A snowstorm is headed our way this weekend. So far it’s unclear if there’ll be any accumulation — or if it’ll be very much — but you may want to keep the shovels and snow-throwers handy just in case.
Based on the most recent forecast, we could expect about 3 inches of snow, which is not a lot by New England standards, but it still needs shoveling.
Though we should be well-used to snow around here, it never hurts to brush up on the laws and rules of etiquette when it comes to plowing, shoveling and parking.
Here’s a quick reminder:
Snow storm Massachusetts: Will MA get snow this weekend? How much? See forecast
What are the rules for property owners when it comes to shoveling snow?
Simply put: Take this snow and shovel it. In Fall River, the law says if there’s snow on the sidewalk outside your house, you have to clear it.
You can’t let it sit more than “five hours between sunrise and sunset.”
If your house is on a corner, guess what: you’ve got extra fun. Make sure you clear any wheelchair ramps from the street, too.
Don’t rush in for the hot cocoa yet, there’s more. If there’s ice, you have to make it “reasonably even and covered with sand, salt or other acceptable material to prevent slipping.”
Where to park: Snow may be coming. How do parking bans work in Greater Fall River?
What’s the penalty for not shoveling?
It’s not a criminal offense. The fine is up to $200.
Can you shovel snow back into the road?
No? But sort of? The law as written is ambiguous.
You cannot “place any ice or snow in a street outside of the sidewalk unless the ice or snow is made reasonably even at the time of placing.” What “reasonably even” means isn’t spelled out.
Generally, if you want a clear, plowed street for car traffic, shoveling snow into the street will not help. It makes more work for plow drivers, which means a truck will have to drive by again – and push the snow back onto a sidewalk, and you’re back at Square One.
Prep the house: Freezing weather is here. Have you followed these tips to get your house ready for winter?
Can you shovel snow onto a neighbor’s sidewalk?
Not only is that very mean, it’s also illegal if they’ve already shoveled it.
Can you save a parking space in front of your house?
No. If it’s not a car, it doesn’t belong in the street.
Parking spaces are very scarce already in many neighborhoods, and that number gets cut in half if there’s a parking ban. Still, space-savers like chairs, trash barrels, traffic cones and whatnot are not supposed to be used.
That said, if you didn’t shovel out a space and you need to use it, try not to park for too long. Respect dibs.
Who is responsible for shoveling outside an apartment building: the landlord or tenant?
The law makes no distinction. It says “no owner or tenant” is supposed to leave snow unshoveled more than five hours. Who actually lifts the shovel is an issue tenants and landlords have to decide among themselves.
Dinarte Goncalves shovel’s the walk of his Highland Ave. home in Fall River Wednesday Feb. 14 2024.
How old is too old to shovel snow?
Experts at the American Heart Association have said there’s no specific age cutoff, but if you’re 45 or older, be cautious and take frequent breaks.
The association also advises people with known or suspected heart disease, high blood pressure or high cholesterol to take extra care when shoveling snow. The same goes for people who regularly smoke, are very inactive, are obese or are habitually sedentary should be careful, too.
If you have a heart condition, have musculoskeletal conditions or have impaired balance, don’t shovel.
Nearly 200,000 adults were treated in emergency rooms for snow-shovel-related accidents from 1990 to 2006, and more than 1,600 deaths were reported in that time frame, according to the American Journal of Emergency Medicine.
This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Fall River’s snow shoveling laws, FAQ: The rules of snow removal