Jessica Smith was just 20 years old when she was killed in a car crash caused by a nine-foot piece of ice that flew off a tractor-trailer truck. Courtesy photo

NASHUA – This month marks 22 years since Jessica’s Law took effect requiring New Hampshire drivers to remove snow and ice from their vehicles.

The law stems from the death of Jessica Smith in 1999. Smith, who was 20 years old at the time, was traveling along Rt. 202 in Peterborough when a nine-foot piece of ice slid off a tractor-trailer truck causing the collision that took Smith’s life.

Her parents, Linda and Donald Smith, were angered by the fact that the driver was never penalized for failing to clear the snow and ice off the tractor-trailer.

“Jessica’s death should’ve never happened,” said Linda Smith. “She was a vibrant, young woman.”

In response, Linda and Donald Smith reached out to then-State Rep. Robert Leroux and Victims, Inc. to draft legislation that would shield other families from such tragedies.

“We decided to make a positive out of a negative,” said Linda Smith.

Yet, she was surprised that such a bill was needed in the first place.

“You shouldn’t have to have a bill for common sense,” she said.

The law now requires drivers to remove all snow or ice from their vehicles before getting behind the wheel. Failure to do so can result in fines of up to $500 for first-time offenders.

Although the law has been in place since 2002, Linda Smith said she continues to see drivers with snow and ice piled on their vehicles.

“It’s still going on,” she said. “People just don’t care.”

Therefore, Linda Smith said Jessica’s Law should have harsher penalties, particularly when the results of driving a snow-covered car can be deadly.

In contrast, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania have laws governing vehicular snow and ice removal. The laws in those states all carry fines of up to $1,500.