I-95 incident provides annual reminder: Clean the snow and ice off your darn car

With snow on the ground and winter around the corner, drivers take note: Don’t forget to brush that ice and snow off your car.

The New Hampshire State Police issued a reminder Sunday of the dangerous — and illegal — consequences of driving with a wintry mix atop a vehicle after ice dislodged from one and smashed the windshield of another on Interstate 95.

“This is extremely dangerous and unnecessary!” police wrote on Facebook.

Authorities say drivers who don’t clean off their cars can be cited under “Jessica’s Law” in the Granite State and fined for negligent driving, with penalties between $250 and $500 on the first offense and between $500 and $1,000 on subsequent offenses.

Massachusetts drivers should take heed, too: Failing to remove snow and ice from vehicle windows could lead to a $40 fine for impeded operation and a $200 fine for driving with an unsecured load if there’s snow and ice on the roof of the car.