Recent snowfall has caused havoc around the nation.
With the annual winter freeze blanketing the nation, drivers are facing increasing risks when heading outside. As snow covers all the eye can see, a new fear has emerged for the millions of us who have no alternative but to deal with the weather to get through the day as usual.
Are you prepared to adjust to a new law affecting how you drive in winter?
It hasn’t stopped snowing. And some citizens keep receiving fines
Every year, the annual winter freeze creates chaos throughout the US.
February gets more snow than any other month on average, but 2026 has been one of the worst to date as recent blizzards and snowstorms have encompassed the nation, leading to some states enforcing mandatory travel restrictions while airports cancel flights.
Driving on a road that has received more than the average amount of snow comes with a litany of risks.
We already have enough to deal with when the snowfall hits this part of the world. Snow accumulating on top of cars and roads raises the alarm level for the millions of us who drive every day.
As one driver in New York recently discovered, fines come with the territory when driving in the United States. A new fear may make things even worse in this state.
A state approves $500 fines… every time it snows
As the winter freeze makes driving exceedingly dangerous around the nation, we all need to raise our concentration to avoid the plethora of dangers when driving a car or motorbike.
The Fast and Furious hopefuls who regularly speed up and down the roads do so at their own risk, often with disastrous consequences.
As one woman in Florida recently found out, not following simple laws can lead to a world of financial hurt. While those of us with a degree of common sense take this advice on the chin, some seem to think they own the roads, even when nature says otherwise.
As the United States laws and regulations regarding driving differ from state to state, it is up to us to understand our role in making the roads of the nation safer for all, especially once the annual “black ice” covers the roads.
One state in particular has recently implemented a change that has drivers rattled, with the risk of a $500 fine to boot.
There’s only one thing you can do to prevent it
California has recently triggered its “Chain Law” in an attempt to make the roads safer for all after forecasts predicted severe weather, and extra precautions need to be taken. Drivers who do not stop to put their chains on face a $500 fine, with state officials warning to do so before encountering an official checkpoint.
Considering that many motorists fail to apply their own safety precautions, the California DOT has made it compulsory to put their tire chains on. This has to be done on roadways between “Chains required” signs to avoid the fine.
Stop to the right of the road to install your chains, and go an extra mile by double-checking your tire thread as well. Once they are installed, do not exceed the 20-30 mph limit. Once you pass the “End of Chain Control” road sign, pull over safely to remove the chains.
Additional fines could be given if you have not cleared all the snow off your car, or if your tire tread is incorrect or not deep enough to provide sufficient traction in the intense ice storm conditions.
Californians have become used to the litany of laws that govern the roads, but the Chain Law has raised concerns for those who simply jump in without considering the driving conditions in the state. We urge you to follow this simple instruction to avoid the $500 fine.