7 Snow Rules Pennsylvanians Can Be Fined for Breaking
Shoveling out after a snowstorm is hard enough without a fine on top of it.
What can earn a ticket in Pennsylvania depends on state law, your town’s rules, or both.
Here are the snow rules worth knowing before the first big storm.
Note: This is general information, not legal advice. Fines and ordinances are subject to change, so confirm the current rules with your borough or city office.
1. Clearing Your Car’s Roof
Pennsylvania’s Vehicle Code gives you 24 hours after the snow or ice stops falling to make reasonable efforts to clear the hood, trunk and roof of your car.
A police officer who believes the accumulated snow or ice may pose a threat to people or property can stop you on the highway.
The fine is $50 for each offense.
The $50 fine applies whether or not any snow or ice comes off the vehicle.
Christine’s Law grew out of the death of Christine Lambert.
On Christmas Day in 2005, ice from a passing truck crashed through her windshield and killed her, according to the public media outlet WITF.
Who Christine’s Law Excuses
Christine’s Law excuses drivers of motor carrier vehicles, mass transit vehicles, buses and school buses who are on their way to a facility that removes accumulated ice or snow.
It also excuses those drivers when clearing the vehicle would break a federal or state workplace-safety law or threaten the driver’s health and safety.
The exceptions name those vehicle types, and passenger cars aren’t on the list.
2. Ice Falling From Your Vehicle
Snow or ice that flies off your vehicle and hurts somebody costs far more than a roof you forgot to clear.
The fine runs from $200 to $1,500 for each offense.
It applies when snow or ice falls from your moving vehicle, strikes another vehicle or a pedestrian, and causes death or serious bodily injury.
The same section covers motor carrier vehicles, so truck drivers face the same fine.
3. Philadelphia’s Six-Hour Clock
Philadelphia wants a path at least 36 inches wide, and the six-hour clock starts when snowfall stops.
If you don’t clear it, the city can fine you at least $50 and up to $300 for each violation.
The Streets Department also tells you not to shovel or sweep the snow into the street.
4. Carlisle’s Sidewalk Deadline
In Carlisle, you have 24 hours after snow and ice have fallen or formed to clear the sidewalk in front of your property.
If you miss that window, the borough can fine you up to $1,000 plus costs of prosecution.
Tenants aren’t off the hook.
If you rent a house and live in it alone, the ordinance makes the sidewalk your job, not your landlord’s.
The owner stays responsible for a vacant property or a building with more than one rental unit.
5. Shoveling Snow Into the Street
Chambersburg’s snow ordinance bars you from shoveling, pushing, throwing or plowing snow into a borough road, street or alley.
That covers snow from your sidewalk, driveway or lot.
The fine is $50 for a first offense and $100 for a second within 12 months.
A third or later offense within 12 months of a prior one costs $150.
The property owner answers for the sidewalk whether the property is owner-occupied, vacant or rented to tenants.
If a code enforcement officer writes you a ticket, paying the borough $50 within 10 days avoids prosecution.
6. Snow Emergency Parking
Lancaster may declare a snow emergency when a forecast predicts 8 inches or more of snow.
Your car has one hour from the start of the emergency to be gone from a snow emergency route.
If your car stays, the city tickets it and tows it at your expense.
Lancaster’s traffic code sets the fine for parking on a snow emergency street at $30.
The city adds a $10 processing fee if you haven’t paid within 15 days after the ticket is issued and the Bureau of Police mails you a notice.
7. Roof Snow and Hydrants
Royersford’s snow ordinance requires you to clear any snow and ice on your roof that’s liable to fall on a sidewalk, roadway or other public way.
Royersford gives you 24 hours after the snow stops to clear a path at least 30 inches wide on the sidewalk in front of your property.
The roof has the same 24-hour deadline.
The ordinance also bans piling snow or ice on or next to a fire hydrant.
The first violation costs $50, a second in the same season costs $75, and each later violation costs $100.
If you don’t pay or fix the problem within 10 business days, the borough can cite you.
A conviction can bring a fine of up to $600, with up to 30 days in jail if you don’t pay it.
Psst! How much do you know about snow rules? Take our quiz and see how many you can get right.
Quiz
Snow Rule IQ
Answer these questions on winter driving rules and snow ordinances. We bet you can’t get them all right. Prove us wrong?
During a Philadelphia snow emergency, what happens to a car on a snow emergency route that won’t start?
Two Tracks for Sidewalk Fines
Wilkinsburg's snow ordinance spells out two ways the borough can penalize you for an uncleared sidewalk.
The civil route starts with a notice of violation letter that assesses a penalty of $10 to $1,000 for each offense.
The criminal route can bring a fine of up to $600 plus costs of prosecution, and up to five days in jail if you don't pay.
Wilkinsburg can also clear your sidewalk and bill you the expenses plus an additional 10%.
Carlisle's ordinance adds the same 10% when the borough clears your sidewalk for you.
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