AUGUSTA, Maine - Maine lawmakers are considering a bill that would require people to clear their vehicles of snow before driving or face a fine. Sen. James Dill, a Democrat from Old Town, says a spate of accidents caused by snow and ice flying off vehicles triggered the legislation.
"What led me to do this one is, I think it was the first week of February, there were several different automobiles down in southern Maine - it was in the newspapers and on the news - where ice and snow had flown off cars and broken windshields," Dill says.
Dill says the problem was brought home to him when his son's car was hit by ice flying off a truck, with his baby granddaughter in the car. The windshield was smashed, but no one was hurt.
Dill says people should have the common sense to clean off vehicles, but clearly some don't. The proposal has a $250 fine for the first offense, and that would double for the second and further offenses.
