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State patrol to start towing cars parked illegally on U.S. 2 near Eagle Falls

SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. — Washington State Patrol will start cracking down on illegally parked cars on U.S. 2 near Eagle Falls, according to a new blog post from WSDOT.

The transportation agency said there has been an increase in cars parking illegally along the highway near popular swimming spot Eagle Falls in Snohomish County, and it’s becoming a safety hazard.

WSDOT emphasized that highway shoulders are designed for emergencies and not for long-term parking, and state patrol will be towing cars parked illegally.

"Not only does this lead to significant traffic congestion - especially on weekends - as drivers need to slow down to avoid hitting an illegally parked car, it's also a huge safety issue," a blog post read.

Officials said they have observed particularly dangerous behavior near Eagle Falls, with people walking in the road and driving dangerously.

Troopers will start towing if people do not comply with parking restrictions, especially as the weather heats up and more people head to the falls.