Bill > SB698

This bill requires individuals operating or towing a vehicle to make reasonable efforts to remove accumulated snow and ice from exposed surfaces, such as the hood, trunk, windows, roof, and the cab of trucks, as well as trailers, if that snow and ice poses a threat to people or property. This requirement does not apply if complying would violate workplace safety laws or endanger the operator's health or safety. While police can only enforce this as a secondary offense during a traffic stop for another violation, penalties are established for violations, with fines increasing for commercial vehicles and subsequent offenses, and each day a violation continues can be considered a separate offense, though a person cannot be found in violation more than once in a 24-hour period. Furthermore, the bill prohibits causing an accident resulting in property damage or serious injury or death to another person due to a violation of this snow and ice removal requirement, with significantly higher fines for such contributing violations.