TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey is on the brink of becoming the first North American jurisdiction to fine drivers who do not clear snow or ice from their vehicles before hitting the road.

According to media reports, the Bill cleared the state Senate with a unanimous 35-0 vote and is awaiting Gov. Jon Corzine’s signature. There will be a one-year grace period after the law takes effect.

Currently, New Jersey has strict fines in place if ice falls from a vehicle and injuries someone or damages property. But the new law would give police powers to preemptively fine drivers, including truckers, up to $75 for simply not removing snow or ice.

The law has angered the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, which says that unless the state plans to build roadside facilities that remove potential ‘ice missiles’ from trailer tops, the law is nearly impossible for owner-ops to comply with.

Occupational health and safety legislation prohibits workers from climbing to the height of trailer tops without approved fall-protection equipment or restraint devices, which, of course, are not widely available to owner-ops or company drivers who are away from the fleet terminal, if at all.

Company carriers also disapprove of the rule, arguing that snow and ice removal systems are not easy to come by, and quite expensive when you do find a supplier.

The American Transportation Research Institute released a recent study on the matter last year. It found that many fleet managers believe accumulated snow or ice can be a safety hazard, but that there are very few accessible, industry-standard solutions.

Carriers also argue that the onus for compliance shouldn’t be placed solely on truckers. The issue needs to be addressed by shippers as well, since snow or ice often forms on trucks while they’re waiting to load or unload at customers’ facilities.

(Click here for a recent an-depth Today’s Trucking feature on this issue).