Drivers could face steep fines for not clearing the snow off their cars

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Published March 5, 2020 at 12:07 am

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Picture this, you walk outside early in the morning and still half-asleep to start your commute to work when you notice it snowed overnight; your car is covered in it.

Not wanting to get caught in traffic and end up late for work, you just quickly brush off the snow from the driver’s side window and get on your way.

We’ve all been there.

But did you know you could risk a ticket for not fully clearing off your car?

According to the Highway Traffic Act, subsection 74 to be specific, drivers are not permitted to drive their car if they can’t see out of the front and rear windshields and driverside and passenger-side windows. Drivers who do not adequately clear the snow from their winshield/windows could be hit with one or more fines for $85—although the average fine for driving with an obstructed view is $110.

Additionally, even if drivers clear the snow from their windows and both windshields, they could still be hit with a fine for not clearing the snow off the roof of their car as well.

Drivers who don’t clear the snow of the roof of their car could be hit with a ticket for “insecure load,” which comes with a fine of $130 for a passenger vehicle and $310 for a commercial vehicle.

While the reason behind the fine for failing to clear a car’s windows and windshields is fairly obvious—a driver needs to be able to see to drive safely, the reason behind the ticket for not clearing snow off the roof may not be as obvious at first.

However, it is also a safety issue; if drivers fail to clear the snow off the roof of their car, it could fly off and hit cars behind them, causing damage or obscuring their ability to see the road.

Photos courtesy of ontariocourts.ca 

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