Chester Police Readies Residents For Snow Driving, Parking

CHESTER, NJ — With winter officially less than two weeks away and snowy weather having already passed through the region, Chester Police offered reminders to drivers about driving and parking on snowy streets.

The police department featured tips on its social media this past Thursday for safe driving and parking, when snow strikes.

The first reminder was about snow removal from cars, cautioning drivers to take snow and ice off before getting behind the wheel.

“Ice and snow - remove it before you go,” is the catchphrase the department used, borrowed from New Jersey’s Division of Highway Traffic Safety.

In New Jersey, drivers caught with snow or ice on top of their rooftops, hoods and windows as they’re driving around, could be fined up to $75 per offense, if they’re stopped by a police officer.

Fines can be even higher, up to $1,000, if an accident or damage to another car occurs, because of snow or ice flying off of a car or truck.

The state’s Division of Highway Traffic Safety says nearly 500 deaths in the United States each year are from icy issues on the road.

Click here for more safe driving tips from the state: www.nj.gov/oag/hts/ice-and-snow.html.

The second tip was at a local level on parking, the police department sharing a reminder that in both Chester Borough and Township, there is a parking ban on streets that are covered with snow, to give road crews the ability to properly plow and treat road surfaces.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a local news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.