Heading to the mountains for the holidays? There is a new traction law that may affect you. Here’s what you need to know to avoid a ticket.
New Rules
All drivers traveling the I-70 stretch between Morrison and Dotsero from September 1 through May 31 must now be ready for the possibility of snow, whether or not it is actively snowing. To be in compliance, your car must have snow, mud, or all-season tires with adequate tread, or carry tire modifiers (snow socks, auto-socks, or chains) to be installed when the weather turns nasty.
All-wheel drive and four-wheel drive vehicles are exempt from the snow tire/modifier requirement, but they must now have tires with tread depths of 3/16 inch, up from 1/8 inch.
Don’t Be Unprepared
Being unprepared for winter is now a traffic infraction on this stretch of I-70. Non-compliant drivers may face a $100 ticket with a $32 surcharge. However, if a driver’s unpreparedness causes one or more lanes of traffic to be closed, the fine goes up steeply: $500 with a $156 surcharge.
The point of the law is to prevent accidents, injuries, and traffic delays on this notoriously dangerous stretch of road. Compliance checkpoints are being considered. Be prepared!
Article by Molly Fuscher
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