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http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-ticket-snow-1.3926349  
 
So this guy went to CBC after getting a ticket for not clearing the snow off the roof of his van. Apparently because the cargo securement of load regulation doesn't specifically i:nclude snow, he figured snow on his roof didn't apply. Apparently he's going to fight it?  
 
http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/regs/current/_pdf-regs.php?reg=37/2005

but so glad it finally happened. Maybe people will get the message, and that i:ncludes scraping more than just a peephole on your front windshield.

cheaper than what a replacement windshield or other vehicle parts will cost when all that frozen snow flies off your vehicle into the vehicle behind you. Sure it was only 7 to 10 cm but covering the entire van roof, that's still a lot of snow.

He definitely deserved that ticket. What an idiot. If can't clean the snow off the vehicle then don't bother driving.  
 
 
Wish this stuff can happen in Brandon. I've seen people driving CARS that are lazy to clean off their roof. It should be something the police here should do.

a car driving down Victoria with it's back window completely covered in snow one day.

 
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=28&v=5lKCmxcDDBM

This would be an easy enforcement for the Brandon police.  
 
I have seen so many vehicles with snow on them, covering headlights, rear windows, rear license plates, rear tail lights. Not to forget the one car I saw Friday with at least 6 inches of snow on the roof.  
 
Its not hard to spend the time your vehicle is warming up to clear all the snow from it.

it can be deadly. Even large trucks need to clear the snow.  
 

 
 
Edited by Trevor B, 2017-01-08 18:15:36

I'd be interested to hear some of your anecdotes? 41 years and I've never heard from anyone in my circle of friends and family that were involved in an accident or incident because someone forgot to clear snow off their cars...tell me more about these dangerous fools...

Snow would never do that much damage to a windshield, it was ice. I agree about cleaning the snow off of hoods, lights etc. but to reach the top of a van is quite a bit harder. It should be cleaned of though if it has had a chance to melt and become ice, but honestly, soft snow blowing off a vehicle won't hurt anybody. The people that just wipe a little spot off their window and drive away, that's another story.

Had a car on 18th one day a few years ago begin to change lanes when I was attempting to pass it. The car was completely covered in snow other than the front windshield and I''m guessing whoever was driving didn''t see me because of the snow and didn''t check their mirrors. luckily I was paying attention and slammed on the brakes to avoid them side swiping my truck. You see a lot of vehicles driving around town with snow covering window, headlights, tail/brake lights, licsence plates even several days after a snow fall. I would of thought that clearing the snow from your vehicle would of been common sense but it seems common sense is rare these days. When I drive I want complete visibility in a directions, so I don''t cause an accident and kill or hurt someone or my self. I'll even clear the snow off my truck several times in one day, anytime I stop.  
 
This guy has only himself to blame. Sound like a sore loser.  
 
Edited by The_Young_Man, 2017-01-08 19:02:34

 
 
 
 

This should be enforced more often. For those who have vans, trucks and suv's, they do make snow brushes with extended handles. A snow rake (basically a stick with a a rectangle foam on it) works fairly well.

kevlar said "Snow would never do that much damage to a windshield, it was ice. I agree about cleaning the snow off of hoods, lights etc. but to reach the top of a van is quite a bit harder. It should be cleaned of though if it has had a chance to melt and become ice, but honestly, soft snow blowing off a vehicle won't hurt anybody. The people that just wipe a little spot off their window and drive away, that's another story. "

the snow on that van didn't look light and fluffy anymore.  
 
And while the soft snow might not cause damage, it can cause other driving issues by obscuring the drivers vision. And depending on the situation could cause an accident. If a van roof load of fluffy snow that's 4" thick let's loose infront of a vehicle of a busy road/highway. It could easily cover a windshield with thick snow.

kevlar said "Snow would never do that much damage to a windshield, it was ice. I agree about cleaning the snow off of hoods, lights etc. but to reach the top of a van is quite a bit harder. It should be cleaned of though if it has had a chance to melt and become ice, but honestly, soft snow blowing off a vehicle won't hurt anybody. The people that just wipe a little spot off their window and drive away, that's another story. "

I have yet to see this in Brandon area but many truck stops/yards and areas where semis drive under a stand that has snow pushed off the top before hitting the road. Simple and quick unless ice involved. Then man power istill needed.  
 
I think that truck in Wpg may have been targeted Maybe they could have nailed a five ton no one even attempted to clear blowing snow off big time as they gained speed? Can you say white out on a clear day to following traffic?  
 
For regular vans with long roofs buy a longer brush. That snow can cause whiteout.  
 
Edited by Doug, 2017-01-08 20:47:05

 
 
Here's a device for clearing the snow off tractor trailers.  
 
And guess in Ontario there's now requirement for clearing snow off tractor trailers,  
 

to clear snow off the top of an suv or van, you would need a step ladder.  
 
the cop asked why is he carrying so much snow on top of the vehicle... So now it becomes a matter of how much snow is too much. in the cops eyes 6 to 7 inches was too much what about 3 inches, what about 2 inches. did the cop have a tape measure. whats the standard. you can't get a speeding ticket cause the cop thinks you were going to fast. has to be a definitive number.  
 
what about the build up of slop behind your tires you get in the winter, that could damage the car behind you if it dropped off, that falls under loose load rules too then.  
 
nahhhh fight this in court buddy, only 2 things are going to happen, you'll wind up having to pay the ticket or the judge will laugh the cop right out of court.  
 
what an embarrassment to the police service.  
 
and for those that think its a loose load and he should get a ticket cause its dangerous and could break your windshield..... don't follow so close.  
I got no sympathy.

