OOIDA Call to Action – West Virginia members
February 19, 2010

Heads up, West Virginia truckers! Members of West Virginia’s House Roads and Transportation Committee need to hear from you NOW about a bill that could definitely create problems for truckers.

Committee members could soon turn their attention to a bill that would permit police to pull over truck drivers and others whose vehicles are not cleared of snow and ice. New Jersey is slated to start enforcing a similar rule this fall.

The West Virginia bill – HB4526 – would make drivers responsible for making “all reasonable efforts to remove accumulated ice or snow” from the hood, trunk and roof of the motor vehicle, truck cab, trailer or intermodal freight container.

It is important for truckers to point out to committee members the near impossibility of complying with such a rule, which essentially requires people to climb atop large vehicles to remove snow or ice.

HB4526 has several provisions attached to it that make little sense. One provision states that drivers would not be liable for snow or ice that accumulates on a vehicle while out on the road if they are traveling to a location where snow and ice removal equipment or technology is available, provided they have not already passed such a location prior to being stopped.

The bill also specifies that drivers would not be liable for snow or ice accumulated while the vehicle, trailer, or container was not in their possession.

To voice concerns about HB4526, contact members of the House Roads and Transportation Committee. You can also call the OOIDA Membership Department at 800-444-5791 and they will look up the information for you.

An e-mail and a phone call could do wonders to head off this misguided effort!