Need to go out? What Kentucky law says about scraping snow, ice from your car
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kentucky law has no explicit mandate to clear snow or ice from vehicles.
- Officers may stop drivers for obstructed views and cite careless or reckless driving.
- In crashes, Kentucky’s pure comparative negligence can assign full liability for ice.
If you didn’t get the chance to move your vehicle indoors before Winter Storm Fern brought several inches of snow and ice to Lexington, you’ll likely be reaching for your ice scraper.
But what, if anything, would you be risking if you did the bare minimum and just cleared part of the windshield before heading out?
In some states, drivers can face fines for failing to clear their vehicle’s hood, trunk and roof within 24 hours after a snowstorm. If you’re new to Kentucky, or otherwise curious what state law here has to say, here’s what to know.
Will driving with snow and ice on your car get you a ticket in Kentucky?
It’s unlikely you’ll be ticketed for failing to clear snow and ice from your vehicle in Kentucky.
Previously, the Herald-Leader spoke with Kentucky State Police Trooper Corey King, who explained a law enforcement officer could stop you and ask that you clear any ice-covered windows and mirrors, or even offer to do it for you.
Police in the state regularly cite drivers for illegal window tints and too many passengers. Not so much for uncleared snow and ice, the KSP official said.
In Lexington, you could be stopped by police and cited.
Hannah Sloan, the spokesperson for the Lexington Police Department, previously told the Herald-Leader “failure to remove snow or ice from the windows, including the front and back windshield, to allow for an unobstructed view could ‘endanger persons or property in or near a highway.’ Not removing snow or ice could also result in an officer stopping the driver and issuing a citation for careless driving.”
Unlike many northern states where drivers must clear their vehicles of snow and ice or face fines, Kentucky doesn’t have a law that explicitly requires drivers to do so. Still, there are several that require drivers to operate their vehicles carefully and to maintain a clear view of the roadway.
At a minimum, Kentucky Revised Statutes 189.290 explicitly requires drivers to operate their vehicles in a “careful manner.” That means showing regard for “the safety and convenience of pedestrians and other vehicles upon the highway.”
The law, which is Kentucky’s reckless driving law, bars drivers from acting “in a reckless or negligent manner” that endangers other people or property when they’re behind the wheel.
The offense is treated as a traffic violation, but can carry serious penalties, including a $20 to $100 fine, four points against your license or even a $500 fine if you hurt someone.
Other Kentucky statutes prohibit certain types of window coverings (KRS 189.110), require vehicles to have working mirrors (KRS 189.130) and bar drivers from riding with too many passengers that obstruct their view of the road (KRS 189.470).
Are you liable for ice and snow flying off your car?
It’s possible you could be found liable for snow and ice that flies from your moving car, should it go to trial in a civil suit.
Kentucky follows a pure comparative negligence system for fault-based claims, as explained by the law firm of Gary C. Johnson, which has offices in Louisville, Lexington, Hazard and Pikeville. What this means in practice is in a personal injury lawsuit, a jury will be asked to assign a percentage of the blame to every individual involved in the accident. This influences how much can be collected in damages.
For example, if you’re found to be 100% at fault for a flying piece of ice shattering another driver’s windshield, the plaintiff can recover 100% of the damages.
So, if you’re not motivated to break out your ice scraper to avoid a ticket, know it could save you serious cash in the event of an accident involving an errant piece of ice.
Do you have a question about Lexington or Kentucky for the Herald-Leader? We’d like to hear from you. Fill out our Know Your Kentucky form or email ask@herald-leader.com.