Using a scraper to get the previous night’s snow and ice off a car may seem like a hassle for owners of used cars in New Jersey, but a recently signed law will make it a ticketable offense to go without the cleaning.

Governor Jon Corzine recently signed into law a bill that requires drivers to make a “reasonable effort” to remove snow and ice from their vehicles or else face fines of between $25 and $75 dollars, according to the Newark Star-Ledger. Although the law is not enforceable until next year, police in New Jersey as well as other states are already citing drivers using “obstructed vision” statutes.

“We need [the law to affect trucks] because one inch of snow or ice coming off the back of a tractor-trailer packs with it the equivalent force of almost a ton,” State Assemblyman John Wisniewski told the newspaper. He added that the impact can damage windshields.

So-called “peephole driving,” where motorists operating used cars in New Jersey and other states, is difficult to measure in terms of the numbers of accidents caused, but law enforcement agencies throughout the Snow Belt are planning to cite drivers for the practice, reports USA Today.

Halloween isn’t just for the young, although adults tend towards candy-flavored alcohol rather than trawling for sweets. But with the change in trick-or-treating venues comes a need for designated drivers to operate used cars in New York, as well as other vehicles.

The National Retail Foundation reports that orange-and-black-themed parties for adults are becoming more common, and AAA is putting out a call for attendees to consider making one costume-wearer the designated driver.

“Halloween has become an increasingly popular occasion for adults to host and attend parties where alcohol is frequently served,” notes Beth Mosher, AAA spokesperson. By designating a sober driver, or by choosing not to drink alcoholic beverages if driving solo, this p”opular holiday can be less frightening for everyone.”

Since different towns celebrate the holiday on different days, children in costumes could be walking along roads throughout the weekend, increasing the potential for accidents among those who have lessened their awareness. Those who drive used cars in New York, or any vehicles this weekend, may want to consider an overnight stay, or avoiding residential areas.

Drivers operating used cars in New York may find that cell phones with a multitude of features are making it harder to stay focused on the road. Of course, there’s an application for that.

A company called ZoomSafer says that it’s application could help reduce the amount of information and number of alerts for Blackberry users who register for its free service.

“Beyond legislation and education, this is a major milestone in the fight to prevent distracted driving and is a powerful example of how technology is helping make our roads safer,” argues the company’s co-founder, Mike Riemer.

It works by auto-replying to text messages and emails, then limiting the number of alerts that a driver hears while driving, and can also lock the keypad so motorists don’t try to text while driving used cars in New York.

“Driving while distracted should just feel wrong – just as driving without a seat belt or driving while intoxicated,” Federal Transportation Secretary Roy LaHood said, according to an Argusleader.com report. Nationwide efforts have begun to limit the ability for people to text and drive during interstate travel.

Deer have a habit of crossing roadways and affecting drivers of new and used cars in New York. Some recent stories point to a need to watch out for other animals as well.

A family driving to California thought they had struck a coyote while driving approximately 75 miles per hour, and fully believed that the animal had not survived the encounter, according to KCRA.com. Instead, after more than eight hours of driving, they found that the coyote had survived with no injuries after becoming lodged in the engine compartment.

“No broken bones, no internal injuries — nothing,” Daniel East told the website, adding that the animal only had a few scrapes on one of his paws.

Still, drivers of used cars in New York should be wary of animals that may collide with moving cars, as well as those who may look to recently shut-off vehicles for warmth during the winter months.

A bear set off a car alarm in rural Colorado when it was looking for food, and authorities told the Denver Post that many have learned how to open car doors.

The new head of the Metropolitan Transit Authority in New York City is Jay H. Walder, the creator of a congestion pricing system in London, and observers have noted the renewed possibility of congestion pricing for drivers of new and used cars in New York.

It’s a system that advocates say relieves rush hour traffic by charging drivers different rates at toll points based on the number of vehicles in an area, and a commentary on Cars.com casts doubt on some of the benefits. While it has been proven to improve traffic flow by limiting the numbers of cars at peak hours, there may be less of an environmental impact because of the decreased usage of mass transit options.

A Wall Street Journal editorial noted that a traffic program that made sense in city like New York would include tolls on all bridges and impose costs for parking curbside throughout the metropolitan area. As the Cars.com piece noted, doing so could increase the number of people who use mass transit to commute into New York City.

While previous debates have had little effect on the problem, owners of used cars in New York may want to factor potential tolls and parking costs into the budget for their next vehicle.