AB 552

Under current law, a person operating a vehicle may not follow an official

snowplow closer than 200 feet when upon a highway having a posted speed limit of

more than 35 miles per hour when the snowplow is: 1) engaged in winter highway

maintenance snow and ice removal and 2) displaying two flashing red or amber

lamps or a flashing red or amber lamp of the dome-light type. A person does not

violate this provision when overtaking and passing a snowplow, or when a snowplow

is stopped or standing in the highway. A person violating this provision may be

required to forfeit not less than $20 nor more than $40 for the first offense and not

less than $50 nor more than $100 for the second or subsequent conviction within a

year.

This bill prohibits a person operating a vehicle from following an official

snowplow, equipped and engaged as described above, closer than 75 feet when upon

a highway having a posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less. This bill also

requires a person operating a vehicle that approaches from the rear an official

snowplow, equipped and engaged as described above, that is stopped at an

intersection to stop not less than 20 feet from the snowplow and remain stopped until

the snowplow resumes motion. Other than the intersection stopping requirement,

the current exceptions regarding overtaking and passing a snowplow remain. The

existing penalties for following a snowplow too closely apply to the prohibitions in

this bill.