Pa. House Rep. Tina Pickett, whose district includes Bradford County, has reminded her constituents of a new state law now in effect that requires them to remove ice or snow from their vehicles within 24 hours after heavy snow or ice storms.
Act 90 of 2022 is known as Christine’s Law, in recognition of Christine Lambert of Northampton County, who was killed on Christmas Day 2005 when a large piece of ice dislodged from a passing box truck and crashed through the front window of her vehicle.
Act 90 aims to prevent tragedies before they happen. The old state law would only penalize a driver when serious bodily harm occurred from a snow or ice projectile. The new law is more proactive, giving police officers discretion to pull over a vehicle where the buildup of ice or snow poses a potential hazard and issuing a fine of $50 regardless of whether any snow or ice dislodges from the vehicle.
If snow or ice does dislodge or fall from a moving vehicle and strikes another vehicle or pedestrian resulting in serious bodily injury or death, drivers could be fined $200-$1,500 for each offense.
