Pennsylvania Law Will Require Drivers to Clean Snow and Ice Before Driving

A new law passed by the legislature in Pennsylvania will require drivers to clean snow and ice off of their cars before driving or face a heavy fine.

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It's no secret that this area of the country gets a hefty amount of snow every winter, and temperatures drop low enough to form some pretty strong ice for much of the year. Drivers with uncleaned snow and ice on their cars pose a dangerous risk to other drivers on the road. Drivers could even pose a risk to themselves if that snow and ice falls forward while they're driving. Common sense would indicate to drivers that cleaning off their car properly is an easy way to keep themselves and others safe during already tough winter conditions. Yet it's still a fairly common and dangerous nuisance around this area.

According to a report from George Stockburger of MyTwinTiers.com, this new law which passed the Pennsylvania legislature unanimously and was signed by Governor Tom Wolf would require drivers to make "reasonable efforts to remove accumulated ice or snow from the motor vehicle or motor carrier vehicle, including the hood, trunk and roof of the motor vehicle or motor carrier vehicle, within 24 hours after the cessation of the falling snow or ice."

Drivers could receive fines between $200 and $1,500 for each offense. According to Stockburger's report, the law was named after Christine Lambert, a Pennsylvania resident who was killed after ice fell off a box truck and through her windshield in 2005. So if you're traveling through Pennsylvania next winter, make sure you take proper care of your vehicle or you could be facing a hefty ticket on top of creating dangerous driving conditions.