MOTORISTS face a £60 fine for driving with snow on their car roof, police said today.
Drivers could also get three points on their licence — even if all their windows were completely clear of snow.
A number of forces have dismissed as an urban myth claims that they were dishing out fines.
But other forces have now admitted that they could take action for either dangerous driving or driving without due care and attention — or because of rule 229 of the Highway Code.
The rule states that drivers should "remove all snow that might fall off into the path of other road users".
The Taxpayers' Alliance hit out at the move.
Unacceptable
Campaign director Emma Boon said: "I appreciate there is a safety aspect but the question is whether a fine is the way to deter people.
"There has been no information campaign about this to increase public awareness.
"And without that message being put across, you cannot blame motorists for feeling this is another stealth tax.
"It would be completely unacceptable for police forces to plug their deficit by hitting the motorists with another stealth tax."
A Suffolk Police spokesman said: "Many people are not aware of the hazard that snow on their cars can cause. Falling snow can be dangerous for all road users."
And a spokesman for Greater Manchester Police added: "We haven't made any prosecutions, but we could if snow gets on the windscreen and there is an accident.
"We don't have a policy of targeting people with snow on their car roof, but we can apply discretion."
A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders Police said: "If snow on top of a car falls down on to the windscreen wipers it could well fuse the wipers when they try to move them, and that could cause a crash.
"And if it falls off the back of a vehicle and deposits a heap of snow in the middle of the road that could cause an accident for the car behind."
Other forces have denied claims that they were targeting drivers with snow on their cars.
Sergeant Andy Noble, of South Yorkshire Police, said: "We are aware of a hoax text message claiming to be from Humberside Police stating that motorists will be prosecuted for driving with excessive snow on their roofs."
A spokesman for Northumbria Police said: "As at any time of the year drivers are required to have a clear view through their windows when driving and officers may speak to drivers if this is not the case.
"However, information appearing on Facebook and being received by people via text message that we are specifically targeting drivers for having snow on their car is just not the case — it would appear to be just another urban myth."
A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police also dismissed rumours that they had been dishing out fines to motorists for driving with snow on their car roof.
But he added: "There is no specific legislation on driving with snow on the roof of a vehicle, however if it slips over the windscreen or flies into the path of another car it could leave the driver open to being penalised for driving without due care and attention or careless or inconsiderate driving.
"Any snow left on vehicle bodywork, such as the bonnet or roof, could slide on to lights or windows causing dangerous obstruction to vision of the driver or signals to other road users.
"Snow could also slide from a moving vehicle and on to a footpath or roadway possibly causing danger or injury to other road users or pedestrians."
2010-12-20
Drivers face fine for snow on roof | The Sun |News
via thesun.co.uk
