New PA Law Mandates Fines For Not Clearing Ice & Snow From Vehicles

PENNSYLVANIA — With winter seemingly here early, drivers should be reminded that they now are required to clear snow and ice from their vehicles within 24 hours of a snowstorm and before hitting the road.

Gov. Tom Wolf in July signed "Christine's Law," a bill named after Christine Lambert. She died while traveling on Christmas Day 2005 when an icy projectile dislodged from a tractor trailer, went through the windshield of her vehicle and struck her in the head.

The new law says drivers must make “reasonable efforts to remove accumulated ice or snow from the motor vehicle or motor carrier vehicle, including the hood, trunk and roof of the motor vehicle or motor carrier vehicle, within 24 hours after the cessation of the falling snow or ice.”

Anyone found violating Christine’s Law faces a $50 fine. But if ice or snow left on a car or truck flies off causes injury, fines could be as much as $1,500.

The bill strengthened previous ice and snow removal laws in which drivers could be penalized only if snow or ice falling from their vehicle resulted in serious bodily harm.