Car Lockout in Syracuse, NY

The 6 p.m. switch

Syracuse uses odd/even street parking so plows can clear streets curb to curb in winter. From 6 p.m. on an odd-numbered day until 6 p.m. on an even-numbered day, cars may park on the side of the street with odd-numbered addresses; at 6 p.m. they switch to the even side. Cars on the wrong side may be ticketed or towed by the Syracuse Police Department.

That gives a late-afternoon lockout a deadline. If your car is on the side that is about to become the wrong one, say so at the start of your request.

Downtown in winter

From November 1 to April 1, specially signed blocks in parts of downtown alternate overnight on-street parking and limit it to one side so plows can clear between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. If you locked your keys in the car after dinner in Armory Square, downtown's dining and retail hub, check the signs on your block and mention what they say. This is general information, not legal advice. The posted signs and the city's rules control.

Cold, heat and anyone inside

If a child, a pet or anyone who cannot get out is locked in the car, call 911 first. A closed car gets dangerously cold in winter and dangerously hot on a sunny summer day. For yourself, wait somewhere warm rather than standing at the curb where plows pass.

What to send

• The street, nearest cross street and which side you are on (odd or even addresses).
• The neighborhood or lot, such as Westcott Street or the Destiny USA area in the Lakefront neighborhood.
• The car's make, model and year, plus where the keys are: visible inside, or in the trunk.
• Proof the car is yours: the registration if it is not locked inside, and photo ID.

If the keys are lost rather than locked inside, ask about car key replacement instead of a car lockout. Local parking rules are summarized on the Syracuse page.