Let Them Shovel: NJ Snow Removal Law Protects Solicitation Rights

Making a few bucks by shoveling snow isn’t what it used to be.

On Tuesday, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed a bill into law that will protect the rights of anyone who wants to solicit snow shoveling services up to 24 hours before a predicted snowstorm.

Approval of the law comes in the nick of time, as forecasters predict that more than a foot of snow may be dumped on some parts of the state as soon as Friday.

• See related article: NWS Releases Storm Details: Foot Of Snow Expected In N.J.

The bills – S2741 and A4213 – were written in response to an incident last year in Somerset County where two teens looking to shovel snow were stopped by local police and told they were in violation of town code.

• See related article: Cops Stop Teens for Shoveling Snow, Stirring A Heap Of Controversy

The new law nixes any municipal ordinance that permits a township to “regulate the solicitation of snow shoveling services within 24 hours of a predicted snowstorm.”

“Shoveling snow has been a time-honored activity for children when schools are closed, and it is not appropriate for municipal solicitation regulations to be interpreted so broadly as to prohibit children from offering to perform this necessary service within their communities,” the bills stated.

Read the full text of S2741 here.

• See related article: Snow Shoveling Strategies

Photo by Steven Depolo via Flickr Commons