New Jersey to Penalize Drivers for Ice and Snow Left on Vehicles

New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine has signed into law a bill that requires all drivers in the state to make reasonable efforts to remove ice and snow from their vehicles.

The bill allows police to stop vehicles they believe pose a danger, and creates fines of between $25 and $75 for each offense. The tickets, however, would not translate into a driver receiving points on his or her license.

In addition, the new law creates a special fund that will pay to help promote awareness of snow and ice danger, and also to help install technology in inspection stations, rest stops and other areas of the Garden State that will assist commercial vehicle operators in removing snow and ice.

The state will also collect information about accidents that are attributable to snow and ice being dislodged vehicles.

The bill was sponsored by Senators Nicholas J. Sacco and Robert M. Gordon, and Assemblymen Eric Munoz, Vincent Prieto, Ruben J. Ramos, Jr. and John S. Wisniewski.