Police hand out record number of tickets to Montreal drivers in ‘snow igloos’

Quebec police say they have handed out a record number of tickets to drivers taking to the road without cleaning snow from their vehicles.

Montreal police (SPVM) officers gave out more than 2,300 tickets to drivers travelling in “snow igloos” in 2025.

Numbers for driving too fast or without winter tires in the snow were also high.

These fines start at $60, plus costs, along with two demerit points.

Igloos, igloos everywhere

Drivers who head out without clearing the accumulated snow from their vehicle, including the roof and hood, can be fined up to $360.

There are three categories of ‘snow iglood’ fines.

The SPVM says its officers ticketed 1,174 drivers in 2025 for travelling with snow or ice that could fall and pose a danger to other drivers.

That number is far above those in 2024 (489), 2023 (1,011) and 2022 (608).

In 2021, when police began recording the infraction, officers handed out 1,182 tickets.

• READ MORE: Video captures Montreal driver clearing ‘mobile igloo’ at stop light

Officers also gave out a record number of tickets to drivers who did not clear their windshields in 2025: 699.

In 2024, the SPVM handed out 338 tickets for windshields or windows not cleared of snow.

The previous record was in 2018 when 600 drivers were cited.

• READ MORE: Don’t drive a ‘mobile igloo’ – clear the ice and snow off your car, SAAQ reminds

The 504 drivers ticketed last year for obscured lights, headlights or reflectors is also above the 10-year average of 434.

In 2021, 606 drivers were given fines. The numbers were 600 in 2016 and 532 in 2015.

“For real, a mobile igloo on the road puts everyone at risk,” the SPVM said. “Driving a vehicle in snow is dangerous and prohibited. Take the time to shovel and defrost your car before you leave.”

A recent video posted to social media warns of fines, showing a woman in a car covered in snow avoiding the police officers’ eyes.

She eventually gets a ticket.

Failed to change tires

After a record number of infractions for drivers without proper winter tires on their vehicles in 2024 (687), fines in 2025 were down to 382, which is still higher than any year since 2008.

The 2025 statistic is in line with the three-year span between 2018 and 2021, when 374, 317 and 310 tickets were handed out.

Slow down, it’s slippery

When conditions include reduced visibility or when roads are uncleared or slippery, drivers are required to reduce their speed.

In 2025, a record 37 tickets were issued to those who did not reduce speed, which was higher than any year since 2015.

In addition, 246 drivers picked up tickets for not slowing down on slippery or uncleared roads, more than triple the number from 2024 (77).

In 2017, 277 drivers were ticketed for the same, and 290 were given out a year later in 2018.