Massachusetts Myth Or Mandate? The Truth Behind Not Clearing The Snow Off Your Car
We are smack dab in the middle of winter which means snow shoveling, snow plowing and cleaning off your car. There are many of us who are guilty of not doing any of the 3. Or, there are people who may clean some of the snow off our cars but not enough, thus making it a hazard for us to be driving because it endangers us and everyone around us that are driving. With more snow on the way Friday and the rest of the winter, we felt it would be smart to remind you of this existing rule that involves cleaning off your car of snow after a snow storm.
The big question is: Is it a law in Massachusetts that you have to clean off your car after a snow storm? Technically the answer is no. It is NOT a law. HOWEVER, that doesn’t mean you can’t be punished for it. Chapter 85 of Section 36 of Massachusetts state law reads: “No person shall drive or move a motor vehicle…unless such vehicle is constructed or loaded so as to prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting, leaking or otherwise escaping therefrom, and, if it is loaded with sand, gravel, loam, dirt, stone, rubbish or debris that could fall on other vehicles or on the highway and create litter or potential hazards to other vehicles, unless its load is fully and adequately covered…Whoever violates the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty nor more than two hundred dollars.”
Bottom line: no law BUT you can still be fined!
CLEAN OFF YOUR CARS ENTIRELY!