For much of this winter, snowfall has not been a problem. Winds, however, have been a much larger issue — especially during January.

It is one reason so many municipalities have bans on overnight parking. Plow, cleanup and emergency crews need to get through for snow or downed limbs.

While the village of Brocton also attempts to have the same type of ordinance, it appears that many are ignoring it. Village attorney Peter Clark spoke to the difficulty Brocton faces with enforcement without its own police department, coupled with a handful of residents who refuse to comply.

“Fredonia, Jamestown, Dunkirk, they can make it work because they have police departments,” Clark said. “The other municipalities, most don’t have a problem because people cooperate. In Silver Creek, I’ve asked them, people cooperate. In Brocton, somehow, people don’t cooperate.”

This could be due to lack of enforcement in the past or the penalty for parking is just not stiff enough. Brocton, if the problem persists, may need to get tougher.

Residents are the first to complain if plowing or work is not done in a timely fashion. Maybe upping the ticket fee would add some urgency to this issue in the village.