With the change of the season to winter comes the inevitable snowy and icy conditions. All drivers become susceptible to winter driving; it is just one of the facts of life in New Jersey. After a massive snowstorm, you may see your vehicle covered in a foot of snow and think it is fine to just wipe the snow off from your windows and mirrors so that you can see while you are driving. However, according to New Jersey state law, this is not the case. If all snow and ice on your vehicle are not properly removed before you make your way to the road, you may be facing severe consequences. If you were recently charged with a traffic violation due to snow on your vehicle, please reach out to a Bergen County traffic violations attorney at The Law Office of Carl Spector to learn more about your next steps.
Will I get a ticket if I drive with snow on my vehicle in NJ?
It is very important to know that you must remove all snow and ice on your vehicle before you start driving. Even if you think that removing the snow and ice from your windows and mirror is enough to ensure you have proper visibility when you are driving, that may not be the case. If there is still snow or ice on your vehicle, even if it is just on the roof or hood of your car, it can potentially become hazardous for other drivers. Especially if you are on the freeway where faster driving speeds mean that the impact of ice that comes flying off your vehicle may lead to serious damages or injuries for other motorists.
If you do not remove all snow and ice on your vehicle, regardless if it is your windows, roof, or hood, you can be charged with fines ranging from $25 to up to $75 for each offense. However, these fines can become far more severe if flying snow or ice from your vehicle causes property damage or injuries to other drivers. If that is the case, the fines you may be facing can range from $200 to up to $1,000. These penalties can be even more serious for both passenger and commercial vehicles. Even if no damages or injuries were caused, drivers can be fined between $500 to $1,000.
It should also be noted that if flying snow and ice from your vehicle caused damages or injuries to another motorist, you could be susceptible to a personal injury claim being filed against you and your insurance provider. The consequences of traffic violations are no laughing matter, which is why it is essential to have a skilled traffic violation attorney by your side throughout the process.
