We’ve all done it. We’ve all been running late only to walk outside and find our vehicle covered in snow or ice. And even though we're used to winter and all that comes with it, we're surprised every time.

We’ve searched for an old credit card in our wallet to scrape a hole big enough to see out of the windshield and we’ve prayed our wipers won’t be iced over and will work if snow falls from our roof and covers our little scraped-off viewing hole.

But that doesn’t mean we should be doing this.

Last weekend, my family was driving on I-90 in Billings, headed to our favorite coffee and pop shop, when a semi hopped onto the highway, and when it did, every bit of snow on the roof of the truck flew off, right at our vehicle.

My husband handled it like a pro, but all I could think of was my little boy in the back seat and how he’ll be learning to drive in the not-so-distant future, and how something like that would be scary for a new or inexperienced driver.

Montana does not have a law that requires drivers to remove snow from the roof of their vehicles – including commercial vehicle drivers.

But that does not mean there aren’t consequences if you drive with a snow-covered vehicle and put someone else in danger because Montana does have laws in place to address driving hazards.

Drivers can still face consequences if the accumulation of snow or ice on their vehicle impairs their visibility. For instance, drivers may receive tickets if their ability to see is compromised by snow or ice on their vehicle which goes back to scraping a small hole to see out of the windshield.

Additionally, drivers can receive tickets if the snow and or ice on their vehicle puts another vehicle on the road in danger due to the snow hindering their ability to see. Snow or ice dislodging from a vehicle can pose a hazard to other motorists and pedestrians, potentially resulting in damage or injuries and yes, tickets.

So, the next time the weather gets ugly and you’re tempted to drive with a vehicle covered in snow and ice, weigh whether or not it's worth putting not only your life in danger but the lives of others in danger. Also, weigh whether or not you want to deal with fines and the courts.

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And, think about your kid, your grandkid, your niece or nephew, your best friend's kid, my kid. Think about how snow and ice flying off your vehicle onto theirs could really shake them up or worse, hurt them.

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