Most see white when the snow flies. But don't follow the parking rules and you will be seeing orange - orange parking tickets costing you lots of green.

Winter is almost upon us and so are winter parking bans. The parking rules went into effect early yesterday in Haverhill, Salem, N.H., and Derry, N.H.

Winter parking rules start Dec. 1 in Methuen, Andover and North Andover. Lawrence's rules go into effect Dec. 15.

The rules themselves vary from community to community, as do the fines. In Methuen, vehicles will be limited to one-hour parking from 1 to 6 a.m. on all public roads through April 15. Violators are subject to a $25 fine and risk their vehicles being towed in a snow emergency.

"We give people a little leeway for the first few weeks by leaving notices and warnings (on cars)," Methuen Capt. Edward Guy said. "But if people are in violation and there's a snow emergency, the fine goes up to $50 and they're going to be towed. It can get pretty expensive."

But Guy says those who need to break the parking rules, should always call the police station.

"If someone needs to park out on the street in an emergency, they can give us a call at the station and we'll try to help them out," Guy said. "That way if we need to plow their road, we know how to get in touch with the person so we don't have to tow them."

Here are the rules in your community:

Andover: Starting Dec. 1, no parking from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. on public roads. Fine is $25.

Derry, N.H.: Now in effect, parking is prohibited on all public streets and public parking lot from midnight to 6 a.m. until April 1. Violators get $10 tickets.

Haverhill: Now in effect, parking is limited to even-numbered side of the street from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. through Dec. 31, then odd-numbered side in January, back to the even-numbered side in February and finally on the odd-numbered side in March. Violators face $25 fine and up to $125 if vehicle is towed.

Lawrence: Starting Dec. 15, parking is limited to one side of the road from midnight to 6 a.m., alternating on a daily basis. On the even-numbered days of the calendar, drivers may only park on the even side of the street. On odd-numbered days, parking is limited to odd side of the street. Fines are $15 plus $150 if vehicle is towed.

Methuen: Starting Dec. 1, one-hour parking from 1 to 6 a.m. on all public roads through April 15. Violators are subject to a $25 fine and risk their vehicles being towed in a snow emergency.

North Andover: Starting Dec. 1, parking banned from midnight to 6 a.m. on all but a handful of public roads to be decided by selectmen Monday. Fine is $25

Salem, N.H.: Now in effect, parking is prohibited on all public streets and public parking lots from midnight to 6 a.m., and whenever there is more than three inches of snow on the ground until April 1. Violators get $10 tickets.