Car Lockout in Allentown, PA

Locked out on a snow emergency route

Allentown's traffic regulations (Article 527.02) allow a snow emergency to be declared only between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., and it takes effect four hours later; the city declared one in February 2026. About 30 streets are designated snow emergency routes, and vehicles on them must be moved to other streets or police tow them as necessary. If your keys are locked in a car on one of those routes after a declaration, say so first in your request and give the time you heard the announcement, since the car has to be opened before it can be moved. This is general information, not legal advice.

Plowed in

On two-way streets with parking on one side, the city's snow FAQ says, plows push snow away from oncoming traffic, and that can bury parked cars. If yours has been plowed in, tell whoever is opening it how deep the snow is around the doors, because digging out may come first. Article 527.06 bars shoveling snow from a vehicle or driveway into the street, so decide where the snow will go before you dig.

Never leave a child or a pet locked in a car to wait for a locksmith, whether in a January cold snap or on a summer afternoon. If anyone is inside, call 911 first.

What to send

• The street and nearest cross street, which side of the street, and whether it is a snow emergency route
• The neighborhood, such as Center City, the West End or the South Side
• Year, make and model, and whether the keys are visible inside
• Whether the engine is running
• Whether you can show photo ID that matches the registration once the car is open

If the keys are lost rather than locked in, ask for car key replacement instead. The car lockout page covers the service, and the Allentown page covers the city.