Trucking Laws · Maryland and Delaware · October 22, 2026

Maryland and Delaware Snow and Ice Laws: Truckers Face Fines Up to $1,500

Winter is coming, and two East Coast states now want snow and ice cleared off trucks before they pull onto the road. In Maryland and Delaware, a truck driver could face a fine of up to $1,500 if snow or ice flying off the rig causes a crash or injury.

Maryland's new law

Maryland's law, Chapter 667 of 2026 (SB 698), took effect Oct. 1, 2026. It requires drivers to make "reasonable efforts" to remove snow and ice from exposed surfaces of their vehicles. For trucks, that includes the cab and the top of a trailer or semitrailer.

The fines for commercial vehicles climb with each repeat offense:

• First offense: $75
• Second offense: $150
• Third offense: $300
• Fourth offense: $600
• Fifth and later offenses: $1,000

If a violation contributes to a crash involving property damage, death or serious injury, the fine for a commercial vehicle ranges from $500 to $1,500.

There are some important limits. Enforcement of the basic rule in Maryland is secondary only, which means an officer has to stop the driver for something else first. A driver will not be ticketed if clearing the vehicle would violate workplace safety rules or threaten the driver's health or safety. And no more than one violation can be issued in any 24-hour period.

Delaware's law

In Delaware, a new law signed by Gov. Matt Meyer lets police stop drivers for dangerous snow or ice on their vehicles. Base fines run from $25 to $75. Truck drivers could face up to $1,500 if flying snow or ice causes a crash or injuries. Only one citation can be issued per 24 hours. The law is already in effect.

The trailer roof problem

Nobody wants a sheet of ice coming at the windshield, and truck drivers are no exception. The harder question is how a driver is supposed to clear the roof of a 53-foot trailer safely.

Climbing on top of a trailer in the dark, on ice, carries its own risk. Maryland's law recognizes that with its safety exemption. In Delaware, Land Line reports that drivers say the state does not have enough truck washes, drive-through scrapers or similar facilities to handle the number of trucks passing through every day.

Other states with similar rules

Maryland and Delaware are not alone. Land Line lists 12 states that require snow and ice removal from vehicles: Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Wisconsin.

Drivers who run through the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic in winter will want to know the rules in each state on their route, since the details and fines vary.

What readers are asking

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