Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I doubt it applies to the OP, or the cop would have given him a ticket. The cop would have to be able to produce evidence that the snow on the OP's vehicle was posing a threat to persons or property. Obviously the cop did not feel comfortable doing that.
Quote:
2013 New Jersey Revised Statutes
Title 39 - MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC REGULATION
Section 39:4-77.1 - Snow, ice dislodged from moving vehicle causing injury, property damage; penalties; public awareness campaign, data collection system.
Universal Citation: NJ Rev Stat § 39:4-77.1 (2013)
39:4-77.1 Snow, ice dislodged from moving vehicle causing injury, property damage; penalties; public awareness campaign, data collection system.
1. a. (1) Each driver of a motor vehicle operated on a street or highway in this State shall have an affirmative duty to make all reasonable efforts to remove accumulated ice or snow from exposed surfaces of the motor vehicle prior to operation, which surfaces shall include, but not be limited to, the hood, trunk, windshield, windows, and roof of the motor vehicle, the cab of a truck, the top of a trailer or semitrailer being drawn by a motor vehicle, and the top of an intermodal freight container being carried by an intermodal chassis. A person who violates the provisions of this subsection may be stopped on a street or highway by a law enforcement officer who believes the accumulated ice or snow may pose a threat to persons or property and shall be subject to a fine of not less than $25 or more than $75 for each offense regardless of whether any snow or ice is dislodged from the motor vehicle. No motor vehicle points or automobile insurance eligibility points pursuant to section 26 of P.L.1990, c.8 (C.17:33B-14) shall be assessed for a violation of this paragraph. Every day upon which a violation occurs shall be considered a separate violation, but no person shall be subject to more than one fine for a violation of this paragraph in a period of 24 consecutive hours.
(2)This subsection shall not apply to any driver of a motor vehicle operated during a snow or ice storm that began and continued for the duration of the motor vehicle's operation or to any operator of a motor vehicle while it is parked.
(3)No fine shall be imposed pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection on the driver of a commercial motor vehicle, as the term is defined in R.S.39:1-1, that is traveling to a location where equipment or technology that is used to remove snow and ice from commercial motor vehicles is available, provided that the driver has not already passed a location with snow and ice removal equipment or technology after snow or ice shall have accumulated on the exposed surfaces of the commercial motor vehicle. In determining whether the vehicle has already passed a location with equipment or technology that is used to remove snow and ice from commercial motor vehicles, a law enforcement officer shall have the authority to inspect any documentation relating to the route traveled by the driver of the commercial motor vehicle prior to being stopped, including, but not limited to, a log book or map depicting the route traveled by the vehicle.
(4)Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection:
(a)the person who is in physical possession of a motor vehicle at the time snow or ice accumulates on the exposed surfaces of the motor vehicle shall be responsible for removing the accumulated snow or ice from the exposed surfaces of the motor vehicle and shall be liable for a violation of the duty to remove accumulated snow or ice prior to operation of the motor vehicle pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection. If the driver of the motor vehicle was not in physical possession of the motor vehicle at the time the snow or ice accumulated, then such driver shall not be liable for a violation of paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(b)in the case of any trailer or semitrailer being drawn by a motor vehicle or of any vehicle or combination of vehicles carrying an intermodal freight container, the person, including, but not limited to a shipper or consignee, who is in physical possession of the trailer, semitrailer, or container at the time snow or ice accumulates on such trailer, semitrailer, or container shall be responsible for removing the accumulated snow or ice from the trailer, semitrailer, or container and shall be liable for a violation of the duty to remove accumulated snow or ice prior to operation of a motor vehicle pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection. If the driver of the motor vehicle was not in physical possession of the trailer, semitrailer, or container at the time the snow or ice accumulated, then such driver shall not be liable for a violation of paragraph (1) of this subsection.
b.When snow or ice is dislodged from a moving vehicle and strikes another vehicle or pedestrian causing injury or property damage, the following penalties shall apply:
The operator of a non-commercial motor vehicle shall be subject to a fine of not less than $200 or more than $1,000 for each offense.
