KENOSHA, Wis. — Kenosha’s annual alternate side parking restrictions will come to an end March 31, bringing relief to residents who have spent the past four months navigating what many describe as a nightly guessing game with real financial consequences.

The seasonal ordinance, in place from Dec. 1 through the end of March, is intended to assist snowplow operators in clearing streets during winter months. City officials say the rule helps ensure plows can move from curb to curb without obstruction, particularly on narrower residential roads.

But as winter winds down — often with little snow left on the ground — some residents say the experience has felt less like a public works necessity and more like a test of vigilance.

For many, the routine became second nature: checking the calendar before bed, peering out windows late at night, and occasionally making hurried trips outside in slippers and pajamas to move vehicles before the clock struck midnight. Others learned the hard way, waking up to bright tickets tucked under their windshield wipers.

The ordinance requires vehicles to alternate sides of the street based on the date, a system that can be confusing, especially for those with irregular schedules or visitors unfamiliar with the rules.

Public Works officials maintain the policy is necessary, noting that even a few improperly parked vehicles can prevent plows — which can span up to 12 feet wide — from effectively clearing streets. They also point out that emergency vehicles can be impacted when streets are not fully accessible.

Still, the end of the season is widely welcomed. Residents often mark March 31 as the unofficial return of “normal parking,” when cars can remain in place overnight without the risk of citations tied to the ordinance.

Until then, enforcement remains in effect, and city officials are reminding residents to continue following the rules through the final week.

For those who have made it through the season without a ticket, the coming days offer a quiet victory. For others, it may simply mark the end of a long winter ritual — one that blends public safety with a nightly dose of uncertainty.