Maine Law Now Says You have to Remove Snow & Ice from Your Car Roof

I never park outside if it snows, if I can help it.

When my wife and I bought our first house, it was a tiny little thing with no actual driveway. But we lived across the street from a free parking lot where you could park 24/7. In some ways it was kinda cool. When it snowed, we'd just back out of the space, slear off the snow and drive away. When we got home, all the snow was gone. Perfect.

When we got our next house years later, not only did we graduate to a driveway, we had a garage! And unlike so many Mainers, I take full advantage of the garage as a parking spot for my car. So generally speaking, I never have to worry about cleaning the snow off my car. But other people don't seem to understand the concept at all.

How many times have you been behind "that car"?

You know what car I'm talking about... It's usually something like a Honda Fit, and there's a small part of the windshield uncovered, and the rest of the car has a foot deep blanket of snow capping their tiny little whip. And naturally, as you're riding behind them, most of that giant snow cap will start flying off the roof and onto your windshield.

Of course, this is double dangerous when it's sheets of ice flying off the roof in winter. We get a blast of freezing rain, and people put zero effort into getting their cars safe for other people besides themselves. For years, there wasn't really anything that could be done, but that has definitely changed in Maine.

It's now illegal to drive around with giant mound on your car.

Last May, Gov. Mills signed a bill into law that makes it pretty clear that you need to clean that pile off. But, you do have 48 hours to do so. If you're caught cruising around after that, it can be a $50 dollar fine. Each additional time you're busted after that, the fine will increase.

It's a dangerous situation to have that kind of snow or ice on your car. Sure, it's not as likely to cause you any issues while you drive, but it could easily cause an accident behind you. I know it's hard for Maine drivers to understand sometimes, but it's not always about you. Sometimes you have to do something to make other people safe. Don't be "that person"...

Now, what about all that junk that's frozen under your car? What's that called? Let's find out...