Dot Chain Laws by State
It is illegal for any person to drive a motor vehicle, whether an emergency vehicle or another vehicle, without traction devices, tyre chains or winter tyres on a road or motorway in icy or snowy conditions if the motorway is marked or signposted by signs indicating the requirement for traction devices, winter chains or tyres. Oregon law applies to all highways in the state. The signs tell you when to wear chains and when to use them. You need to have six chains on hand to meet Oregon requirements. If you drive a vehicle on the Sterling Highway, you are not allowed to use chains from May 1 to September 15. Utah – requires commercial vehicles weighing more than 10,000 tire chains to be available between November 1 and 1. April on the following routes: Level 1: If conditions are dangerous, the journey may be limited to vehicles with tire chains, vehicles with sufficient winter tires or four-wheel drive vehicles. Joel Waidner, a Schuster truck driver, told FreightWaves that he has weathered several winter storms in Colorado with previous companies. Depending on how much snow it took when it was time to chain up, Waidner said it took him about 45 minutes to an hour. According to the Washington Chain Act, “all vehicles with a total laden weight of 10,000 pounds or more must carry at least two additional chains in the event that road conditions require the use of more chains or if the chains used are broken or rendered unusable.” You are allowed to use chains on highways from October 15 to April 15. Drivers can be cited by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and fined for violating the channel law, but the CHP did not respond to FreightWaves` questions about the fines. Montana — If the Montana Department of Transportation determines that roads are dangerous due to winter conditions — drivers must meet these requirements: If you`re driving in different states in winter weather, be safe in the first place — but also make sure you`re prepared for state laws.
Utah`s DOT has the power to restrict traffic between Oct. 1 and April 30 to vehicles that operate chains or at least have them in your possession. You must install four or more chains on the tires of the “drive wheel”. A Class B fine of up to $1,000 can be imposed for violating channel laws. Step 1: All single-axle station wagons have chains, and trucks must also have chains on all four tires. Under the Level 1 Act, commercial vehicles must be equipped with chains or winter tires. Wyoming – There are two levels where strings are required in Wyoming. These include: CDLLife has compiled information about channel laws from one state to another using information that first appeared on the ATBS website: Only four-wheel drive or four-wheel drive vehicles with winter tires, as well as vehicles with approved chains, are allowed on the following routes if chain requirements exist: Michigan – Chains are required when snow, ice or other winter conditions are present. Even if you have chains, they can`t touch the pavement. From September 1 to May 31, all trucks may be required at higher altitudes at any time if conditions require it.
Trucks must also carry adequate chains on I-70 when traveling between mile 259 outside of Golden, CO and mile 133 in Dotsero, CO. If you are arrested and do not have chains on your truck, the fine is $50 plus an additional $16. Chains may be required in Maryland when a snow emergency is declared. Snow emergencies can be reported for individual roads or nationwide. Travel – with the exception of motorcycles – is prohibited on any road designated as an emergency lane for vehicles and appropriately marked when a snow emergency is in effect, unless the vehicle is equipped with chains or winter tires on at least one wheel at each end of a driving axle. The driver of a commercial vehicle shall affix tyre chains on at least two (2) drive wheels of the vehicle to opposite ends of the same driving axle if the vehicle is required to use tyre chains in accordance with this paragraph. Winter is fast approaching, which means that higher areas are already receiving snow. Therefore, this is an important time for truckers to familiarize themselves with the laws on chains in the states that normally operate them.
Nothing in state laws specifically deals with winter tires or tire chains. However, the New Hampshire Driver`s Manual on the official New Hampshire website recommends tire chains in slippery conditions. So we can assume that they are good for walking in bad weather. Commercial truck drivers have a tough job, especially when winter storms set in. Many states require drivers to use chains for better traction and safer driving. The following states have some of the strictest chain laws in the country, based on various factors. Overall, Colorado seems to have the strictest chain law. The rest of the top five states are not listed in any particular order.
The weather is starting to get a little cooler in the U.S. and some of the higher elevations are starting to see snow. That means it`s time to refresh the channel laws in the states you run regularly. One of your truck chains has something in common with a baby hippopotamus, a standard bag with concrete, and a Hellfire rocket: all four weigh about 100 pounds. Studded tires are legal in Oregon from November 1 to March 31. Because of the damage that studded tires can cause on the roads, ODOT encourages drivers to use them only when needed. Here you will find information on the placement of chains or traction tires. Any driver who causes a wreck or blocks traffic if he or she does not comply with the above laws on a limited-access highway will be fined up to $1,000.
California does not require trucks to transport the chains for a certain period of time. However, when weather conditions hit, a minimum of eight chains are required for a standard semi-trailer configuration to comply with regulations. Kentucky – You are not allowed to enter icy roads with chains on your tires unless the wheel rests on a 6″ wide ice skate. However, when chains are used, the cross chains should not be more than 3/4 inch thick. They should be spaced 10 inches apart around the tire. South Dakota`s DOT has the power to restrict travel on the roads. Signs will warn you of these restrictions. Failure to comply with the restrictions could result in a conviction for a Class 2 offence.
Tire chains or “sufficient traction devices” are allowed. You don`t have to wait for the signs to tell you to put on your chains.
