Lawmaker proposes fine for not clearing snow off cars

HAVERHILL, Mass. -- A local lawmaker's fine idea could make drivers pay up for not clearing snow off their cars before they hit the road.

We’ve all seen it before - snow and ice piled on cars and trucks, which can be a dangerous hazard when it comes flying off of the car in front of you.

“All of a sudden you’re blinded and of course you’re shocked so the reaction is to turn the wheel and you could cause an accident,” said Garry Palmisciano, driver.

The impact on Jessica D’Avolio’s Honda Civic was so intense that the 20-year-old was covered in glass by the time she made it to the emergency lane on I-93 in Andover Friday morning.

“It was all over me, in my jacket sleeves, my jeans,” said D’Avolio.

She says a sheet of ice flew off of a tractor trailer in front of her, but without a license plate number state police could do nothing.

One state lawmaker is now filing bills that would require drivers to clear the snow and ice off of the tops of their vehicles, and if they don’t, they would receive a fine up to $500.

“I’m more concerned about having legislation there or a statute there eventually that will give police the tools they need to stop a vehicle and say, ‘Look. You need to clean the snow off your vehicle because it’s dangerous.’” said Rep. Cleon Turner.

D’Avolio would like to see this become a law.

“I could have gotten hurt, anybody could have gotten hurt, it could have caused a bad accident to happen,” said D’Avolio.

But most drivers that 7NEWS spoke with think a maximum fine of $500 is way too high.

“Maybe $100,” said Hurd.

“I would say $50,” said Palmisciano.

Rep. Turner said he is willing to compromise on the exact dollar amount of the fine, but not on the principle that drivers need to get the snow off of their vehicles.

Thankfully D’Avolio is uninjured.

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