The operator, owner, lessee, bailee or any one of the aforesaid of a commercial motor vehicle shall be subject to a fine of not less than $500 or more than $1,500 for each offense.
No motor vehicle points or automobile insurance eligibility points pursuant to section 26 of P.L.1990, c.8 (C.17:33B-14) shall be assessed for a violation of this subsection.
c.The Director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety in the Department of Law and Public Safety shall establish a public awareness campaign that educates the public on the importance of removing snow and ice from the exposed surfaces of motor vehicles prior to the operation of such vehicles. This campaign shall educate the public on the potential dangers associated with failing to remove snow or ice from motor vehicles as well as on the penalties that may be imposed as a result of failing to remove snow or ice from a motor vehicle prior to operation.
d.The Director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety in the Department of Law and Public Safety, in conjunction with the Division of State Police and other law enforcement agencies, shall establish and maintain a data collection system to be used to determine the number and seriousness of motor vehicle accidents caused by snow or ice becoming dislodged from motor vehicles. In its annual report to the Legislature pursuant to section 16 of P.L.1987, c.284 (C.27:5F-33), the Division of Highway Traffic Safety shall provide an analysis of the information gathered through the data collection system and any recommendations, including any proposed legislation, for reducing the number and seriousness of accidents caused by snow or ice becoming dislodged from motor vehicles.
e.All fines imposed and collected in the enforcement of this section shall be forwarded by the person to whom they are paid to the State Treasurer, who shall annually deposit those moneys in the "Motor Vehicle Snow and Ice Removal Safety Fund" established pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2009, c.138 (C.39:4-77.2).
This is definitely a safety hazard. Let's say you had 2" of snow on the roof of your car while driving and you had to hit your brakes hard. Where do you think that snow is going to go? It will slide straight down onto your windshield completely obstructing your view.
Tell your father what happened. I'm sure he would rather hear it from you than by getting a surprise in the mail.
As earlier posters pointed out snow on the roof is a hazard to you if you brake hard and a hazard to anyone behind you as it flies off when you're cruising down the road. Think about it.
I was headed out today after a minor snowfall, and I was pulled over for having excessive snow on my car. The snow that was on the windshield was very minor, so I was able to wipe it away, but there was admittedly a good amount of snow on the fender and on the roof. It did not limit my visibility, and I did not realize there was a law against it in my state as long as my visibility wasn't limited. I passed a police car and immediately knew I was in trouble. He made a U turn and got closer and closer behind me before turning on the lights. When he asked me if I knew why I was being pulled over, I immediately answered, "I have too much snow on my vehicle." This was not a nice cop by any means, and he went back to his car for about 10 minutes before giving me my insurance and registration and license back and then he watched me clean all the snow off the car before he left. I noticed that part of my insurance had been taken off, but I did not see a written ticket anywhere. So, does this seem like the ticket will come in the mail? The fine here is relatively small (I researched it when I got home), but the car is under my father's name, so if the ticket is going to be mailed, he will know about this incident. I'm not worried about the fine and have no problem paying it, but I plan on telling my father beforehand if the ticket will be mailed. If it will not be mailed to him and I simply get points deducted from my license, I am not going to tell him about it. I admit I made a mistake, so please don't give me grief, and if you're going to yell at me, don't bother commenting. All I want to know is if I made a mistake by telling the officer that I knew why I was being pulled over and if my father will receive a ticket in the mail or nothing else will happen. I live in New Jersey by the way.
I think that if he were going to give you a ticket, he'd have handed it to you at the stop. That's how it has always happened when I have gotten tickets. The only tickets I've had mailed to me are camera tickets.
Honestly though, you should be more careful about this. Snow or ice flying off cars can hit other cars and cause accidents, injury and even death. You really do have an obligation to clear all the snow off your car before you drive it. It isn't just about your visibility, but the safety of others on the road.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
