Make Sure You Clean The Snow Off Your Car; It’s A Michigan Law
It's that time of year again in Michigan. The time of year where you have to factor in extra time for your commute so you can clean the snow off your car. And make sure you do, because you might get ticketed if you don't.
When clearing the snow/ice/slush off your car, you want to make sure you get all of it, not just a patch on the windshield that's juuuuuust big enough for you to see out of. Here's why:
- Law #MCL 257.709 - You can't operate a vehicle when your vision is impaired. Which means you gotta clean off the whole windshield. And the other windows, too!
- Law #MCL 257.699 - Head and tail lights have to emit a certain amount of light to be legal, so don't forget to clear off those lights!
- Law #MCL 257.677a(2)-(4) - It's illegal for snow, ice, or slush to fly off your car and impair another driver's vision. This one's a biggie. We've all seen that person driving around with several inches of snow on the roof of their car. As soon as that driver hits a certain speed, that snow will come flying off the back of their car and into the windshield of someone else's. Don't be that person.
I know, winters in Michigan stink, and NO ONE wants to stand in the bitter cold while cleaning inches of snow off their car. But, to avoid a potential ticket and to be safe on the road, you should always clear the snow off your car.