Pennsylvania Senate backs snow-free vehicle mandate

May 7, 2018

Keith Goble

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A bill halfway through the Pennsylvania General Assembly addresses concern about snow and ice removal from atop cars and trucks.

Pennsylvania law already allows police to ticket car and truck drivers and fine them $200 and $1,000 if the wintry precipitation causes serious injury or death.

The Senate voted unanimously to advance a bill that is intended to be proactive. Specifically, SB435 would authorize law enforcement to issue tickets solely for failure to clear their vehicles of snow and ice.

“This legislation is about safety and responsibility,” Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Northampton, said in prepared remarks. “Safety for motorists and truckers alike, and responsibility for freight and shipping companies to be a good corporate neighbor and to install appropriate snow removal equipment.”

Boscola has added that her bill is about raising awareness for a potentially hazardous issue. She said that police would not be required to issue tickets.

Drivers would be required to make “reasonable efforts” to remove snow or ice from all parts of their vehicles within 24 hours of a weather event.

Offenders would face a maximum fine of $1,500 if the wintry precipitation causes serious injury or death. The bill would include an additional protection allowing police to ticket drivers, who would face fines of $25 to $75, for failure to clear snow or ice before they take to the roads.

Truck operators would be excused if they are on their way to a facility to remove accumulated snow or ice. In addition, violations would not be issued if compliance would cause the trucker to violate any federal or state law or regulation regarding workplace safety or if it would be a health or safety threat.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association and countless truck drivers are opposed to rules that permit police to pull over drivers whose vehicles were not cleared of snow or ice. They point out that facilities are not readily available in states to accommodate clearance mandates on trucks. Another problem is the practicality of requiring people to climb atop large vehicles and doing it in less-than desirable conditions.

The bill has moved to the House Transportation Committee.

Other legislative activities of interest for Pennsylvania are available.