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February 24, 2022
Wenatchee – The Washington State Patrol (WSP) wants to re-emphasize that parking on the shoulders or lanes of travel on US 2 near Stevens Pass is illegal. If your vehicle is parked illegally and you are not present, your vehicle is considered abandoned and may be towed. There are clearly posted “No Parking – Tow Away Zone” signs along the roadway.
At one point during Sunday morning of the recent President’s Day weekend, there were an estimated 100 vehicles illegally parked (abandoned) on US 2 near the Stevens Pass summit. Troopers responded to the area and ordered tows to begin removal of vehicles. Most of the vehicles were moved by the time the tows arrived, however, a few vehicles were towed at owner’s expense to Leavenworth.
The US 2 route over Stevens Pass is a busy especially during the winter months when the ski resort is operational. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) works hard to keep the road open and traffic flowing in timely manner. Vehicles parked illegally along or on the roadway present a hazard to other motorists and prevent WSDOT plows and road crews from clearing, treating or repairing the roadway as necessary.
Motorist’s state that full parking lots at or near the ski resort is the reason for parking on the shoulder. As a reminder, you can check if the lots are full by using Stevens Pass social media sites or calling them. If you want to get a spot in a lot then arriving early is your best option.
Keeping US 2 open and safe is our priority. The cooperation of motorists is essential to this. We don’t want to tow vehicles but prevention of collisions, traffic backups and roadway closures is necessary.
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