Is It Illegal To Drive With A Snow-Covered Car in Maine?

You’ve seen it, I’ve seen it, we all have. That one car driving down the road with a massive snowbank completely covering there vehicle.

They’re looking through what seems like a peephole through the windshield and we’re all like, “wait, is that even legal?”  

This was recently brought up in a report, posted by News Center Maine, which made us all question if it is legal or not?

In Maine, is it illegal to drive with snow covering your car?  

Yes, it is illegal to drive with snow almost completely covering your car in the state of Maine, according to Maine Law (TItle 29-A, §2093).

Why? Because it creates a hazard.

Maine drivers are required to take reasonable measures to clear the snow and ice or anything fully covering their vehicle off, especially from the roos, hood windows, lights, and mirrors.  

This is because that frozen chunk of ice or glacier of snow you have sitting on your roof could hit someone else's car going 55 mph and that’s a problem.  

If snow or ice falls off of your car and causes someone else to crash or damage to their car, you can be fined.

According to the report, the first offense can cost up to $50, but repeat offenders can jump to $250. The law applies to every vehicle on the road under 10,000 pounds, so yes, this includes your SUVS, big trucks, small sedans, and trust corollas.  

The law doesn’t exactly spell out for you to remove every single flake of snow or ice, but the key phrase is that is has to be "reasonably cleared." 

That translates to, if it can slide off, block your view, it shouldn’t be there.  

Read More: Debunking Common Winter Driving Myths in New England

And let’s just say, that even though it’s the law, it’s also the decent thing to do.

Cleaning your car off keep everyone safe and a little less grumpy during our winter months.