ST. LOUIS – Traffic in select areas of the St. Louis region is in shambles. A rapidly advancing snow band, expected to pass Monday evening, caught many off-guard by dumping snow on the region as early as noon.
As a result, the Missouri Department of Transportation was unable to pretreat the roadways. A MoDOT official said the snow is likely to stick on the roads since it came down earlier than expected, meaning drivers could be dealing with icy roads on the commute home.
As always in difficult weather conditions like this, the advice is to avoid driving altogether or delay traveling as long as possible to give plows time to work and for traffic conditions to ease. If you must travel, it’s important to clear off your car to avoid launching and snow or ice missiles at other vehicles.
FOX 2 News checked Missouri and Illinois laws and discovered you could be breaking the law if you don’t clear your car.
Missouri
While there is no specific statute in Missouri that requires anyone to completely clear off their vehicles, the Missouri State Highway Patrol strongly advises drivers to take safety precautions and clean any snow or ice that could accumulate on cars.
“Take the time to clean snow and ice completely from your vehicle. Allow extra driving time for you to reach your destination at a slow, safe speed. Make sure the windows are completely cleared to ensure visibility,” MSHP advises.
The closest law pertaining to clearing off snow is Missouri statute 304.012, stating, “Every person operating a motor vehicle on the roads and highways of this state shall drive the vehicle in a careful and prudent manner and at a rate of speed so as not to endanger the property of another or the life or limb of any person and shall exercise the highest degree of care.”
Anyone who violates this statute could face a misdemeanor charge.
Illinois
According to Illinois state law, drivers are not legally allowed to drive if snow, ice, moisture, or other materials are blocking their windows or mirrors and obstructing their view.
A driver could be pulled over and issued a fine if an officer determines they are driving with an obstructed view.
Illinois police also remind drivers to wipe snow from headlights and taillights, including roofs, in order to avoid it becoming a projectile while driving.
