Can You Get Fined in Maine for Snow on Your Car?

There is some sarcasm involved here, but maybe we can all learn something.

Just about everything involving winter in Maine, is a major pain in the butt, especially when it comes to driving, so this seems like the perfect time to remind people that it is important to clean your vehicle off before you hit the road.

Yes, there is a Maine law requiring snow removal

You may not know that there is a Maine law, based around this very subject. Here is how it reads:

Title 29-A: MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
Chapter 19: OPERATION
Subchapter 1: RULES OF THE ROAD

Snow and ice; duty of care
The operator of a vehicle with a registered weight under 10,000 pounds shall take reasonable measures to prevent snow or ice on the vehicle from falling off the vehicle while it is being operated on a public way.
A violation of this section that causes damage or injury is a traffic infraction subject to a fine of not more than $50 for a first offense and for which a fine of not less than $150 and not more than $250 may be adjudged for each subsequent offense.

Failure to clear your vehicle can be scary

I very vividly remember driving home from work one snowy day, taking 395, and chugging along at about 65 miles per hour, when a car switched lanes, hauling ass much faster than that.

They didn't properly remove the snow from the roof of their car, and sheets of snow and ice came flying at me, which scared the crap out of me since this person whitewashed me. Trust me, this is ten times scarier when you are moving at a high rate of speed, with cars in back of you.

We just happened to find something that is easy to use, and these seven simple steps will help you not be a dummy who might get someone else, or yourself in an accident.

7 Easy Steps to Clearing Your Car

Check out this funny video of a weatherman from Fox 2 Detroit, Michigan, who seemed pretty put out that people can't seem to clean their ride off when winter weather hits.

He obviously is trying to be funny, but based on what I see driving around Maine after a snowfall, he might be onto something.

Here are the 7 easy steps:

1. Do a left-to-right swipe with your brush along the driver's side door.
2. Swipe back the other way, right to left
3. Go to the passenger side of the car and repeat steps 1 & 2
4. Make sure your outside mirrors are cleared off!
5. Use your scraper to get ice off all your windows
6. Clean the snow off the hood and the roof
7. Don't forget to clean off your headlights!

Drive safe, Maine!