othing will kill your enjoyment of a vacation or a party buzz quicker than getting your car towed, but in New Orleans during Mardi Gras this could very easily happen to you, if you're not extra careful.

Parking in this city is at a premium. The city knows this and takes advantage of the situation to the utmost to raise revenue for the city. This is no secret and you can consider yourself duly warned! "Towable parking violations" in the city, at this time of year, can include just about everything you can imagine, so please pay extra attention to the following rules, to help reduce your chances of abruptly moving your party to the auto pound beneath the Claiborne overpass.

Rule #1: Pay attention to the street signs

Be wary of parking on or in parade routes, rush-hour lanes, in front of driveways, fire lanes, on sidewalks, neutral grounds, scheduled street cleaning block times, loading and service zones, corners and crosswalks (within 5 feet) and fire hydrants (within 15 feet). 

Parking on any parade route is risky at best. All vehicles are towed approximately two hours before a scheduled parade and two hours after a parade has passed. Meanwhile, parking in the French Quarter requires a residential permit. (If someone is parking illegally in front of their driveway, make no mistake, they will call Parking Enforcement .

Rule#2:  Don't park on the medium  ( locally known as the "Neutral Ground"), block driveways, or block intersections or especially fire lanes.

I don't know how many times,  I see someone come to town, and curse us out, when it is them that does something as dumb,  as park their car in a fire lane. Duh!!??? No wonder it was towed!  One sure fire way to get your car towed, in New Orleans, is to go against this rule and inconvenience the natives.

Another rule here.  While you drive in New Orleans, the #1 taboo is to block an intersection when the light turns green. You will be introduced to the not so welcomed side of our nature, quick, fast and in a hurry!

Rule#3:  Don't ignore parking meters and / or Tickets!

So you lucked out and didn't get your car towed, but did get a ticket. Here's some great advice! Pay the ticket ! If you amass more than five tickets while you're here, and they come across it parked on the street legally, or not, they will at the least boot it, and at the extreme, tow it! The parking meters here have changed and you need to read this story!

Rule#4:  Don't leave items in a parked car in plain sight!

Leaving stuff in plain sight in your car, is like waving a carrot in front of a rabbit. Don't wave bait in front of crooks, they will take it. I wish the police would do this one though. It would catch the break, snatch, and go thieves of opportunity that abound in some neighborhoods.   Stow your items in the trunk of the vehicle or remove them. If they'll steal coconuts, I know they're steal anything.

Rule#5:  If you can walk! Do it and save yourself some  money and aggravation! 

There are a lot of hotels and attractions within walking distance of the canal street area. Put on your sneakers and save yourself the expense and your car the wear and the gas bill.

Rule#6:  If you can park in a paid parking lot, do it! The $10 you pay the lot attendant is preferable to paying over $85 to the city impound lot, for your car.

It's the math, plain and simple. Park and pay the $6 to $15 dollars or take your chances. If you lose and get towed, it's $85 plus the fine of $15 dollars at the lowest level. So $15.00 or $90.00! You do the math!

Rule#7:   If your car is towed, for god's sake, please don't wait too long to get it out!

If your car is missing, call the Claiborne Auto Pound at 504-299-3700
 or go to 400 North Claiborne Avenue. The pound receives visitors from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. You have to be able to identify your vehicle by license number, make, color and the location where it was parked. A good suggestion is to copy the VIN number of your vehicle. This can be found on the driver's side front door on the end of the door, and also on the windshield and dash joint  on the driver's side. To retrieve your towed vehicle, bring the following items: cash, a personal or certified check, money order, a traveler's check, MasterCard or VISA, and above all else, please bring your sense of humor, and your good sense of humility. You will need it. You will likely pay the $85 towing fee and a fine for the ticket paid in advance. To contest the towing fee/fine, apply your payment as bond and contact the Administrative Hearing Center at 504-299-3700

<<<<<   Be Smart!!!!!    Off-street parking guarantees your car will not be towed.  >>>>>

Mardi Gras Traffic in the Quarter

Effective 6:00 PM on Friday, February 24, 2006, the central portion of the French Quarter (Vieux Carre') will become a "NO PARKING ZONE". This restriction will remain in effect for 24-hours a day until midnight, Fat Tuesday, February 28, 2006. The restricted area is bounded by North Rampart, Decatur, Iberville and Dumaine Streets. Vehicles parked on the street inside the restricted zone WILL BE TOWED. The Auto Pound is located 400 North Claiborne Avenue - telephone - 504-299-3700
. We will print a specific list of streets as the police dept. issues that press release. 

During the same period, private vehicles will not be allowed into the restricted zone without a "Vieux Carre" Access Pass. Clearly marked commercial vehicles, such as taxicabs and delivery trucks, press vehicles, etc. are not affected by the restriction. Business operators and French Quarter residents may apply for passes at the Eighth District Police Station, 334 Royal Street during business hours. Hotel guests who need passes should request them from the hotel's management. There is no charge for the passes but applicants must have a legitimate need.

It should be noted that the Vieux Carre' Access Pass only allows a vehicle to drive into the French Quarter. The PASS DOES NOT AUTHORIZE ON-STREET PARKING. Drivers must arrange for off-street parking.

The purpose of these measures is to avoid the traffic grid-lock that afflicted the French Quarter during the years before controls were utilized. The restrictions also reduce the chances of accidents and improves the ability of emergency vehicles to quickly respond to an address in the French Quarter.