Snow plows and traffic rules

[Andrew1972]

Do you snow plow drivers who do driveways etc have a pass during storms by law enforcement??

I drove during a terrible storm and ended up hitting a pick up door of plow at low speed sliding into a plow guy who ignored a stop and I was going 30 mph so did my best to Stop but tapped his door damaging it. No damage to my vehicle. He did not even inspect his vehicle.

He was indifferent but never took my plate(both covered by snow) and left me a card.

 

[Bandito440]

Snow plows are not exempt traffic laws.

 

[SatinSilver]

Not exempt but they do seem to drive like they've been awake for days and they probably have. I knew one guy that worked in a steel mill full time and would plow during his off time. He drove like a wild man. One time he passed a city plow truck in the turning lane or crossed the solid traffic lane, can't remember which. Anyways the city driver called the local police about the incident. He was plowing a local restaurant parking lot when a few cruisers came up behind him with guns drawn ordering him out of truck. They cited him for passing city safety vehicle or something like that. This was during the wee hours of the a.m.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Originally Posted By: Bandito440
Snow plows are not exempt traffic laws.

Originally Posted By: SatinSilver
Not exempt

Maybe you two should read the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law, 11-03(b) before you post.

Quote:
A provision in the Vehicle and Traffic Law, 11-03(b), grants highway vehicles engaged in the performance of work activities an exclusion from the rules of the road.


Many states have a similar statute that covers, among other things, snow plows when they're removing snow.

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
Originally Posted By: Bandito440
Snow plows are not exempt traffic laws.

Originally Posted By: SatinSilver
Not exempt

Maybe you two should read the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law, 11-03(b) before you post.

Quote:
A provision in the Vehicle and Traffic Law, 11-03(b), grants highway vehicles engaged in the performance of work activities an exclusion from the rules of the road.


Many states have a similar statute that covers, among other things, snow plows when they're removing snow.


Originally Posted By: madRiver
Do you snow plow drivers who do driveways etc have a pass during storms by law enforcement??


Applying to private contractors also? I took a quick look but it looked like what you quoted applies to municipal drivers. Not sure if private contractors get a pass.

I've always assumed they had to follow the rules of the road (private contractors that is) but one would be foolish to demand it of them, like anyone of else on the road (meaning, drive with caution when you see one, 'cuz you just never know if they will have a lapse in judgement right as you come around the bend).

 

[Bandito440]

Pop_Rivit,

The OP is not in New York.

The actual NY law that your citing from a google search without bothering to verify is Title 7 Article 23 §1103(b). It applies to highway vehicles, but I took the OP's comments to suggest that this was a privately owned plow truck, as a government vehicle involved in an accident would have triggered a call to the police and an accident report.

Perhaps you could dial back the condescension a bit.

 

[AlaskaMike]

Here in Alaska, private plow operators definitely seem to be given a pass for a ton of minor stuff, but if one of them did something blatantly unsafe they'd get pulled over in a heartbeat.

The relevant laws vary hugely from state to state though, and may even be unique depending on city or county/borough/municipality. We have traffic laws in the Alaska Statutes as well as the Anchorage Municipal Code.

That said, my own observation has been that very, very few private plow operators are truly dangerous. They may get lazy or sloppy and pile up snow where they probably shouldn't, but they're trying to do their job just like anyone else for the most part.

 

[doitmyself]

Originally Posted By: Bandito440
Pop_Rivit,

The OP is not in New York. The actual NY law that your citing from a google search without bothering to verify is Title 7 Article 23 §1103(b). It applies to(publicly owned) highway vehicles, but I took the OP's comments to suggest that this was a privately owned plow truck, as a government vehicle involved in an accident would have triggered a call to the police and an accident report.

Perhaps you could dial back the condescension a bit.................

 

[Doc8404]

Yep, police report required for all if involving DOT vehicles.
Argue all you want. I was a DOT health and safety officer in NY for years until I got smart.

 

[Donald]

I dislike state or local plows with so many blinking lights you cannot see a turn signal when they use it.

And local plows who push snow across the street leaving a path on the street when they leave.

 

[Ethan1]

When I was just learning to drive, I was approaching a residential intersection where I did not have a stop sign and the perpendicular traffic did have a stop sign. For some reason, the neurons were all firing in my teenaged brain that day; I correctly predicted that the giant municipal plow intended to blow through his stop sign at 40mph or more, so I stopped!

I'm still a careful driver and I still don't trust the government

 

[dave123]

Originally Posted By: Bandito440
Pop_Rivit,

The OP is not in New York.

The actual NY law that your citing from a google search without bothering to verify is Title 7 Article 23 §1103(b). It applies to highway vehicles, but I took the OP's comments to suggest that this was a privately owned plow truck, as a government vehicle involved in an accident would have triggered a call to the police and an accident report.

Perhaps you could dial back the condescension a bit.
+1 What a dope!

 

[eljefino]

Some loopholes I've seen include letting the unqualified DPW secretary drive a plow truck if the governor declares a snow emergency.

Was in a park & ride lot last week and a Turnpike plow truck had just plowed it out then ran a traffic light and headed back for the highway.

There are signs in town here on one-way streets advising drivers that authorized snow equipment moves contrary to traffic.

Talked to a guy who used to plow for Maine DOT and he got to start the career/season with "100 points" against which they would charge mailboxes and other items. They paid him $13.10 an hour and I'd love to see the crib sheet where they determine how many points various accidents would demerit him!

But as a matter of practicality, why argue the semantics of law when we're all just trying to dig out? I see unregistered skidsteers bouncing along public streets all the time but they're just going from parking lot to parking lot without calling in a Class 8 truck to tow them across the street.

 

[Andrew1972]

The public plows are much safer/careful it's the private ones who drive a bit nuts or ignoring stops/lights at speed.

I will take heed next time to stay off roads. Driving 100 miles with 2-3/inch snow fall rates at night is hard especially without a car in front to help light and guide you.