Grab a ruler next time the snow flies.

DeKalb’s City Council responded with overwhelming support to a proposal raising fines for parking on a snow route after a snowfall of 2 inches or more.

“It’s a life safety issue,” said 2nd Ward Alderman Kris Povlsen. “If you’re breaking the law, you need to be dinged.”

The proposal, presented during the Nov. 26 Committee of the Whole meeting, will be up for a vote at the Dec. 10 regular city council meeting.

DeKalb Police Chief Bill Feithen asked the council to support two changes, one of which is a matter of enforcing the language already on the books.

“We want to change it from shall to will,” Feithen said, describing the actions an officer takes if a vehicle is in violation of the rule.

Police officers currently ticket and call in a tow truck at their discretion; this, however, would change to a mandatory ticket and tow without exception.

Fines would also rise from a minimum $25 and maximum of $75 to $75 and $150, respectively. This does not include the cost of towing and storage, which would be imposed by the tow company called in to pick up the vehicle.

The change is a response to drivers’ ongoing indifference to snow route rules and the city’s desire to recoup the cost of officers’ time patrolling and ticketing offenders, said DeKalb mayor Frank Van Buer.

“Once you tighten up enforcement, there would be less need for enforcement,” Van Buer said.

Sixth Ward Alderman Dave Baker said he wants to cut out the middleman altogether and just have tow trucks pick up offenders without an officer calling in the offense. Officers could then save time by issuing tickets at the tow yard, he said.