The Washtenaw County Road Commission (WCRC) is asking residents and local businesses not to push excess snow into or across roadways. While it may seem convenient to plow snow into or along roadsides, when that snow freezes and hardens onto the road surface it can pose a serious hazard to motorists and damage snow plow equipment. For this reason, Michigan law specifically prohibits shoveling or plowing snow onto or across roadways.
While clearing your driveway is not a crime, the way you clear it can be. The Michigan Vehicle Code section 257.677aprohibits, “the obstruction of safety vision by removal or deposit of snow, ice, or slush.” This includes placing snow at the end of driveways, where banked snow can reduce visibility for vehicles trying to enter the roadway. The Michigan Vehicle Code also prohibits the depositing of snow, ice or slush into or across the roadway.
