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Zero Tolerance: Truckers Get Ticketed For Not Carrying Chains In High Country

VAIL PASS, Colo. (CBS4) - There is a wintry side to this storm system but you have to climb pretty high in elevation to find it. Some of Colorado's high country above 10,000 feet will pick up close to a foot or more of snow before all is said and done, according to CBS4 Meteorologist Chris Spears, and truckers better be prepared or they could pay the price.

By law truckers and commercial vehicles must carry chains between Sept. 1 and May 31 on Interstate 70 over the mountains. Police and state troopers were inspecting trucks Wednesday on Vail Pass. If they didn't have chains they were cited with a $67 ticket. While CBS4's Matt Kroschel was there he witnessed plenty of truckers get ticketed as troopers had a zero tolerance policy.

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The truckers either didn't know about the law or thought they could sneak by without chains.

"Pretty much zero tolerance, you really need to have them this time of the year," a Vail police officer said.

Along the I-70 mountain corridor conditions can change in seconds.

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"You get one truck that can't get up it and it's a chain effect and everyone stops. Once you stop, once you lose the momentum, it's over. You've got to chain up," truck driver Steve Meehan said. "I'm a local Colorado native. I know we have to have them. But a guy from Florida might not know and that's all it takes."

A driver from Michigan was slapped with a fine for not obeying the law meant to help keep traffic moving safely this winter.

"Once they lose traction they jackknife, they close down traffic here for what could be hours," the Vail officer said.

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A proposed law failed to pass in Colorado last year that would have made all drivers carry chains or have snow tires if they planned on traveling I-70 through the mountains. Gov. John Hickenlooper supported the legislation that will be proposed again next legislative session.

LINK: CDOT Information On Chain Laws

 

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