Health & Fitness
What is the "Ice Missile Law"?
Attorney Mike Bottaro comments on a law in favor of safety that went into effect in Connecticut on January 1, 2014.
Have you ever seen snow flying off vehicles while driving? These "ice missiles" can cause auto accidents. Connecticut has a new law penalizing drivers who fail to scrape snow off their cars.
Beginning January 1st, 2014, a new Connecticut law requires that motorists clean off all the snow and ice compiled on their vehicles before driving on the roads. If drivers fail to thoroughly brush off accumulated snow or ice after a storm, they risk facing fines of at least $75. If snow or ice flies onto the road and causes personal injury or property damage, the driver of the vehicle could be charged up to $1,000 per incident. The driver of a commercial vehicle could be charged up to $1,250 for such incidences.
What about Rhode Island? You may be pleased to know that here in the Ocean State, we already had this law on the books - Rhode Island law prohibits operators from driving "any motor vehicle with any significant amount of snow or ice upon the vehicle.” It is nice to see that our nutmeg neighbors finally caught up with us.
Interestingly, the Connecticut law came about after the House Minority Leader's wife was the victim of a flying sheet of ice while commuting to work one morning. She survived the accident, caused by a truck hitting a bump in front of her, and immediately incited her husband on a campaign to push for this law.
Have any of you ever seen these "ice missiles" on the road?
Mike Bottaro is founder of The Bottaro Law Firm, a Rhode Island personal injury law firm.
