Attention Connecticut truckers! It is imperative that you take time now to contact members of the Transportation Committee and share your concerns about a bill that would force car and truck drivers to remove ice and snow from their vehicles before taking to roadways. The committee is scheduled to discuss the bill Wednesday, Feb. 20.

State law already allows police to pull over drivers for failure to secure a load. But, House Speaker Lawrence Cafero, R-Norwalk, has introduced a bill – HB5042 – that specifically targets snow and ice.

Violators would face fines between $200 and $1,000 if police determine that snow or ice poses a threat to others or it has damaged another vehicle. Drivers would not be liable for snow or ice that accumulates on a vehicle while out on the road.

Supporters say a specific law for snow and ice removal in Connecticut would make enforcement easier. But it is important to point out the difficulty of complying with such a rule. Also, we don’t know if the legislation will end up calling for people to climb atop large vehicles to remove snow and ice.

Please take the time now to contact the Transportation Committee members about this bill. It is important to share your concerns about this bill before their hearing on HB5042.

The committee hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 20, in Room E of the Legislative Office Building at 11 a.m. For directions to the building, visit http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/menu/drivingdirections.asp. Contact information for committee members is available at http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/menu/MemberList.asp?comm_code=TRA&doc_type=.

You can also call the OOIDA Membership Department at 1-800-444-5791 and they will look up the information for you.

An e-mail and a phone call could do wonders to shape this effort!

Thanks for your support.