Added another video on the sidebar, but since everyone is linking them in the posts, here it is:  
 
https://youtu.be/4mmWv6pgBQg  
 
Edited by JR, 2017-01-09 00:28:55

goshdarn said "to clear snow off the top of an suv or van, you would need a step ladder.     the cop asked why is he carrying so much snow on top of the vehicle... So now it becomes a matter of how much snow is too much. in the cops eyes 6 to 7 inches was too much what about 3 inches, what about 2 inches. did the cop have a tape measure. whats the standard. you can't get a speeding ticket cause the cop thinks you were going to fast. has to be a definitive number.     what about the build up of slop behind your tires you get in the winter, that could damage the car behind you if it dropped off, that falls under loose load rules too then.     nahhhh fight this in court buddy, only 2 things are going to happen, you'll wind up having to pay the ticket or the judge will laugh the cop right out of court.     what an embarrassment to the police service.     and for those that think its a loose load and he should get a ticket cause its dangerous and could break your windshield..... don't follow so close.   I got no sympathy. "

You don't need a stepladder. Just get one of the extending handle brushes. I used them when I had a minivan and on my old lifted Dodge Ram.  
 
There is no excuse for putting the safety of others on the road in danger.  
 
Also, look at the video I posted right below your post - the victim here was NOT following too close, so your argument is, once again, invalid and selfish.

goshdarn said "to clear snow off the top of an suv or van, you would need a step ladder.     the cop asked why is he carrying so much snow on top of the vehicle... So now it becomes a matter of how much snow is too much. in the cops eyes 6 to 7 inches was too much what about 3 inches, what about 2 inches. did the cop have a tape measure. whats the standard. you can't get a speeding ticket cause the cop thinks you were going to fast. has to be a definitive number.     what about the build up of slop behind your tires you get in the winter, that could damage the car behind you if it dropped off, that falls under loose load rules too then.     nahhhh fight this in court buddy, only 2 things are going to happen, you'll wind up having to pay the ticket or the judge will laugh the cop right out of court.     what an embarrassment to the police service.     and for those that think its a loose load and he should get a ticket cause its dangerous and could break your windshield..... don't follow so close.   I got no sympathy. "

Just get a brush with that has an extended handle as myself and another person suggested. What's sad is anybody trying to defend a persons decision of being just plain lazy and use no common sense!

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/police-ticket-80-year-old-for-driving-with-a-giant-pile-of-snow-on-his-car-then-help-him-clear-it-off

I'm 5'2 and drive a decent sized SUV and a truck. If I can get 90% of the snow off my vehicle without a fancy snow brush anyone taller then me or in a car has no excuse. Open the door, stand inside the vehicle, and brush away. It's really only after heavy snowfall do you have to worry. If it was just a light dusting it just needs a quick brush and your good to go. If you stay on top of it then it isn't a hard job at all! I can't get all the snow off if it was a heavy snowfall, so as I drive out of the driveway and down the road some is bound to blow off, but that's only a block or two and it's all gone. At least I try!

There are traffic laws against loads on vehicles that are not secured properly.  
 
Would you drive down the road, with suitcases on the roof, not tied down? Yeah, it is the same. A load on top, is a load on top.

Parents used to have a mini van. There was no issues cleaning off the roof. Like another poster said, open a door and stand on the sill. I agree it isn't the powder on top, it will be the ice that has formed between the snow and the metal roof. All it takes then when going down the highway is a little air to catch under the ice and everything goes. Like when people don't clean off the hood of their vehicle and it blows up on the windshield.

I drive lots and yes i have bad ice hit my car from vehicles going in same direction as well as from oncoming traffic when ice becomes dislodged from the wind. I added a dash to capture idiot drivers, cig butts that hit my car, people passing in a double solid line or where the solid line says no passing zone. The number of semi's or cars straddling the line is amazing... and they all have common sense as much as the posts that justify this behavior.

If it is fluffy powder or hard crusted ice, it will come off at some point and cause issues.  
 
I was driving in Winnipeg shortly after Christmas and some guy a couple of lanes over and ahead of us on Portage had his huge pile come loose and hit the car behind him - completely covering her windshield. Of course she panicked and swerved rather than going right for her wipers. Luckily she did not hit anyone and got herself calmed down and straightened out - but that could have been so much worse.  
 
I laughed when I heard a radio announcer call it "tanking" when you clear only a small area in your eyesight leaving the rest. Never heard that before but it is so true.  
 
There really is no excuse to clear your vehicle. When I owned a truck, I could not reach the top even standing on the running boards.....I got a BROOM. Problem solved.

also doesn't matter if your following close or 3 cars behind. That snow/ice can fly a fair distance.

...they will start ticketing city and hwys dept trucks for not tarping their loads of snow when hauling with 3 ton, 5 ton and semi trailer dumps sometime too after this guy's ticket. Fair is fair. Don't see why some are exempt from the same tickets when they are a business, city or govt operation.

pm5k said "I'd be interested to hear some of your anecdotes? 41 years and I've never heard from anyone in my circle of friends and family that were involved in an accident or incident because someone forgot to clear snow off their cars...tell me more about these dangerous fools... "

that if you and your friends haven't heard of something, it doesn't exist.  
 
Anecdotal evidence is the best kind of proof you can have.  
 
As for the ticket...I say good going. The snow can fly off and blind someone long enough to cause trouble.  
 
Or, if left there and let melt and re-freeze, it could turn to ice, and turn into a missile like in the vids posted.