A rude surprise greeted hundreds of driver in the Halifax area this morning – tickets tucked under windshield wipers for violating the winter parking ban, even though most streets were clear of snow.

Some cars were even towed, hours after the storm hit, and the flurry of tickets has produced a blizzard of complaints across the municipality.

"When I arrived home at work…it was completely clear so I parked on it and didn't think to move my vehicle at all because there was nothing forecast," said area resident Bryan Cherwonick.

But the parking ban was in effect overnight and Cherwonick woke up to find a parking ticket on his windshield Wednesday morning.

He said there wasn't any snow being cleared on his street last night so he didn't think twice about parking on the street. He was confused to find out he had been ticketed.

"It's very confusing the way they come up with this and I got caught up in the confusion, as well did many other people."

A total of 656 people received parking tickets early Wednesday and five vehicles were towed.

"Snowfall amounts were higher than expected on Monday night so the decision to implement the ban on Tuesday helped us to address the side streets that weren't clear," explained Michaelyn Thompson, a spokesperson with HRM Communications.

But not all motorists are buying that explanation.

"It's kind of overkill when they do it the next night basically," said one area resident. "I mean, the night before with the snow, fine, and I should have got a ticket because I left my car on the street to be honest with you, but there was no ticket on my car. But the next day, there was a ticket on my neighbour's car, and no snow on the ground."

Thompson says some areas in the municipality see more snow than in others, and the ban is to address those areas where there is still snow.

In previous years there was a blanket ban for the entire winter season but this year the ban is only in effect when it snows.

Thompson says changing the way the ban works has actually led to fewer tickets being handed out. This time last year 7,400 tickets had been issued, compared to 2,400 this season.

Many residents say they prefer the flexibility of this year's model, while others say the overall parking ban was better.

"It allows us the opportunity to park on the street when there isn't any snow," said one area resident of the new policy.

"I think they should go back to the old way and then everybody's protected," said another.

Cherwonick said those handing out the tickets should simply use common sense when patrolling the city.

"I think the police should maybe back off a bit and say ‘you know what, none of these people are actually affecting snow-clearing operations so there's no reason to give out a ticket.'"

In the meantime, he said he will be keeping a closer eye on the city's website, regardless of how clear the streets look.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Jacqueline Foster