DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. — In case you needed a reminder, you need to clear off your entire windshield before you start driving.
It's not just for your safety — it's the law in Colorado.
According to state statute 42-4-201, which is titled "Obstruction of view of driving mechanism - hazardous situation," a driver cannot operate a vehicle "upon any highway unless the driver's vision through any required glass equipment is normal and unobstructed."
That was not the case for one driver in Douglas County Thursday.
A deputy with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office pulled a vehicle over after noticing that most of the car was covered in snow, aside from a portion of the windshield.
"Take the time to brush off the WHOLE windshield," the sheriff's office wrote on Facebook. "In this driver's attempt to get to work quicker, he was actually delayed by us...sorry...not sorry. 😉" The driver was cited.
According to the pictures, there were several inches of snow on the hood and just above the windshield on the vehicle.
Authorities said leaving that much snow on the roof of your vehicle is dangerous because it can not only fly off and possibly cause a crash behind you, but it can slide forward, blocking your view of the road.
READ MORE: Driving in the Colorado snow: How to prepare your car for winter weather
In addition, Colorado Revised Statute 42-4-1407 reads that you cannot drive a vehicle with the load "blowing, dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping." That includes blowing snow from the roof.
There are a few states that require their drivers to completely clear off the vehicles, windshield, roof and all.
