snowplowing

Is it illegal to snowplow township roads? I live in ohio the reason I ask is because next winter I want to try to start snow plowing peoples drives and shoveling sidewalks and my friends dad lives towards the edge of the township and it takes awhile for his road to get cleared and I thought maybe id help him out he lives less than 100 yards to an intersection so it'd only be that far

Our Townships welcome the help...for Free of course...

When I lived in north eastern Iowa back in 2003, I got a "verbal warning" from the county road supervisor for plowing about an 1/8 of a mile of the black top road in front of my house. He claimed that me plowing the road may leave ridges which may cause drivers to lose control and go in the ditch.

In NW Pa. it is tech illegal to plow a state
or township road with a personal owned unit..
99% of the time the township will welcome the
help, but you DO NOT want anyone to run into
you. Or you not run into them.

My township is less than enthusiastic about getting plows out so if you want out the first couple days after a big snow you plow yourself out.

I think it would be best to talk with your township trustee.

Give one of the trustee's a call and ask. I did my township road until they got a truck with a plow on in, before they used a tractor. They thanked me and my neighbors for keeping the road open.

my broke rural twp only plowed the mile to my place twice in 8 years, and only after I called and requested it be done, did it myself with w-6 many times. Now, there is a state congressman about 2 1/2 miles farther down, and it is always plowed before it stops snowing and blowing. Can't understand why policy changed!!!

Dick ND

Liability issue. The township people may appreciate the help, but the lawyers need someone to sue.

There was an issue on a washout out township road here a while back. Guy offered to repair it for free (dead end to a popular fishing access). The township guys loved the idea, but he needed to indemnify the township before they could allow him to do it (meaning anyone sues over the road-- they sue they guy who did the free work).

Probably best to call the township, see what the details are, hard to say if you are open to any liability or not if you do so. Personally, I'd be inclined to do so carefully, don't create any hazards, like a blind area from a snow bank or similar.

Years ago, the town seemed to be a little slow and or our 1/4 mile lane would not get plowed, mind you the towns garage and complex is less than a mile away. Might have just been a period of time, not sure who the highway superintendent was then either. So I would have to plow our lane, which is a hill, so I could get my vehicle to the house, so 2 passes with the K10 and fisher snow plow worked great. It seemed for that time period, you never knew if the lane would be passable during a snow event, at certain times, usually after dark. Ironically, the current highway superintendent seems to take good interest in the roads and he will run one of the one ton pick ups with a plow and sander on these hilly roads. I have not had to plow the lane for many years, they either have people on after hours now or whatever the difference is, the job gets done on time. At the end of the lane, is a half a cul de sac so its not the easiest turn around. I try and help out and push the snow banks/piles much further back onto the lawns, give the truck driver lots more room on frozen ground. In the spring I run the tiller and take a wheel barrow, hand tools to repair where the sod gets peeled up or ruts are left. I'd rather do that, then call and complain, I think they do a great job, I always wave or say hello to the drivers, and help where ever I can. Can't please everyone, the guy who runs the blower on the skid steer, clearing the now 10 year old sidewalks is a miserable sort, they wait too long to clear it, it gets hard, then he b$tches to the town superintendent, who then calls the resident who is blamed for excess snow from the small lane between houses, a shared driveway, open on either end, that has a name on the tax map, its just not deeded to the town. Snow has to go somewhere, and I know our 3 pt blower would easily get through it. Happened last year, what an easy job, but some you can't please.

If its county or township I would get in contact with them. You might be required to care a certain amount of ins. or have to be bonded for the liabilty if you should hit something or someone.

It gets you back to where we were talking about CDL rules,, it depends mostly on the attitude of the one you are talking to...My bet is there is no actual law or ruling on it,, same way with mowing the right a way of your farm...

Lumpy makes a good point, it might make a difference if it's a gravel road or a paved road.

Just shows what kind of sad times we live in.

