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OTTUMWA, IOWA -- During a Snow Emergency, the city of Ottumwa prohibits the parking of vehicles on certain streets.

If your vehicle is illegally parked, there is a good chance that it will get towed.

Law enforcement and emergency vehicles use Snow Route streets as their primary routes when commuting around town.

Numerous weather related accidents occur during the winter months.

And for that reason, the Department of Public Works is constantly plowing the streets in case of an emergency.

Police Chief Jim Clark said vehicles that block Snow Route streets take away the ability for Public Works to properly clear snow and slush off of the streets.

"We don't want to tow vehicles," said Clark. "All we want are for people to move their vehicles off the streets so Public Works can properly clear the streets."

So before you park your vehicle during the next Snow Emergency, make sure that the road is not a Snow Route street.