this authority if the City has cited the owner of the motor vehicle for five or more nonmoving traffic violations that, at the time of the vehicles immobilization or removal, occurred more than 60 days previously and for which the owner has neither paid the forfeiture for each of these violations nor scheduled an appearance in court in response to each of these citations.

(c) The City of La Crosse shall comply with the following notice provisions before immobilization or removal:

(1) The City has mailed to the last-known address of the owner at least one notice that specifies, for each citation counted under subsection 44-115(b), the date on which the citation was issued, the license plate number or vehicle identification number of the vehicle involved, the place where the citation may be paid, the amount of the forfeiture, and the means by which the citation may be contested.

(2) This notice shall also inform the owner that any motor vehicle owned by him or her may be immobilized with an immobilization device or removed and impounded if, within 60 days after the owner has received five or more citations and at the time the vehicle is immobilized or removed and impounded, the owner has neither paid the forfeiture for each violation that occurred more than 60 days previously nor scheduled an appearance in court in response to each citation issued more than 60 days previously for which the forfeiture has not been paid.

(3) This notice may be combined with any other notice provided by the City.

(d) Any parking enforcer who discovers any motor vehicle parked either legally or illegally on any portion of the street, highway, or publicly owned or leased parking facility within the City limits may cause the vehicle to be immobilized with an immobilization device or removed to a suitable place of impoundment or both.

(1) Upon immobilization or removal of the motor vehicle, the officer, or parking enforcer shall notify the City's Chief of Police of the location of the immobilized or impounded motor vehicle and the reason for the immobilization or impoundment. Upon causing the removal of the motor vehicle by a towing service, the officer or parking enforcer shall, within 24 hours of ordering the removal, notify the towing service of the name and last-known address of the registered owner and all lienholders of record of the vehicle, unless the officer or parking enforcer is employed by the City and the City has entered into a towing services agreement which requires the City to provide notice to such owner and lienholders of the towing.

(2) The City may, in its discretion, contract with a third party for the performance of services related to immobilization or removal of motor vehicles. The services shall be rendered only at the request of a parking enforcer.

(3) Reasonable fees for immobilization, removal, towing and storage will be charged under this Section and established by resolution.

(e) Any parking enforcer or third-party contractor must place in a highly visible location and a reasonably secure manner on the vehicle, at the time of the immobilization, a written notice that does all of the following:

(1) Warns any driver of the vehicle that the immobilization device has been placed on the vehicle.

(2) Specifies, for each citation counted under subsection 44-115(b), the license number or vehicle identification number of the vehicle involved, the place where the citation may be paid, and the means by which the citation may be contested, or provides a telephone number at which an individual is available to provide this information 24 hours a day.

(3) States the amount of the removal fee under subsection 44-115(d)(3), if any, that is in addition to any amount required to be paid as specified in the notice under subsection 44-115(c)(1).

(f) For any vehicle immobilized in a time-limited, legal parking space, the City shall be prohibited from issuing, after the vehicle's immobilization, any citation for a time-limited nonmoving traffic violation for the vehicle within the first four hours after the vehicle is immobilized.

(g) If the vehicle is immobilized, the City, or its third-party contractor, shall remove the immobilization device or provide sufficient information to allow the vehicle owner to remove the immobilization device without undue delay, not to exceed three hours, after receiving notice that the person has satisfied the requirements for release of the motor vehicle.

(h) The Police Department or any third-party contractor will provide, at the time of immobilization, a phone number and web address to gain compliance under this section to any vehicles under this section. The phone number will be monitored 24 hours a day and seven days a week. The City shall accept payment in person during normal business hours at the City Treasurer's Office. The City shall also accept payment online and via telephone 24 hours a day, seven days of week. The City shall promptly confirm whether the requirements of release of a motor vehicle have been made and shall release any vehicle without undue delay, not to exceed three hours from confirmation of completion of the requirements.

(i) Any motor vehicle immobilized or impounded under this section, shall remain immobilized or impounded until lawfully claimed or disposed of as provided in this subsection and subsection 44-115(k) or 44-115(l).

(1) The owner of a motor vehicle that is immobilized under this section may secure release of the motor vehicle by doing all of the following:

i. Paying any removal fee provided under subsection 44-115(d)(3).

ii. Paying all forfeitures specified in each notice under subsection 44-115(c)(1) or scheduling an appearance in court in response to, or a combination of paying forfeitures and scheduling appearances with respect to, all citations counted under subsection 44-115(c)(1).

(2) The owner of a motor vehicle that is removed and impounded under this section may secure release of the motor vehicle by doing all of the following:

i. Paying any charges provided under subsection 44-115(d)(3).

ii. Paying all forfeitures specified in each notice under subsection 44-115(c)(1) or scheduling an appearance in court in response to, or a combination of paying forfeitures and scheduling appearances with respect to, all citations counted under subsection 44-115(c)(1).

