With the winter snow season in full swing, a significant number of Americans may be familiar with needing to make the daily walk to the car before work to ensure your driveway is clear before you are able to drive to work. However, some households which do not have undercover parking may also need to clear the snow of the roof of their car as well as get ice off the windows. Particularly if you live in New York State, where if you do own a car you need to park outside, this is a regular occasion for most car-owners.
Is it illegal to drive with snow on the roof of your car?
Sometimes, the last thing you feel like doing in the morning is shoveling the snow off the roof of your car. Most will be familiar with the shortcut of heating your car up as fast as possible, and then using your wipers to clear the snow off your windshield before driving off. While some may be tenacious enough to clear the snow off the roof dutifully each day, most people are not putting in the effort to do this every morning, especially if you are running late.
However, New Yorkers may be surprised to learn that it is actually illegal to drive your car without removing the five or six inches of snow off your roof. According to the New York Senate:
“Motor vehicles, with certain exceptions, shall not be operated with an accumulation of snow or ice on the surface thereof; establishes fines for violation of these provisions; establishes a fund for the state’s portion of such fines, the “snow and ice removal fund” with 10% of the funds going to an annual DMV report on the fund, 25% going to each the DOT and the Thruway authority for establishing snow and ice removal sites on their roads, 30% for a DOT grant program and 10% for a public awareness campaign.”
In addition, it is also illegal to leave your car unattended with the ignition on: New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law states: “no person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition, removing the key from the vehicle, and effectively setting the brake.”
Next time you go turn on your ignition before hurrying back inside for an extra five minutes of cold protection while your car warms up, note to yourself that what you are doing is technically illegal!
Snowiest states in the US
New Yorkers experience some of the most snow in the country. On average, New York state experiences 51.3 inches of snow a year. Buffalo is one of New York’s snowiest cities, averaging 9 feet a year due to the lake effect. Lake-effect snow is produced during cooler atmospheric conditions when a cold air mass moves across long expanses of warmer lake water. Buffalo is home to Lake Erie, one of the five Great Lakes of North America.
The snowiest state however is Alaska. Alaska receives nearly 73 inches of snow each year. With snow fall expected for eight out of the twelve months of the year, its no wonder that the state is home to only a population of just over 730,000. In comparison, New York state has a population of nearly 20 million. While the weather is far from ideal for most, the state is rich in natural beauty, as well as favorable governmental programs.
Be aware of what car you drive in winter
Not only do New Yorkers need to be aware of the snow on the roof of their car, but it is essential if you hail from here, or any other state which receives extreme snowfall, that you choose your car wisely. Some cars are better suited for the rough and cold conditions, while others are best suited for warmer weather. If you are in the market for a new car, make sure you do your research carefully before committing.
