WINONA, Minn. – Police laid 264 tickets under the wipers of cars on the first night that the city’s alternate-side parking rule was in effect. Deputy Police Chief Jay Rasmussen noted the number in his usual wonderment about how so many motorists are caught unawares. . A warning had been on the Police Department’s Facebook page. Two-thousand emails were sent out. Students at both Winona State and Saint Mary’s were alerted through the colleges’ internal communication systems. Local news media ran stories prominently. Violations cost $25. Rasmussen said he’s seen patterns over the years to violations – always a lot the first night, some times more than 300. People get idea and the number falls off until Thanksgiving. Then comes a post-holiday bump and also immediately after Christmas and New Year’s.
