Shovel Your Sidewalk or Risk $50 Ticket

Montgomery County residents will receive mailings this week as part of the county’s “Safe Sidewalks” campaign, which launched Jan. 5 to remind people that the law requires that they shovel their sidewalks.

County law requires residents to clear sidewalks in front of, and alongside, their properties within 24 hours of the end of a snowstorm. The campaign also reminds residents to check on older adults and vulnerable people who may live nearby, and especially those who live alone, reports Montgomery Community Media.

Failure to clear your walkway of snow or ice within 24 hours following a storm can lead to a written reminder or a $50 ticket.

“As winter approaches, county residents should be ready to clear their sidewalks, check in on neighbors in need, and prepare for winter emergencies,” said Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett at Monday’s event. “Clearing your walks is the law, but, even more, it is the right thing to do.”

All single-family home households in the county will receive a mailer this week from the County Office of Public Information and the Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. The campaign also will include bus signs, posters, blow-up signs in county libraries and recreational centers, outreach to civic associations and community organizations, and social media.

The county has also rolled out a new website: www.montgomerycountymd.gov/safesidewalks.

The website includes the county law on sidewalks, as well as details about the slightly different requirements in some municipalities.

“For residents who use public transportation, walk, or bike, access to sidewalks is crucial,” said Councilmember Hans Riemer. “After winter storms, we all have a role to play in keeping our neighbors and our community safe by keeping our sidewalks clear of snow and ice. A resilient community can bounce right back from major weather events, and resiliency was my goal in writing the sidewalk snow removal plan legislation.”