Given the onset of the winter snow season, many Americans may be accustomed to walking to their cars every day before work to make sure their driveways are clear before they can drive to work.
It may be necessary for certain homes without covered parking to remove snow from their car’s roof and remove ice from their windows.
For the majority of automobile owners, this is a common occurrence, especially if you reside in New York State, where you must park your vehicle outside.
Is driving a car with snow on the roof against the law?
Occasionally, clearing the snow from your car’s roof is the last thing you want to do in the morning. By heating your car as quickly as possible and then using your wipers to remove the snow from your windshield before you drive away, most people will be familiar with the shortcut.
Some people may be persistent enough to diligently remove the snow off the roof every day, but most people don’t make the effort to do this every morning, particularly if they are running late.
The fact that it is literally against the law to drive a car without clearing five or six inches of snow off your roof, however, may startle New Yorkers. As stated by the New York Senate:
“Motor vehicles, with certain exceptions, shall not be operated with an accumulation of snow or ice on their surface; establishes fines for breach of these provisions; establishes a fund for the state’s portion of such fines, the “snow and ice removal fund,” with 10% of the funds going to an annual DMV report on the fund, 25% going to each of the DOT and the Thruway authority for the establishment of snow and ice removal sites on their roads, 30% going to a DOT grant program, and 10% going to a public awareness campaign.”
It is also against the law to leave your car running when the ignition is turned on.
According to the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law, “no person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition, removing the key from the vehicle, and effectively setting the brake.”
It is technically prohibited to turn on your ignition before rushing back inside for an additional five minutes of cold protection while your car warms up. Keep this in mind the next time you do it!
The US’s snowiest states
In the nation, New Yorkers endure some of the most snowfall. The state of New York receives 51.3 inches of snow annually on average.
The lake effect makes Buffalo one of the snowiest cities in New York, with an average of nine feet falling there annually.
A cold air mass passing over large stretches of warmer lake water during cooler atmospheric circumstances produces lake-effect snow. One of North America’s five Great Lakes, Lake Erie, is located in Buffalo.
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However, Alaska is the state with the most snow. Almost 73 inches of snow fall on Alaska annually.
Only a little over 730,000 people live in the state, which is not surprising given that snowfall is predicted for eight of the twelve months of the year. In contrast, there are around 20 million people living in New York State.
Although most people don’t enjoy the weather, the state has plenty of natural beauty and beneficial government initiatives.
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In winter, be mindful of the vehicle you drive
In addition to being concerned about snow on their car’s roof, New Yorkers must make careful car selections if they are from this state or any other that has heavy snowfall.
Certain vehicles are more appropriate for harsh and frigid environments, while others are better suited for warmer climates.
Do your homework thoroughly before making a purchase if you’re in the market for a new vehicle.
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