OK, so we haven’t yet had much snow, but we’re supposed to get a bunch of the white stuff this year. And to prepare, D.C. has started posting ads reminding residents to shovel their walks within 24 hours of the end of snowfall. (The ad above, which was something awkwardly applied, was located above a corner store on Sherman Avenue NW.)

What this means, of course, is that we’ll eventually have to discuss whether D.C. needs a stronger shoveling law on the books. The current law dates back to 1922 and makes it damn near impossible for the city to force anyone to shovel their walks or fine them for not doing so. Various legislators have tried to make it easier for city agencies to fine shoveling scofflaws, but the laws are invariably shot down over concerns that seniors and disabled residents would unfairly be targeted.

Interestingly, the ads seem to set a lower bar for shoveling than what the law actually calls for: while they say that property owners should shovel their walks within 24 hours, the law actually says it’s eight daylight hours from the end of the storm.

If shoveling seems boring and tedious, D.C. has a suggestion: form shoveling teams!