New Chain Laws aim to reduce mountain traffic snarls and dangers

DUMONT, Colo. (KDVR) — Big changes are now being enforced when it comes to the chain laws that Commercial Motor Vehicles must follow.

Even though it was warm in the town of Dumont along Interstate 70 with no chance of snow, several big rig drivers were cited for not having cold weather chains on Friday.

Under the Mandatory Chain Carry law, Commercial Motor Vehicles must carry chains between Sept. 1 and May 31.

Chain checks are part of an effort to make sure CMVS are carrying chains.

“ You might wonder, as beautiful a day as we have today, what we are out here talking about chain law. We’ve already had our first snow in Colorado. Our storms are right behind we want our commercial vehicles to be prepared,” CDOT Deputy Executive Director Herman Stockinger said.

The new Chain Carry Law applies to all of I-70 from Morrison to the Utah state line. The previous law applied to only portions of the interstate.

Another big change has to do with the inclusion of a large amount of mountain corridors like US 40 and US 285.

“That’s a lot of our big mountain passes where we tend to have a lot of problems because of heavy snow and at the end of the day chains help keep trucks moving and that’s a big win for Colorado,” CSP Col. Matthew Packard said.

CSP also pointed out that CMVS must now also stay out of the left lane in some parts of I-70 when the chain law is in effect.

Chains do more than keep 18-wheelers from getting stuck said Jason Emery who is the owner of Excel Driving School which trains truck drivers.

“Once you lose traction you can spin out, you can jackknife you can have all kinds of different issues related to it which is what leads to bigger problems on the roadway,” Emery said.

Troopers say chains could dramatically reduce highway headaches and make driving a lot safer in the most treacherous of times.

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