State of Colorado updated chain law goes into effect on Saturday, September 1, 2007, instituting a “must-carry” requirement and increasing the penalties for violating the chain law.

The law, updated this year by the Legislature, will:

• Require Tire Chains on Interstate 70. Commercial vehicles operating on I-70 between mile 163 (Edward exit) and mile 259 (Morrison exit) from September 1 to May 31 must carry sufficient chains to be in compliance with the Colorado chain law. This law will be enforced only through a Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance certified inspection and will not preclude a commercial vehicle from complying with the Colorado chain law as adopted by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT).
• Increase fines for violating Colorado’s chain law. Commercial truck drivers who do not carry chains along the Interstate 70 Corridor between Edwards (mile 163) and Morrison Road (mile 259) during the specified season will be fined $50 plus a $17 surcharge. The fine for not chaining up when the chain law is in effect is $500 with a $157 surcharge. The fine for not chaining and subsequently blocking the highway is $1000 plus a $313 surcharge.

“This new law, along with increased enforcement and penalties for violating it, should help increase mobility and overall travel along the I-70 corridor,” says CDOT’s Region One Transportation Director Jeff Kullman. “We’ll also have additional and safer chain-up and down areas. With the number of corridor users - recreational, commuters and motor carriers - this is all part of our goal at improving traffic flows on I-70.”

In addition to the existing chain stations along the corridor, CDOT currently is constructing or adding parking spaces at several more locations to provide a safer environment for chain-up or chain removal. On eastbound I-70, new and/or expanded sites include the Frisco Scenic Overlook (mile 203), east of Silverthorne Interchange (mile 205), Herman Gulch (mile 219-east of Eisenhower Tunnel), west of the Twin Tunnels (mile 241-east of Idaho Springs) and El Rancho (mile 251). New and/or expanded sites on westbound I-70 include Denver West (mile 263), west of C-470 (mile 260), Buffalo Overlook (mile 254), Georgetown (mile 228), west of Bakerville Interchange (mile 221) and west of the Eisenhower Tunnel (mile 213).

Colorado’s chain law applies to all state, federal and interstate highways and was initially enacted in 1996. It includes two levels for commercial vehicles. Chain Law Level 1 requires all single drive axle combinations commercial vehicles* to chain up. All four drive wheels must be chained; cables are not permitted as an alternate traction device. All other commercial vehicles must have snow tires or chains. Level 1 may be implemented any time there is snow covering any part of the traveled portion of pavement on an ascending grade. Chain Law Level 2 requires all commercial vehicles to chain up. Auto transports must comply to the extent possible without causing damage to hydraulic lines. Buses must chain two drive wheels to comply. Level 2 may be implemented any time there is snow covering the entire traveled portion of pavement on an ascending grade or when driving conditions dictate this level is necessary to protect safety and minimize closures.

*Colorado’s chain law defines commercial vehicles as being used in commerce to transport passengers or property and fitting into one of the following categories:

• Gross combination weight rating of 26,001 or more lbs. inclusive of a towed unit which has a gross vehicle weight ration of more than 10,000 lbs
• Gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 or more lbs
• Designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver