Bill would levy fine for drivers with snow on cars
Legislation introduced last month to ticket Pennsylvania motorists who fail to "make all reasonable efforts" to clean their vehicles of snow and ice is getting a mixed response in York County.
The proposed bill, authored by state Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Northampton, would give police officers authority to stop any vehicle they determine has enough snow or ice piled on it to "pose a threat to persons or property." Fines would range from $25 to $75.
Boscola also authored a 2006 law that fines motorists up to $1,000 if snow or ice dislodged from their vehicle causes "death or serious bodily injury."
But that law imposes fines only after people are hurt or killed, Boscola said.
Sometimes offending drivers face no fines at all.
On Feb. 2, accumulated ice flew off a truck and smashed the windshield of a motorist driving on Route 248 near Bethlehem.
Though that driver's face was cut up by flying shards of glass, Boscola said, no fines will be levied as the resulting injuries were not determined to be "serious."
Trying again: Boscola has introduced bills identical to her current one in the past two legislative sessions without success. But she says support is growing and she believes the bill, which awaits action by the Senate Transportation Committee, will pass at some point. New Jersey passed a similar law in 2009.
One concern among detractors is that the bill does not specify how much ice or snow constitutes a violation, leaving police to make a judgment call.
"When people weigh in on this issue, 90 percent are for it. The 10 percent against are either in the trucking industry or people concerned about government intruding in their lives, and I understand that," Boscola said.
"But enforcement of many of our motor vehicle laws rely on the discretion of the officer," she added. "This isn't about fluffy white snow wisping off an SUV, this is about rock solid chunks of ice coming off large trucks at 60 mph."
Police, lawmakers respond: Law enforcement officials and lawmakers from York County are split on the proposal. Some believe the current law is sufficient, while others say the winter driving behavior they've seen warrants a new law.
Northern York County Regional Police Chief Mark Bentzel and Southwestern Regional Police Chief Gregory Bean agree snow and ice flying off vehicles is a traffic safety issue, but question whether handing out tickets left and right is the best solution.
"Certainly every driver should do their best to make sure their vehicles are free and clear of ice and snow prior to operating their vehicle," Bentzel said. "But this takes it a step further. There is a big window of discretion involved that would make it difficult to enforce."
State Rep. Eugene DePasquale, D-York City, said he wants to see how effective the 2006 law has been before imposing a new one, while state Sen. Mike Waugh, R-Shrewsbury, and state Rep. Scott Perry, R-Dillsburg, said the 2006 law is adequate and that Boscola's proposal goes too far.
"It is kind of nanny-like. I am sure in the good senator's mind this is a good idea and I am sure she is well-intentioned," Perry said. "But at some point we get too picayune about how people live their lives."
But state Reps. Stan Saylor, R-Windsor Township, and Keith Gillespie, R-Springettsbury Township, said they'd be inclined to support the bill.
Saylor said while driving up I-83 in wintry weather, his windshield is too often pelted by snow and ice flying off other vehicles, noting that just the impact can startle a driver and cause an accident.
And Gillespie, who is also an emergency medical technician, said he often sees people driving with every window covered in snow except for a small porthole carved out of the driver's side of the windshield.
"I don't know what they are thinking," Gillespie said. "But I have seen an awful lot of accidents caused by stupidity. Sometimes you just have to protect people from themselves."
-- Reach Charlie Lardner at 505-5439 or clardner@yorkdispatch.com.
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