Used to be no problem to help people out and clear whatever you need to. Now look at us warning you about getting sued ! and such nonsense.

Around here, the hard surfaced roads recieve immediate attention from either the county, or the state. Graveled roads will be cleared when the county is done with the paved roads. Since I live on a gravel road, I do what is needed to clear a path to the paved road so folks can get to work, or whatever. The path is usually just wide enough to allow one car or truck to get through. The county has no problem with that.

do it here all time to get rural mail carrier to postoffice. otherwise for the others you talk about get one large ins policy for sure,eveen if shovel you are on someone else property. ins first then go from there. rich you will not get. been there done that

Thanks everyone for the advice! I think sometime before next winter I'll contact one of our trustees our township is great about keeping the roads clean the problem is they only have one guy and we have a really big township. This wouldn't that often just on days that I don't have school or when school is cancelled like last week was our first week back from Christmas vacation e only went one full day and had a 2 hour delay one day then we didn't have school today either

HEAR in nw iowa thay don't like to have you out plowing the county roads.( I work for the county plowing roads ) but in my township we plow the black tops first. and then go to the gravels. if anybody has plowed the roads I say good for you. I dont report them. I just say good for you and try to git there faster next time. I know 90% of them and thay all understand. ya just do the best you can. Bob

Here is a very good video of Roosty6 moving snow.
Hope You enjoy his videos as much as I do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCPh95G0ZFE

I rember my mother talking about, grand dad hand shoveling the road in front of the farm. Everybody shoveled their road OR nobody went anywhere. Mom was born in 1920, so go from that date. mostly horse and a few cars, only one lane and a wide spot to pass in some places. joe

When I drive up to the neighbors, I plow so that the snow is dumped in the ditch. My next door neighbor is the town chairman and if he thought it was a problem, I guaranty he would be banging a fist on my door.

General Colin Powell said that sometimes it is easier to ask for forgiveness, than to ask for permission.

SDE

That's Gibbs rule 18. It's better to ask forgiveness than permission. NCIS

Here there is a rule(law?) not to pile snow in the road. Never heard of one about removing it.

I plow most of my neighbors driveways. I start by dragging it out in the road and then push it in the ditch. Mostly because they don't have a good place to put snow piles in their yards. When I'm done if the road is bad enough, I plow down to the corner.

I work for County Road Commission in MI. We each take care of a township and a quarter. We are expected by our management to plow all of our county roads both ways before dark of that day, unless we cant keep blacktop open, they always take priority. Hard to do in a township with few straight thru roads and numerous curves, you have to fly. Personally, I don't care if someone wants to plow a path before I get there, as long as they dont leave frozen hard chunks all over the road that I have to drive over. The ride is plenty jarring already lol. Most times its the farmers trying to help their neighbors get out, and I know the farmers in my territory, and a lot of the public, and they try to stay out of my way and not make a mess for me. Some of the farmers will even plow drift breaks with their big silage blades to help keep problem areas back. Here in MI, it is illegal to push snow across the road, but it doesn't bother me unless it is left in the road (happens more than you think), or it causes drifting in a drift prone road. But, if someone was to get hit, hurt, property damaged by a private individual on a public road, they'll be looking to own YOUR possessions. Therefore my employer strongly discourages people from working on the county roads with their own equipment for their own wellbeing. Ross

(quoted from post at 13:00:41 01/12/15) Is it illegal to snowplow township roads? I live in ohio the reason I ask is because next winter I want to try to start snow plowing peoples drives and shoveling sidewalks and my friends dad lives towards the edge of the township and it takes awhile for his road to get cleared and I thought maybe id help him out he lives less than 100 yards to an intersection so it'd only be that far

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You need to ask the legal authority that covers the roads where you live. Asking legal questions here is a sure fire way to get some information that isn't going to be correct. The liability to you can be $$$$erious.

Dup

Thanks again everyone there is some good advice here! I will take it all in thought. Yes I did enjoy that video thank you for posting it!