One of the enduring hallmarks of July 4th in Houston is watching a segment of the population deeming it necessary to park their cars on the side of the freeway to gaze skyward at fireworks shooting off from Eleanor Tinsley Park's Freedom Over Texas bash.

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It's an annual frustration, right up there with mosquitoes and hot dogs and hot dog buns not coming in packs of the same number. It also happens around other Houston-area fireworks displays but the rubberneckers near downtown attract the most public ire. Each year Houstonians complain about the practice and each year it becomes a talking point.

One of the most popular places to park on the side of the road is along I-45 North and I-45 South near downtown, especially the Pierce Elevated. Some will choke the side streets in the area to try and get a good view of pyrotechnic explosions making pretty colors in the sky, even bringing lawn chairs to get more comfortable.

According to Texas Transportation Code, an operator of a motor vehicle may not stop, stand, or park a vehicle on a bridge or other elevated structure on a highway.

Captain Kenneth Campbell with the Houston Police Department's traffic enforcement division said Monday that it's a yearly fight to stop people from parking on the side of busy freeways.

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"It's not advisable to do so and it's very unsafe. Those lanes are not designated for parking and that lane is sometimes needed as a lane of escape if a crash is eminent. People are also frequently distracted while driving and will veer out of their lane, possibly striking some of these cars," Campbell said. "The human body versus a motor vehicle can create quite the carnage."

People are also drinking more over the holiday and that adds to the danger of being near a roadway, Campbell added.

"Do your research and see if there are any businesses that have great views and make a decent night of it," Campbell said, mentioning parking garages also offer up decent and much safer vantage points for fireworks gazing.

Campbell said that if the problem is especially bad they will send officers to disperse a crowd of cars. Police can and will ticket some of these people, especially if they attempt to remain on the roadway after an officer has told them to leave.

"There are simply too many variables that can be a recipe for disaster," Campbell said.

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According to Danny Perez at the Texas Department of Transportation, his agency will utilize its dynamic messaging system of roadside signs and social media to urge motorists to find other, safer places to watch the colorful shows.

"There are plenty of safe areas available to view fireworks," Perez said Monday. "This is not only advisable for the big City of Houston display but in other communities that have firework displays."

Craig Hlavaty is a reporter for Chron.com and HoustonChronicle.com.