Yikes, Car On Wisconsin Freeway Gets Pelted By Ice From Passing Vehicle [VIDEO]
A vehicle in Wisconsin caught some flying ice on its dashcam as they were heading down a freeway. As you can see in the video down below the ice came off the back of a pickup truck, most likely from some kind of cover. This whole scene is very frightening and I am sure the driver of the vehicle that was struck probably instinctively ducked or at least closed their eyes for a few seconds upon impact.
This video is a good reminder of how quickly something like this can happen especially when you are driving at a high rate of speed. Thankfully the ice broke up on impact and did not seem to damage the windshield. So is there a penalty for not clearing off your vehicle? The answer at least in Minnesota is not really.
According to a report from CBSNEWS.COM : Minnesota State Patrol's Lt. Eric Roeske said " You're required to have your front windshield and front side windows clear so as to not obstruct vision in any way." As far as snow on your roof or rear windows. "So, while that's recommended, you're not legally required to clear it off." There is a statute in Minnesota that could interpret snow or ice falling off vehicles as littering, which would be a misdemeanor.
I was not able to find any information for the state of Wisconsin as far as penalties or fines for not clearing off the snow. Just like in Minnesota, I am sure that your vehicle is covered in snow and not safe to drive local police officers or State Troopers might take it upon themselves to pull you over and at least issue a warning.
But if you have ice fly off your vehicle and it causes damage to another vehicle that could be a whole different situation. We all have done it, we were in a hurry or the weather was brutal and you cleared off enough snow to just be able to take off and be on your way, that is why videos like this are an important reminder to take the extra time.