NJ Drivers: That Snow on Your Roof Could Cost You $1,000 This Week
photo courtesy of the Ridgewood Police Department
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Winter in New Jersey is beautiful—until you’re stuck behind a “snow volcano” on the Garden State Parkway. The Ridgewood Police Department is issued a vital safety reminder for all Garden State drivers: Clear your car or pay the price.
Cleaning off your vehicle isn’t just about being a good neighbor; in New Jersey, it’s a legal requirement that carries heavy penalties.
The Law: It’s Not Just Your Windshield
Many drivers make the mistake of clearing just enough snow to see out of the front window. However, New Jersey law requires you to remove all ice and snow from your entire vehicle, including:
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The Roof: To prevent “ice missiles” from sliding off at high speeds.
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The Hood: To stop snow from blowing back and blinding your own view.
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All Windows and Mirrors: For 360-degree visibility.
The High Cost of Cutting Corners
If you think skipping the brush-off saves time, think again. The fines in New Jersey are steep:
| Violation | Potential Fine |
| Failure to remove snow/ice (even if it doesn’t fall off) | $25 to $75 per offense |
| Flying ice/snow causing property damage | $200 to $1,000 per offense |
| Flying ice/snow causing injury | Up to $1,000 + Legal Liability |
A Matter of Life and Death
The stakes are higher than just a ticket. According to national safety data, there are approximately 500 fatalities in the United States every year due to icy road conditions. When snow or “sheet ice” flies off a vehicle at highway speeds, it becomes a lethal projectile that can shatter windshields and cause multi-car pileups.
“Remove it before you go. It’s the law, it’s safer for you, and it’s safer for everyone sharing the road with you.” — Ridgewood Police Department
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How many tickets have actually been issued for this violation in town
https://www.nj.com/crime/2021/10/nj-cops-cant-be-fired-or-promoted-based-on-how-many-arrests-they-make-under-new-law.html
where does it state the number of tickets issued for offenses
It’s about time it’s amazing how many people are right around with a large amount of snow on top of your vehicle. Yesterday seen it a male truck delivering local mail. He never cleaned off the roof of his little van. Ridiculous. Talk about lazy.
You’re an amazing proofreader. It makes it so easy to understand your posts.
It’s amazing how people just jump in your car and takeoff without warming up your car and defrosting it.
Lazy and it’s dangerous! I wish fines were given for everyone doing this , not just in Ridgewood but all over
people are lazy…i’m glad they are hopefully ticketing these lazy people..