The South Dakota Department of Transportation reminds people to be mindful of where they deposit excess snow.
Craig Smith, the director of operations, said misplacing excess snow can be dangerous.
“Snow piles can restrict sight distance, as well as present an extreme hazard if a vehicle leaves the roadway” he said. “Snow piles that remain adjacent to the road may cause additional drifting and visibility problems posing more safety hazards to travelers, as well as additional expenses for manpower and equipment to remove the illegally dumped snow.”
Placing extra snow on highway right-of-way, including driving surfaces, shoulders, and ditches, is illegal. Violating this law counts as a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Offenders can face up to a year in jail, $2,000 in fines, or both. They are also responsible for the costs of removing the snow.
Additionally, the SDDOT encourages people to take responsibility for the snow at the ends of driveways and around mailboxes.