Colorado lawmakers have passed legislation aimed at increasing compliance with the state’s chain requirements by allowing private companies to install chains on commercial and passenger vehicles for a fee.
SB 69 recently passed through the Colorado General Assembly and is headed to the desk of Governor Jared Polis to be signed into law.
The bill creates a permit to be issued by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to allow private companies to install or remove tire chains for a fee at specific locations designated by the permit. The bill includes a provision requiring that individuals installing tire chains or alternate traction devices wear reflective clothing and use appropriate signs and traffic control devices.
SB 69 is intended to reduce winter weather closures along the I-70 Mountain Corridor and other roadways caused by drivers who get spun-out or stuck after failing to chain up as required by state law.
“One of the things I hear from law enforcement on the corridor is that people aren’t putting chains on because they don’t know how or they don’t want to do it themselves. Authorizing these third-party vendors to station themselves isn’t going to stop every crash and every delay, but it’s definitely going to cut down on them,” bill sponsor Sen. Dylan Roberts told the Aspen Times.
Under Colorado state law, commercial vehicles with a declared gross vehicle weight rating of 16,001 pounds or more are required to carry sufficient chains from September 1 — May 31 each year in the following areas:
- I-70 west of mile marker 259 (Morrison)
- State Highway 9 from mile marker 63 to 97 (Frisco to Fairplay)
- U.S. Route 40 west of mile marker 256 (Empire)
- U.S. Route 50 west of mile marker 225 (Salida)
- U.S. Route 160 west of mile marker 304 (Walsenburg)
- U.S. Route 285 west of mile marker 250 (Morrison)
- U.S. Route 550 — Entire route