(3) If an owner secures release of a motor vehicle under subsection 44-115(i)(1) or 44-115(i)(2) by scheduling an appearance in court and thereafter fails to appear or fails to comply with any court order with respect to any citation counted under subsection 44-115(c)(1) for which the forfeiture has not been fully paid, including failure to satisfy in full any court-ordered payment plan or other agreement approved by the court, the court may order a law enforcement officer, or an authorized employee or contractor of the City, to immobilize the motor vehicle involved in the nonmoving traffic violations or the City may cause the motor vehicle to be immobilized or removed and impounded as provided under subsection 44-115(b) and (c). If the court orders the motor vehicle immobilized, upon compliance with the court order, the court shall order a law enforcement officer, or an authorized employee or contractor of the City, to remove the immobilization device.

(4) Notwithstanding subsection 44-115(i), if any motor vehicle immobilized is an unregistered motor vehicle or an abandoned motor vehicle, the City may take action with respect to sections of this Code related specifically to unregistered motor vehicles or abandoned motor vehicles.

(j) The owner of any motor vehicle immobilized or removed and impounded as provided under this section is responsible for all charges associated with immobilizing, removing, impounding, and disposing of the motor vehicle, as provided under subsection 44-115(d)(3). Charges not recovered from the sale of the motor vehicle may be recovered in a civil action by the City against the owner.

(k) Any motor vehicle in violation of this section may be immobilized with an immobilization device or impounded until lawfully claimed or disposed of under subsection 44-115(l) except that if it is deemed by a duly authorized City representative that the cost of towing and storage charges for the impoundment would exceed the value of the vehicle, the motor vehicle may be junked or sold by the City prior to expiration of the impoundment period upon determination by the City's Chief of Police having jurisdiction that the motor vehicle is not stolen or otherwise wanted for evidence or other reason. All substantially complete motor vehicles in excess of 19 model years of age shall be disposed of in accordance with subsection 44-115(l).

(l) Any motor vehicle which is impounded and not disposed of under subsection 44-115(k) shall be retained in storage for a minimum period of ten days after certified mail notice has been sent to the owner and lienholders of record, if known or readily ascertainable, to permit reclamation of the motor vehicle after payment of accrued charges and, for reclamation of the motor vehicle by the owner, in compliance with subsection 44-115(i). Such notice shall set forth the year, make, model, and serial number of the motor vehicle and the place where the motor vehicle is being held, and shall inform the owner and any lienholders of their right to reclaim the motor vehicle. The notice shall state that the failure of the owner or lienholders to exercise their rights to reclaim the motor vehicle under this section shall be considered a waiver of all right, title and interest in the motor vehicle and a consent to the sale of the motor vehicle. Each retained motor vehicle not reclaimed by its owner or lienholder may be sold. The City may dispose of the motor vehicle by sealed bid or auction sale as provided by ordinance. At such sale the highest bid for any such motor vehicle shall be accepted unless the same is considered inadequate by a duly authorized City representative, in which event all bids may be rejected. If all bids are rejected or no bid is received, the City may either readvertise the sale, adjourn the sale to a definite date, sell the motor vehicle at a private sale or junk the motor vehicle. Any interested person may offer bids on each motor vehicle to be sold. A public notice shall be posted at the Police Department. The posting of the notice at the Police Department shall be in the same form as the certified mail notice sent to the owner or lienholders of record. Upon sale of a motor vehicle, the City shall supply the purchaser with a completed form designed by the department enabling the purchaser to obtain a regular certificate of title for the motor vehicle. The purchaser shall have ten days to remove the motor vehicle from the storage area, but shall pay a reasonable storage fee established by the City for each day that the motor vehicle remains in storage after the second business day subsequent to the sale date. Ten days after the sale, the purchaser shall forfeit all interest in the motor vehicle and the motor vehicle shall be considered to be abandoned and may be sold again. Any listing of motor vehicles to be sold by the City shall be made available to any interested person or organization which makes a written request for such list. The City may charge a fee for the list.

(m) Within five days after the sale or disposal of a motor vehicle as provided in this subsection, the City shall advise the Wisconsin Department of Transportation of the sale or disposition on a form supplied by the Department of Transportation.

(n) No unregistered vehicles shall be parked on any highway within the City of La Crosse. The City may cite, immobilize, remove, impound and dispose of unregistered motor vehicles located upon a highway in accordance with the policies and procedures adopted under Wis. Stats. § 341.65, which is hereby adopted by reference.

(o) No person shall tamper, remove, disconnect or otherwise circumvent the operation of an immobilization device except upon release of the motor vehicle to the owner or to make necessary repairs to a malfunctioning immobilization device.

Section 44-116. - Immobilization; removal; impoundment; and disposal of motor vehicles based on unregistered motor vehicles.

(a) Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this section, shall have the meaning ascribed to them in this subsection, except when the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Immobilization device has the same definition as provided in subsection 44-115(a).

Owner has the same definition as provided in subsection 44-115(a).

Parking enforcer has the same definition as provided in subsection 44-115(a).

Unregistered motor vehicle has the same definition as provided in subsection 44-115(a).

