Connecticut’s Ice Missile Law

It snowed last night.

People will drive today. Some of those people will not have shoveled off the top of their car. Said people are jerks.

Connecticut has a law requiring the removal of snow and ice from a car…….that doesn’t go into effect until December 31, 2013:

…The operator of any motor vehicle, as defined in section 14-1 of the general statutes, shall remove any accumulated ice or snow from such motor vehicle, including the hood, trunk and roof of such motor vehicle, so that any ice or snow accumulated on such vehicle does not pose a threat to persons or property while the vehicle is being operated on any street or highway of this state. Any operator who fails to remove accumulated ice or snow that poses such a threat shall be fined seventy-five dollars.

If the operator of a noncommercial motor vehicle violates the provisions of this section and snow or ice is dislodged from such vehicle and causes personal injury or property damage, the operator shall be fined not less than two hundred dollars but not more than one thousand dollars for each offense. If the operator of a commercial motor vehicle violates the provisions of this section and snow or ice is dislodged from such vehicle and causes personal injury or property damage, the operator shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars but not more than twelve hundred fifty dollars for each offense.

The law does not apply to parked vehicles or a vehicle being operated during a storm.

Even though the law doesn’t go into effect until one day short of 2014, don’t be a jerk, clean off your car.

In addition, a loyal reader points out that a 6 inch snow fall left on an average car adds 225 pounds of weight and reduces MPG by 4.5%.

Ryan McKeen is a trial attorney at Connecticut Trial Firm, LLC in Glastonbury, Connecticut. In 2016, he was honored by the CT Personal Injury Hall of Fame for securing one of the highest settlements in the state. He is a New Leader in the Law. ABA 100. Avvo 10. 40 under 40 for Hartford Business Journal. He has been quoted in Time Magazine, the New York Times, Hartford Courant, Wall Street Journal Law Blog and the Hartford Business Journal. He focuses his practice on Connecticut Personal Injury law. He loves what he does. Contact him ryan@cttrialfirm.com or 860 471 8333

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