Ever clear a public intersection with your tractor?

[dmccarty]

I have asked our insurance company about running the tractor off our property. We can operate the tractor and still be covered as long as I am not doing the work for pay. I can't imagine anyone writing a ticket for me clearing the road and I don't know of a NC statute that would allow a ticket.

Later,
Dan

 

[KubotaToy]

When I lived in Nebraska, I would get 4-5 foot drifts where the road dipped on either side of my driveway, it was usually 2-3 days before the county would plow it. So, I would "plow" the road using my skidsteer for about a 1/2 mile which allowed me to make it to the main road, maybe five families lived on the road, so not much chance on getting hit since it was not passable anyway until plowed. The highway department complained several times about my plowing and they would bring the sheriff's deputy to quote me the law but each time he would at the end of his speech stating that if it was incident to an emergent condition, there would be no enforcement. He would then ask if I needed access to town for supplies or medicines to which I said yes, he would wish me a good day and leave. As payback they would push a big snow bank up my drive when they plowed the roads, it turned into a running battle for several years but I never really understood why.

 

[radioman]

thank goodness for lbrown not posting here ... I know what he going to say on the insurance thing..... plus he would post his fueling shed for 3 bx's he has.

 

[Pa Pa Jack]

When I lived in PA, I would routinely clear our road so that I could at least get to the main road. The local crews complained several times. They finally sent a State Trooper to "write" me up. He asked what business I had working on public roads. I simply told him my wife is an ER nurse. If she has to get out to help with emergencies during a storm, the road has to be cleared. He smiled and told me to have a good day. Never had another complaint.

 

[rrrkkk]

I too plow across and along a 4 lane highway, headlights on 2 lights facing forward 2 facing backward and flasher on. the main gripe of mine is vehicles won't get over into the lane away from you. And they won't slow down. I have wondered also where the liability would fall if one of them loses control and, hits me or something else. Yesterday I plowed for 3 hours, there were more cars driving without headlights on than with. Its the law in IL that when the wipers are on so should the headlights be on!

 

[LD1]

Like I said, I think alot of it just has to do with liability and road maintenance. The city/town/or whatever jurisdiction is responsible for road repair and curb damage. They dont want to fix something that you tore up. Alot of places also repair mailboxes, windshields, etc if damaged by a plow. Given that there is a good chance of damaging something when plowing, they want only their trained guys in their equipment out there.

The few places that I know of that do allow contractors to plow public areas, it is a PITA dealing with the jurisdiction. Some of them want YOU as the contractor to deposit X amount of money that you will be refunded when the season is over If no claims or damage occurred in the area that you were contracted to do. And if there is damage, weather you did it or not, tough luck.

And call me a mean SOB, but the only time my plow hits the ground on public roads is when another contractor or homeowner has pushed a big pile of snow into the street, or left trails (speed bumps) all across the road from where they pushed across the street and didnt clean up. The law in my area is pretty clear. No snow is allowed to be pushed onto or across a roadway aside from what naturally fell there. And while I personally dont have anything against pushing across the street, at least clean up the mess and not leave 6" high trails of snow that freeze and turn into speed bumps. Because YES, I will push those back in your drive.

 

[texasjohn]

Hmm, all this makes me glad it almost never snows here...and anything over 6 inches is record breaking. I've seen that amount one time in over 30 years.

 

[grsthegreat]

I just got back from clearing four of my neighbor's driveways with my tractor, and two of them live about 500' feet south of me on a road that ends at a stop sign on the road my home is on. It's an uphill incline and a hill going up on the right side of the main blocks a view of traffic coming from that way. The snowstorm yesterday dumped about 15" on new snow and drifts into the intersection, and any vehicles without 4WD or AWD were getting stuck on the upgrade or having to make a running start to clear the intersection and avoid being bogged down. After doing the first driveway for a neighbor, I spent ten minutes clearing the area where cars are normally required to stop...there isn't much traffic today and I am always super careful...the motorists who went by all gave me a wave or a thumbs up. This is about the tenth time I have done the same intersection...even though my insurance agent knows I clear snow for others, I still worry about the possibility of being liable should an accident occur....yet I do this to PREVENT accidents.

What is your opinion of my liability? Thanks for any feedback.

Youd be 100% liable if any accident occures. Once you enter and work on public property you have to have commercial coverage

 

[westcliffe01]

If the public were to start plowing public roads while the township office refuses service while they request further property tax increases, it could undermine their campaign. So they send a deputy to harass you from doing something that is in the public interest, and which you do without compensation. This is after paying $4000/yr in property taxes on a 1300 sq ft home on a 1/3 acre lot... Clearly, choosing to continue to live in a community like this is a demonstration of insanity... or stupidity.

 

[JDgreen227]

Thanks to all for the feedback....it took the county until near 5 pm today to get a plow out in this area. It truthfully saddens me that simply trying to help the public and possibly prevent an accident would provoke ire from the county employees. I look at it this way...suppose one of the cars who had backed up 150' from the intersection to make a run at getting onto the main road caused a chain reaction collision from vehicles coming down the hill, both had limited visibility and that could have created a very dangerous situation. I meant well, and tried to do everything I could to minimize my chances of creating a collision. It's very sad that society in general is so concerned about liability and that often nullifies that a citizen wants to do good. Suppose now: An accident happened at the intersection because it had not been cleared, and I was unable to move my personal truck which was near the crash site and instead of getting out to aid the people involved in the accident or try to summon help, or flag down oncoming cars....I JUST SAT THERE AND DID NOTHING because I was worried about liability?


GO FIGGER!!!!!!