Requires that most motor vehicles be cleared of snow, sleet, or hail accumulated on their roof and cargo bed surfaces

5 Co-sponsors

• Martin Malavé Dilan
• Brian X. Foley
• Ruth Hassell-Thompson
• Craig M. Johnson
• John L. Sampson

Title of bill

An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requiring the roof and cargo bed surfaces of certain motor vehicles to be cleared of accumulated snow, sleet, or hail

Purpose

This bill would make it mandatory for motor vehicles to be cleared of snow, sleet, or hail accumulated on their roof surfaces.

Provisions

Section 1 of the Vehicle and Traffic law is amended by adding Section 1229-e. Section 1229-e will make it mandatory that no person shall operate a motor vehicle while there is an accumulation of snow, sleet, or hail on the roof surfaces of drivers compartment, trailer, or other cargo compartments. Section 1229-e shall apply three hours. after form of precipitation only. The exceptions to this bill would include any automobile transporter, motorcycle, or authorized emergency vehicle.

Justification

Drivers of motor vehicles have continually been neglecting to remove the snow and ice from the roofs of their vehicles. Even after the snow has fallen, driving behind a vehicle with a layer of snow on its roof can cause an extra hazard for any car. There have been numerous cases of broken windshields which have resulted from chunks of ice flying off of one vehicle and hitting another while moving at high speeds.

History

1995-08- Referred to Transportation

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.