(b) It shall be unlawful within the City for an unregistered motor vehicle to be located upon a highway. The City shall have the authority to cite, immobilize, remove, impound, and dispose of unregistered motor vehicles as defined above located upon a highway.

(c) No person shall tamper, remove, disconnect or otherwise circumvent the operation of an immobilization device except upon release of the motor vehicle to the owner or to make necessary repairs to a malfunctioning immobilization device.

(d) Any parking enforcer, who discovers any unregistered motor vehicle located upon any highway may cause the motor vehicle to be immobilized with an immobilization device or removed to a suitable place of impoundment. Upon immobilization or removal of the motor vehicle, the parking enforcer shall notify the City's Chief of Police of the location of the immobilized or impounded motor vehicle, and the reason for the immobilization or impoundment. Upon causing the removal of the motor vehicle by a towing service, the parking enforcer shall, within 24 hours of ordering the removal, notify the towing service of the name and last-known address of the registered owner and all lienholders of record of the vehicle.

(e) The owner of any unregistered motor vehicle is responsible for all costs of immobilizing, impounding and disposing of the motor vehicle. Costs not recovered from the sale of the motor vehicle may be recovered in a civil action by the City against the owner. Whether or not the City recovers the cost of towing and enforcement, the City shall be responsible to the towing service for requisitional towing service and reasonable charges for impoundment. Reasonable fees for immobilization, removal, towing and storage will be charged under this section and established by resolution.

(f) Notwithstanding subsection 44-116(h), the owner of an unregistered motor vehicle that is immobilized with an immobilization device or impounded under this subsection may secure release of the motor vehicle by paying any forfeiture imposed for violation of the City ordinance and the reasonable costs of immobilizing or impounding the motor vehicle or both, and providing satisfactory evidence of one of the following:

(1) That the motor vehicle is currently registered in the State of Wisconsin.

(2) That a complete application for registration for the motor vehicle, accompanied by the required fee has been delivered to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation or deposited in the mail properly addressed with postage prepaid.

(3) That the motor vehicle is exempt from registration under Wis. Stats. ch 341.

(g) Any motor vehicle in violation of this section may be immobilized with an immobilization device or impounded until lawfully claimed or disposed of subsection 116-44(h) except that if it is deemed by a duly authorized municipal representative that the cost of towing and storage charges for the impoundment would exceed the value of the vehicle, the motor vehicle may be junked or sold by the City prior to expiration of the impoundment period upon determination by the City's Chief of Police that the motor vehicle is not stolen or otherwise wanted for evidence or other reason. All substantially complete motor vehicles in excess of 19 model years of age shall be disposed of in accordance with subsection 116-44(h).

(h) Any motor vehicle which is impounded and not disposed of under subsection 44-116(g) shall be retained in storage for a minimum period of ten days after certified mail notice has been sent to the owner and lienholders of record, if known or readily ascertainable, to permit reclamation of the motor vehicle after payment of accrued charges and, for reclamation of the motor vehicle by the owner, in compliance with subsection 44-116(f). Such notice shall set forth the year, make, model, and serial number of the motor vehicle and the place where the motor vehicle is being held, and shall inform the owner and any lienholders of their right to reclaim the motor vehicle. The notice shall state that the failure of the owner or lienholders to exercise their rights to reclaim the motor vehicle under this section shall be considered a waiver of all right, title and interest in the motor vehicle and a consent to the sale of the motor vehicle. Each retained motor vehicle not reclaimed by its owner or lienholder may be sold. The City may dispose of the motor vehicle by sealed bid or auction sale as provided by ordinance. At such sale the highest bid for any such motor vehicle shall be accepted unless the same is considered inadequate by a duly authorized City representative, in which event all bids may be rejected. If all bids are rejected or no bid is received, the City may either readvertise the sale, adjourn the sale to a definite date, sell the motor vehicle at a private sale or junk the motor vehicle. Any interested person may offer bids on each motor vehicle to be sold. A public notice shall be posted at the office of the Police Department. The posting of the notice at the Police Department shall be in the same form as the certified mail notice sent to the owner or lienholders of record. Upon sale of a motor vehicle, the City shall supply the purchaser with a completed form designed by the Department of Transportation enabling the purchaser to obtain a regular certificate of title for the motor vehicle. The purchaser shall have ten days to remove the motor vehicle from the storage area, but shall pay a reasonable storage fee established by the resolution for each day that the motor vehicle remains in storage after the second business day subsequent to the sale date. Ten days after the sale, the purchaser shall forfeit all interest in the motor vehicle and the motor vehicle shall be considered to be abandoned and may be sold again. Any listing of motor vehicles to be sold by any the City shall be made available to any interested person or organization which makes a written request for such list. The City may charge a fee for the list.

(i) Within five days after the sale or disposal of a motor vehicle as provided in this subsection, the City shall advise the Department of Transportation of the sale or disposition on a form supplied by the department.

Click to view the "Downtown Parking Study Update & Analysis of Expanded Areas" concluded in July 2020.