Law Would Require Cleaning Ice, Snow From Cars

The Associated Press ^ | September 15, 2005 | AP

[Westlander]

BOSTON -- It's cold, it's snowing, and there's ice and snow on the car. So you hop in and go without clearing off all the winter precipitation.

That might soon be against the law in Massachusetts.

The state Legislature is considering a bill that would mean fines of up to $500 and a six-month stay in jail.

The bill is designed to reduce the danger from chunks of snow and ice flying off car roofs or hoods.

If it passes, Massachusetts could become the first state to require snow- and ice-free cars.

[Keith in Iowa]

Annoyance??

Read: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1485487/posts?page=104#104

Tell the family of the dead person what happened was an annoyance.

[Mears]

It actually was kind of funny. This was in a local businees district with a lot of stop and go traffic so speed wasn't a factor.

The woman just sat dumbfounded in her car and kept trying to get this sheet of ice off with her windshield wipers. Finally the guy behind her got out of his car and cleared it off so traffic could proceed.

[mysterio]

Should all good ideas be made law? There are lots of safer choices that would save lives. Should we mandate them all? Or should we just mandate the ones that you have an experience with?

Many children each year are killed by firearms that have been left out. Probably even more than are killed by ice flying off of the back of a semi. I can therefore assume that you would support a law mandating firearms be locked up and stored unloaded at all times. Am I correct?

[SoothingDave]

Should all good ideas be made law? There are lots of safer choices that would save lives. Should we mandate them all? Or should we just mandate the ones that you have an experience with?

Are you seriously equating the reckless use of an automobile on the public highways with a constitutional right?

SD

[SoothingDave]

Do you favor laws mandating turn signals and brake lights, or do they violate your first amendment rights to control your own expression?

SD

[July 4th]

Well, that's why it's called Massa-chusetts. You're a slave to the government.

[DCPatriot]

Well, I didn't experience ice chunks hitting my car, but I did have a tractor-trailer rig blow a tire going 75 mph about 1/8th of a mile in front of me.

It was winter and there was a lot of snow and ice on the ground...thus I couldn't slam on the brakes.

The tire debris lifted into the air ABOVE the trailer rig and came down just in time to wreck my front spoiler and fog light (BMW M3).

I would imagine ice and snow sheets would not have sailed like a 5 ft. piece of rubber...but your point is well taken.

Cheers!

[LIConFem]

I think Joisey already has such a law.

Is anyone surprised?

[RightWhale]

Many do not even clear frost off their windshield before taking off for class. There might be a clear spot about the size of a silver dollar, and the headlights are also commonly left snow-covered. These are not straight-A students.

[Species8472]

Come visit me in Valdez, If there isn't enough snow for you here, we'll take a little ride up to Thompson pass.

[Snickersnee]

Connecticut tort law already makes you responsible for anything that falls off your vehicle. That probably goes back to horse-and-wagon days.

[an amused spectator]

I live in Alaska and this is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of. Common sense dictates that you clear your windows for visibility, but If your following close enough to be hit by ice or snow falling off a vehicle, you are following too close and deserve it!

The pro-snow-cleaning faction must live in the Fruit Belt.

Long about the end of January, cleaning the 2-foot drift off your various vehicles has gotten REAL old. I've lived in the Upper Peninsula for many years, and I've never seen anybody get nailed by a dangerous peel-off of ice or snow. Seen lots snow come off vehicles, including my own, but I guess we don't stick to other people's tailpipes, doing warp speed.

[an amused spectator]

This one doesn't interfere with anyone's life, liberty, or pursuit of happiness, doesn't infringe on anyone's freedome in any material way, and does make the highways safer.

Actually, it gives the revenooers just one more reason to stop you and collect "revenue". Is the offense an objective measure? What if you're driving in a white-out? Do you have to stop and risk an accident to clean your vehicle off?

I've driven in some REAL s**t, let me tell you...

[an amused spectator]

The actions of people who have chauffeurs to clean their cars for them...

Truer words...

[VRWCmember]

Wouldn't that violate their right to privacy and the sacrosanct driver's right to choose?

[VRWCmember]

(I ain't got a dime, but what I got is mine. I ain't rich, but Lord I'm free.)

You ain't exactly free if you can't even choose whether or not to scrape every bit of ice and snow off your car before you start driving down the highway. Better change the words to "Amarillo by Next Evening".

[pointsal]

How about calling the police after the car goes off the bridge?

Where does that stand with the police authorities in Bay State?

[mysterio]

Do you favor locked up unloaded guns? Because doing that would save a whole lot more lives than are taken by flying chunks of ice. We cannot nor should we legislate every good idea.

To answer your question, I favor laws that require a car company to put turn signals and break lights on now vehicles. I don't think people should be fined for not using them.

I favor laws that control excessive, dangerous speeding. Not the speed laws we have now designed to create revenue.

I think driving is a right, not a privelege. Everyone pays for the highways, their upkeep, and the police to patrol them. Driving is a necessity in most parts of the country. Those two factors make it a right.

Just my opinion.

Now, do we make every good idea a law or not? How about a gun law?

[solitas]

A cubic foot of fresh water weighs about 60# - significantly smaller than the 6 cu.ft. piece you're talking about.

[Chickensoup]

In a related story, all citizens will be REQUIRED to breathe in and out.