TRENTON, N.J. — Snow doesn’t appear to be in the Garden State’s forecast anytime soon, but a controversial bylaw requiring drivers to clear snow and ice off of their vehicles is now in effect.

The rule affects all drivers in New Jersey, but penalties for commercial truck operators who violate the law could be much steeper.

As of Oct. 20, drivers face fines of up to $75 for not making "all reasonable efforts to remove accumulated ice or snow" from the hood, trunk or roof of a motor vehicle, truck cab, or trailer.

If a slab of ice falls from a vehicle and causes injury or property damage, car drivers face fines between $200 and $1,000, while truck drivers could pay between $500 to $1,500.

Drivers will not be fined if snow or ice that accumulates while out on the road if they are traveling to a location with snow and ice removal equipment.

Critics like OOIDA point out, though, that the rule is nearly impossible for truckers to comply with as there are very few, if any, public facilities that have equipment to remove snow or ice from trailer tops.

Truckers also risk serious injury by climbing to the top of trailers to sweep off ice.

In fact, Occupational health and safety legislation usually prohibits workers from climbing to the height of trailer tops without approved fall-protection equipment or restraint devices.

There’s talk that revenue collected from fines could soon be put towards a snow and ice removal safety fund, which would provide incentives for fleets and truckstops to install snow removal equipment at their facilities.

OOIDA says it’s concerned that other cash-strapped municipalities could soon get in on the act as a way to generate revenue and boost coffers.