Look: Clear Your Windshield Or Get A Ticket In Colorado

Winters tend to be mild in Western Colorado…until they are not. Western Slope residents know that winter weather does not just stay up in the mountains; it can impact the valley as well.

When you wake up to a windshield covered in frosted glass or snow, it is a mistake to try to clear a spot the size of your fist to peek out of and head off to work. From Grand Junction to Montrose, driving with a snow-covered car that obstructs your view is a good way to get a ticket.

What Colorado Law Actually Requires

Colorado Revised Statutes § 42‑4‑227 says that cars and trucks in Colorado must have windshield wipers.

This device is expected to operate whenever necessary to keep the driver’s vision unobstructed. If your windshield is blocked or if snow and ice are flying off your car, you can be cited in the Centennial State.

How Enforcement Works and What You’ll Face

It is a gigantic L to get pulled over for driving with an obstructed view in Colorado. It takes far less time to clear off the windshield than it does to get pulled over by police for doing something foolish.

Obstructed view in Colorado is a Class B traffic infraction. Fines range from $15 to $100. Give a cop a headache, and this could become part of a careless driving charge, which suddenly means a $300 fine and a potential 90 days in jail. Cause an accident or hurt someone, and it could suddenly become a Class A infraction and get worse from there.

Smart, Quick Steps to Avoid Tickets and Stay Safe

If you wake up to a snow-covered car in Grand Junction this winter, the roof, windshield, mirrors, lights, and license plates should all be free of snow and ice, even for a short trip. Now is the time to drop a snow brush/ice scraper in the trunk, and to top off that washer fluid while there is still time.

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