23:36 26-12-2025

Winter car laws by state: idling rules and snow penalties

In several U.S. states, drivers can face penalties for winter habits many consider routine. Chief among them are warming up a car without anyone inside and setting off with snow or ice still on the bodywork.

North Carolina enforces what’s known as the Dawson Rule: leaving a vehicle running and unattended in public places is an offense. The restriction applies to roads, parking lots, and gas stations, but not to private property. Police mainly use the rule to head off theft, noting that unattended, idling cars often attract the wrong kind of attention. The logic is hard to argue with: a warm engine and no driver can be an open invitation.

Comparable measures are on the books in at least 16 states and the District of Columbia. In many of them, idling time is capped, typically at three to five minutes, so lingering with the heater on can quickly cross the line.

There are also specific statutes addressing snow and ice. In New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, a driver can be fined simply for driving an uncleared vehicle. Elsewhere, officers rely on rules about obstructed visibility or unsecured loads if snow blocks the view or tumbles onto the roadway. Clearing the car isn’t just courtesy—it can be the difference between a routine commute and a ticket.