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February 19th, 2015
Did you know that several states have laws on their books that you must remove all ice and snow from your vehicle before moving it or you can be fined? It only makes sense to clear off all of your windows before driving, but I did not know that you must clean the roof and hood as well. If ice or snow falls from your vehicle while driving and hits another vehicle causing property damage, or hits a pedestrian causing injury, you can be fined.
In 2010, a West Virginia delegate from Kanawha County introduced a bill that would get tough with drivers in West Virginia who failed to clear snow and ice off their vehicles, but IT DID NOT MAKE IT INTO A LAW. Some cities and towns have adopted their own laws requiring snow/ice removal, so check out the ordinances in your city or town to make sure you are abiding by the local laws.
For example, here are some laws for the states of Pennsylvania, Connecticut and New Jersey.
| Pennsylvania’s Snow/Ice Removal Law, which went into effect in 2006, requires motorists to remove all snow and ice from their cars before heading out on roads, including the Pennsylvania Turnpike. If snow or ice flies from a vehicle and hits another vehicle or pedestrian, drivers face fines of $200 to $1,000. Pennsylvania law also requires drivers to turn headlights on whenever windshield wipers are in use or they could face a fine of $25.
In Connecticut, they have the "Ice Missile Law" for commercial vehicles and non-commercial vehicles. This law requires drivers to clear vehicles of snow and ice before driving, “including the hood, trunk and roof." Violation of the law carries a fine of $75. New Jersey – Ice & Snow - Remove It Before You Go – Remember to remove all ice and snow from your vehicle before driving, especially from the hood, windows and roof. It’s the law in New Jersey! Motorists who fail to do so face fines of $25 to $75 for each offense, regardless of whether the ice and snow is dislodged from the vehicle. If flying ice or snow causes property damage or injury to others, motorists face fines of $200 to $1,000 for each offense. |
Check out this cite from theclda.com for all states with regard to trucking snow removal requirements:
Also, most people do not realize this, but more than 50 percent of the reason you have lights on your car is not for you to see, it is so others can see you. Many states require drivers to have their headlights on whenever windshield wipers are in use or you can be fined. A handful of states, however, have more specific laws for headlight use that could catch an out-of-town driver (or a resident not up on current laws) completely off guard. The most common requirement is to use headlights when wipers are in use. More obscure requirements include Pennsylvania, which requires drivers to turn on their headlights in construction zones, while Alaska requires headlights at speeds above 45 mph on designated highways. Because keeping track of state laws can be difficult, owning a car with automatic headlights (which turn on when it's dark) as well as daytime running lights (which use a low beam headlight during the day) can be handy.
Each year, there are approximately 500 fatalities in the United States due to icy road conditions. This winter, please use common sense when driving in tough weather conditions, i.e. remove all snow and ice from your vehicle and turn your headlights on whenever your windshield wipers are in use. Be Safe!!
