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SALT LAKE CITY — Driving the winding road through Big Cottonwood Canyon is a regular route for Unified police officer Shane Franchow.
"In the winter, we primarily control the Big and Little Cottonwood canyons with the resorts," Franchow said.
He said often he comes across travelers not parked where they are supposed to be parked. "They block emergency access. They block community access," Franchow said.
In a season of snowpack, he said the canyons are a big draw for the outdoors. As a result, he said people tend to park where they think is off the road, to get a jump start on their day.
Making sure you are off the road instead of thinking you are off the road can make all the difference. For snowplows, parking in the right spot means carving out a path to do their jobs.
For travelers, it can mean a safe drive into their own adventure. "Fire station's been blocked before. We've had to tow cars out of the intersections. They've completely blocked off Guardsman Pass," Franchow said.
He said police usually do not give out warnings in the canyons and parking illegally means receiving a fine.
@UPDSL says if you're parked illegally in the roadway - even if you didn't mean to - you could face fines.
— Karah Brackin (@KB_ON_TV) March 14, 2023
Big fines:
$150-$600 for the ticket.
If you're towed: Stack on $600-$800
or more. 😳
Plows gotta do their job and ppl@gotta get to where they're going safely! @KSL5TVpic.twitter.com/gjxs7xI8Ai
Tickets will cost anywhere from $150 to $600. He said a tow will be more expensive because it falls under a specialty tow happening in the mountains.
"Anywhere from $600 to $800 or more," Franchow said.
He said the best thing you can do to avoid the situation altogether is to arrive early and snag a parking spot in a marked lot.
If that does not happen, make sure to bring a shovel.
"You should have a shovel if you're coming up here during the wintertime. And you can just do a quick swipe across the road and find the line and make sure you're on the right side of it," Franchow said.
