News

Actions

Road Commission for Oakland County: It's illegal to plow, shovel snow into road

Posted at 3:12 PM, Dec 15, 2017
and last updated 2017-12-15 16:24:26-05

The Road Commission for Oakland County is reminding residents and business owners that it is illegal under Michigan law to shovel or plow snow or ice onto any road or highway.

RCOC says it's also illegal to deposit snow on a road or road shoulder in a way that it blocks motorists' views of traffic.

"Unfortunately, we have had problems in some areas lately, where business owners and residents have plowed their driveways or parking lots by pushing the snow out into the road," said RCOC Highway Maintenance Directory Darryl Heid.

"This creates a safety problem for motorists and creates additional work for the Road Commission, which, in some cases, has to re-plow the road. That can mean it will take us longer to get to other roads and into subdivisions."

Pushing snow from a driveway or parking lot onto a road, or depositing snow in a way that blocks a driver's "safety vision" is specifically prohibited in the Michigan Vehicle Code. 

Doing so is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $100 and/or a jail sentence of up to 90 days.