In winter, many people hurry everywhere and they don’t have time to completely clean their cars full of snow or ice. This might seem like it’s not important, but a bit of snow or ice on the roof, hood, or windows of your car can be illegal in some states of the U.S. Haven’t you heard about this? Well, we are here to tell you all about it.
Driving with snow is dangerous
Snow and ice move when we start driving, they can slide or fly off our cars. So, when this happens, we can face several dangerous situations:
- Ice can fly off the roof and hit another car.
- Serious accidents can happen without warning.
- Snow can slide down and block your windshield.
- Ice can cause another driver to lose control.
That’s why taking a moment to clean our cars before driving is a small but important way to look out for ourselves and help keep everyone on the road safe.
States with strict laws about snow on cars
Some states of the U.S. have very clear laws that require drivers to completely clean their cars before going on the road. These laws are known as ‘’affirmative duty’’’ laws, which means there’s no need for an accident for a police officer to fine you. These are the states that follow this law:
In these places, driving with visible snow or ice on your car can lead to a fine, even though you didn’t cause any damage.
Why these laws were created
Many of these laws happen after real tragedies. In New Hampshire, for example, a law known as Jessica’s Law was passed after an accident in which a large piece of ice flew off a truck and caused a crash that killed a young woman named Jessica Smith. Because of this law, drivers can face:
- Fines of at least $250.
- Points added to their license.
- Charges for negligent driving.
In Pennsylvania, Christine’s Law says that drivers must clear snow and ice from their cars within 24 hours after a snowstorm to keep the roads safe.
Tickets and consequences
Fines for not cleaning the snow or ice on your cars are very high, especially if the ice or the snow cause damages. For instance, in New Jersey, fines can reach up to $1,500 (mostly on commercial vehicles).
The message from authorities is clear: saving a few minutes is no excuse to put other people at risk.
Other states
Although some states don’t mention snow directly in their laws, it doesn’t mean they allow it. I n many cases, police officers can apply general rules, such as laws about:
- Unsafe vehicles.
- Blocked or obstructed views.
- Reckless driving.
States like Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee, Alaska, Georgia, and others can still ticket drivers if snow blocks their view or falls onto the road while driving.
Large trucks
However, there’s a debate about large trucks because cleaning the roof of a truck may be dangerous for the driver, but at the same time, leaving the ice there is a huge risk for other vehicles.
Some states have some exceptions or allow limited defenses if the driver is heading to a place where snow removal equipment is available and has not passed it yet.
So…
Now you know that taking a few extra minutes to clean the snow or ice on your vehicle can prevent fines, accidents, and injuries. We know we are all used to leaving home and getting in the car to go somewhere, but we should all start getting used to cleaning before driving.