Delaware, Maryland move to punish flying snow and ice

Winter is still months away, but Delaware and Maryland are moving to crack down on snow and ice left on vehicles before they hit the road.

In Delaware, a bill on Gov. Matt Meyer’s desk would let police stop drivers who fail to clear snow and ice before driving. Fines would range from $25 to $75, and penalties could rise to $1,000 if flying ice causes a crash or injuries. Truck drivers could face fines as high as $1,500.

Drivers could receive only one citation every 24 hours, and snow or ice that builds up again during the trip would not count. Sen. Bryan Townsend, D-Newark, said drivers can no longer brush off the danger. A proposed amendment from Rep. Rich Collins, R-Millsboro, that would have protected truckers when clearing the vehicle was impossible or unsafe, failed to win enough support.

Maryland’s law takes effect Oct. 1. It requires drivers to make a serious effort to remove snow and ice from the hood, roof, trunk and windshield, and for large trucks, the top of the trailer. The law says drivers must make “reasonable efforts” to clear all exposed surfaces.

Fines start at $25 for passenger vehicles and $75 for large trucks. Police can’t stop a driver just for violating the snow removal law, but officers can issue a ticket if the vehicle is pulled over for another reason. If snow or ice flies off and causes a crash, injury or death, the penalty can rise to $200, and truck drivers could be fined up to $1,500.

The Maryland law includes exceptions when removing snow or ice would violate workplace safety rules or put drivers in danger. Louis Campion, president of the Maryland Motor Truck Association, said clearing a tractor-trailer is far more challenging and that there are not enough truck washes, drive-through scrapers or other facilities to handle the trucks that travel through Maryland every day.