PA welcomes winter with a law impacting truckers who come to the Keystone State. The new law requiring removal of snow/ice, provides penalties, and has exceptions.
Bottom line: You have 24 hours after snow/ice fall stops and don’t have to risk your own injury to clear the snow/ice.
Thoughts:
We all agree that reducing risks by removing ice/snow from vehicles is a worthy goal. However, there a couple realities get in the way, if not prevent its achievement.
First, risk to the driver. Climbing on the roof of a 13’+ high snow/ice covered trailer is dangerous.
The law recognizes this. It tells you not to try if a threat to your safety or health. Further, it excepts doing it when it would violate Federal or State employee safety laws.
Second, check out the ATRI study on “Snow and Ice Accumulation on Vehicles” at Microsoft Word - ATRI Snow and Ice FINAL.doc (mmta.com) ATRI, trucking’s think tank, looked for an answer as to how to effectively remove snow and ice,
The result—there is no answer for vehicles away from their terminal or other facilities. If you are on the road and caught in a snow, there is no immediate way to safely do it. Read the study.
Third, the law recognizes this as well. It is not a violation IF you are en route to getting the snow/ice removed. If you are headed to a terminal with a scraper, truck wash,…you are not in violation.
Key—make sure that is what you are really doing…and can prove it.
Fourth, you have 24 after the snow/ice stops fallings to clear the snow/ice. You don’t have to catch it as its coming down.
The Basics:
The law requires:
-Driver of a motor vehicle
-“Must make reasonable efforts”
-To remove accumulated “ice and snow”
-From the motor vehicle (including hood, trunk, and roof)
-Within 24 hours after the snow and ice stops falling
-Police may stop if ice/snow appears to be threat to persons or property
The exceptions-does not apply:
-is en route to facility to remove ice/snow at time stopped;
-doing so would require violation of workplace safety laws; or
-“would be a threat to the health or safety of the driver”
The penalties:
-$50/offense--regardless of if ice/snow is dislodged
-$200-$1000/offense-if dislodges and causes death or serious bodily injury
New PA Ice/Snow Law
As a truck driver I see this as a way for pa to help drivers spend a little more money because we all know truck stops and service centers will install the equipment and charge a nominal fee. I see this massive shutdown getting closer by the day better get prepared
State of PA should have snow removal blades at each service area along the turnpike. For what PA charges trucks for tolls this should be easily paid for.