Let the dibs begin.
Now that plows are sweeping through side streets, giving residents a chance to fully shovel and finally move their cars from street parking spots, placeholders are starting to resurface.
It's the mark of Chicago's ongoing dibs tradition: saving your shoveled spot with chairs, cones and buckets. And for now, the city isn't punishing people for it.
"That's a thing that they're doing, trying to save what they dug out," Streets and San Commissioner Thomas Byrne said during a press conference Friday morning. "And we're not going to take a position on that."
Mayor Richard Daley has also defended the practice.
At least one group thinks the city's position -- or lack of one -- is a problem. Last year, Chair Free Chicago gave residents a way to speak out against dibs with downloadable "Chair-Free Zone" signs.
Co-founder Kevin Lynch said earlier this week that Chair Free Chicago would be out helping residents shovel an extra parking spot to avoid people staking claim on public property.
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