Snow on the Car????

[kayaker_2]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? the Best State in the Union; NEW JERSEY!

So I was in Ewing couple weeks ago, two days after the snow. Got pulled over for having snow on the car. Cop tells me that the snow could have come off and caused damage. I told him its packed down I tried to get it off, but its hard pack down. He told me the new law about snow on the car requires me to take it off. Goes back to his car. I think alright, jump out with my brush and proceed to clean the snow off while he watched. It was a burden, really stuck down, had to use lots elbow grease. I finish, sit down. He comes out, i'm expecting hey thanks bud, keep it clean next time, see ya.

NOPE, ticket.

The way the ticket is worded; snow discharged from the vehicle and caused damage. I ask the amount. Tells me its court appearance. damn.

I have two questions;

1) If I plead not guilty do I have a case. My argument is twofold; First, snow on the car is a subjective matter. How is a person to judge how much snow on a car is too much. All the cars on the street that day had snow on them, it was just snowing. If the law stated, no more than four inches of snow, i'd be more okay with that. But this law is too subjective. Second, the Cop told me he pulled me over because the snow could have come off the car, then wrote a ticket for snow coming off the car. It seems I got a ticket for what might have happened rather than a ticket for what actually happened. I also might run a stop sign on the way out the parking lot, why don't you give me a ticket for that while your at it?

okay I'd likely phrase that line a little different for the judge.

2) Anybody have experience with this law in court? What is the fine supposed to be? What are the court costs for Ewing Court? If I'm looking at $50 then arguing is a waste of time.

This is a pretty cool forum, kudos to Admin! Thanks you guys.

Anyway thanks in advance for any wisdom from the hive mind.

 

[adjusterjack]

Here's the statute:

http://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/2016/title-39/section-39-4-77.1/

Note that the statute requires you to make reasonable efforts to clean the snow off before you operate the vehicle. You obviously didn't because you were caught driving that way.

The statute allows an officer to stop you if he believes the snow accumulation MAY pose a threat regardless if any snow is actually dislodged from the vehicle.

The citation carries no points and does not affect your insurance.

According to the statute, the fine is between $25 and $75 if there was not damage or injury to anybody.

 

[Just Blue]

Here's the statute:

http://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/2016/title-39/section-39-4-77.1/

Note that the statute requires you to make reasonable efforts to clean the snow off before you operate the vehicle. You obviously didn't because you were caught driving that way.

The statute allows an officer to stop you if he believes the snow accumulation MAY pose a threat regardless if any snow is actually dislodged from the vehicle.

The citation carries no points and does not affect your insurance.

According to the statute, the fine is between $25 and $75 if there was not damage or injury to anybody.

OP...To add to Adjusterjacks post...There was a woman in Mass who recently was nearly killed when a truck driver failed to clean his/her truck off. The hard snow slid off flew into the womans car/wind-shied. The glass shattered causing her to have a horrible accident. She is very lucky to be alive...

As a FYI it is very easy to just clean your car off when the snow if fresh.

 

[HighwayMan]

I think alright, jump out with my brush and proceed to clean the snow off while he watched. It was a burden, really stuck down, had to use lots elbow grease.

Which is what you should have done BEFORE you drove the car.

NOPE, ticket.

So you're one of those people who thinks you should get a warning for everything because you're such a nice guy? It doesn't work that way.