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Snow-Related Legislation on the Minds of Lawmakers This Snow Day

AP Photo / Steve Helber

Many schools and businesses were closed Wednesday because of snow. But lawmakers in Richmond were hard at work. And, as Michael Pope reports, they are considering two snow-related bills.

Many of the bills lawmakers are considering here in Richmond come directly from their own personal experience. Take Delegate Mike Mullin, a Democrat from Newport News. He has a bill that would create a new penalty for drivers who don't remove snow from their cars before getting on the road. 

“I had an experience driving down 64 late on a Friday night and right after it snowed there was a car right in front of me that didn’t take all the ice off the back of it, and it fell off and darn near killed me.”

And then there are all those sidewalks that clogged with snow. Delegate Steve Landes, a Republican from Augusta County, has a bill that would allow local governments to create penalties for homeowners who don’t remove snow from their sidewalks. 

“Some localities basically just give you a little slap on the wrist and say, 'Hey, you need to remove it.' But then if they don’t after a period of time there can be a fine associated with not removing snow.”

Some local governments in Northern Virginia already have the authority to do this, but others don’t. Landes introduced the bill because county leaders in Albemarle are interested in creating a new penalties for homeowners who don't remove snow from their sidewalks.

This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.

Michael Pope is an author and journalist who lives in Old Town Alexandria.