PRINTER'S NO. 2830
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2418
Session of
2022
INTRODUCED BY McNEILL, DELLOSO, CIRESI, SCHLOSSBERG, O'MARA AND
ROZZI, MARCH 16, 2022
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, MARCH 16, 2022
AN ACT
Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in miscellaneous provisions, repealing provisions
relating to snow and ice dislodged or falling from moving
vehicle and providing for snow and ice; and, in size, weight
and load, further providing for weighing and measurement of
vehicles.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 3720 of Title 75 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is repealed:
[§ 3720. Snow and ice dislodged or falling from moving vehicle.
When snow or ice is dislodged or falls from a moving vehicle
and strikes another vehicle or pedestrian causing death or
serious bodily injury, the operator of the vehicle from which
the snow or ice is dislodged or falls shall be subject to a fine
of not less than $200 nor more than $1,000 for each offense.]
Section 2. Title 75 is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 3721. Snow and ice.
(a) Removal of snow and ice from motor vehicle or motor
carrier vehicle.--
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(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a
driver of a motor vehicle or motor carrier vehicle being
operated on a highway of this Commonwealth shall make
reasonable efforts to remove accumulated ice or snow from the
motor vehicle or motor carrier vehicle, including the hood,
trunk and roof of the motor vehicle or motor carrier vehicle,
within 24 hours after the cessation of the falling snow or
ice.
(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply if:
(i) the driver of the motor carrier vehicle, mass
transit vehicle, bus or school bus is en route to a
facility to remove accumulated ice or snow at the time of
the stop under paragraph (3); or
(ii) c ompliance with this section would cause the
driver of the motor carrier vehicle, mass transit
vehicle, bus or school bus to violate any other Federal
or State law or regulation regarding workplace safety or
would be a threat to the health and safety of the driver.
(3) A driver of a motor vehicle or motor carrier vehicle
who violates this subsection may be stopped on a highway by a
police officer if the police officer:
(i) believes that the accumulated ice or snow may
pose a threat to persons or property; or
(ii) is requiring the driver of the vehicle or
combination to stop and submit the vehicle or combination
to be measured, weighed and checked for snow and ice
accumulation.
(4) A driver of a motor vehicle or motor carrier vehicle
who violates this subsection or section 4981 (relating to
w eighing and measurement of vehicles) in relation to snow and
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ice accumulation shall be subject to a fine of $50 for each
offense regardless of whether any snow or ice is dislodged
from the vehicle.
(b) Dislodged or fallen snow or ice.--When snow or ice is
dislodged or falls from a moving vehicle or motor carrier
vehicle and strikes another vehicle or pedestrian causing death
or serious bodily injury, the operator of the vehicle from which
the snow or ice is dislodged or falls shall be subject to a fine
of not less than $200 nor more than $1,500 for each offense.
Section 3. Section 4981(a) and (b) of Title 75 are amended
to read:
§ 4981. Weighing and measurement of vehicles.
(a) Authority of police officers and qualified department
employees.--A police officer or qualified department employee is
authorized to require the driver of a vehicle or combination to
stop and submit the vehicle or combination to be measured [and
weighed.], weighed and checked for snow and ice accumulation in
accordance with section 3721 (relating to snow and ice).
Weighing may be done by using either portable or stationary
scales, provided that when portable scales more than one inch in
height are used, sufficient ramp blocks shall be made available
to allow the vehicle or combination to mount the scales safely.
The weighing shall be conducted by qualified personnel who have
been trained in the use of weighing equipment in a training
program approved by an agency of the Commonwealth. The personnel
performing the weighing on all highways and interstates in this
Commonwealth shall inform the drivers of the vehicle of the
right to readjust or rearrange the load under section 4982(c)
(relating to reducing or readjusting loads of vehicles). The
driver or owner, if present, of a vehicle or combination may, at
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the time of weighing, witness in an orderly fashion the weighing
procedure. If the driver wishes to witness the procedure from
outside the cab of the vehicle, he shall be required to turn off
the engine, put the transmission in gear and set the emergency
brake before leaving the cab. A police officer or qualified
department employee may require that a vehicle or combination be
driven to the nearest stationary scales if the scales are within
two miles.
(b) Scales on freeways.--The Department of Transportation,
in cooperation with the Pennsylvania State Police, shall operate
on freeways at points which it deems necessary scales and other
equipment for detecting violations of the size [and], weight and
snow and ice accumulation limitations prescribed by this chapter
and section 3721. The department may also contract with persons
or local authorities to use their scales.
* * *
Section 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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