Colorado Chain Law

[bth9461]

I would take a Brad for sure. Don't want to lease anyone really. Long trips are for 10 cars, plus its chain season, which means no west coast runs for my truck unless it pays big money. I had to put a new well in at the house, new drive tires, fenders, front brakes, so that kind've ruined my trailer purchase ability for this month. Lumber tarps will work all day for these cars.

I forgot about that (chains), I am coming back East bound on I70 in CO, they have signs up every 50 miles saying Chains sept 1 to May?. We don't need no stinking chains in the East. The only chains I carry are for chaining stuff to the Trailer. My TRUCK is overheating on the Grades and their worried about ice:confused:.

I did not see any signs the day before on 76/70/25 or any of the state Hwy's.

Hey I like to play in the Snow, but mid Sept is a little too early for me to be thinking Snow.

Brian

[LBZ]

I was going to ask you the other night if you were carrying chains as they will write tickets for not having them onboard. At least that is what I was told.

They really throw a fit when there is a truck that slips off the road w/o chains. Thinking it is $1500 fine plus the tow.

[haulin rv]

Colorado Chain Law

Road Conditions: 511 or (303) 639-1111(out of state)/877-315-7623 (in state)
Colorado Chain-up Requirements

Chain law applies to commercial vehicles- if the truck has a gross weight rating of 10,001 lbs and the combined vehicle weight rating (truck and trailer) is 26,001 lbs, if the truck has a weight rating of 26,001 lbs, or if the vehicle is designed to carry 16 or more passengers (including the driver).

Drivers are required to carry chains on I 70 from mile marker 163 to mile marker 259 from September 1st through May 31st. If you are caught on this stretch of road during these dates without chains, you may be fined $50 plus $13 surcharge ($73).

New Fines! If chain law is in effect but you choose not to put chains on, you may be fined $500 plus $157 surcharge ($657). If chain law is in effect but you choose not to put chains on and you wind up blocking the road, you maybe fined $1000 plus $313 surcharge ($1,313).

Colorado has two levels of Chain Law they enforce.

Level I Chain Law:
All single-axle combination vehicles must chain up. This means if the truck has only a single drive axle (as opposed to duals), chains are required. All drive tires must be chained.

Level II Chain Law:
Chains are required for all commercial vehicles.

[bth9461]

I was going to ask you the other night if you were carrying chains as they will write tickets for not having them onboard. At least that is what I was told.

They really throw a fit when there is a truck that slips off the road w/o chains. Thinking it is $1500 fine plus the tow.

Hey I was sweating my ass off tarping on Tuesday, It still Summer to me, it never occured to me to be thinking chains. I never go that far west during Snow Season.

They had plenty of chances to get me. They Scale Housed me twice, yup on 70 after I got over the passes (also on I25 the day before). A trooper stopped by and play 20 questions with me outside the Tunnel, while I was cooling down also. I did not want to go into the tunnel running Hot so I stopped.

Sometimes you just get lucky, I won't forget the next time.:D

Brian

[h2oskibumz]

That law Haulin quoted is about a year old, and I think the previous law was Oct1 to April 1 and they extended it a month on each end. WAY overkill.

I have a snowbird that goes to Edwards (10 miles west of Vail) every year in May and comes out in late Sept. The first year or two I did them the chain law didn't affect me in or out.

In the fall of '09 I couldn't go get the car legally. Yep, it was 80 degrees in Denver. I ended up parking at the airport and paying $23 or something to take a Rocky Mountain Express shuttle bus up. Drove the car back to the airport and loaded it.

In fairness, it WAS snowing when I came out of the tunnel... but no where near needing chains! Its pure BS that they can ticket you for not "displaying your bling". Check the forecast, if there is any chance you'll need them, fine, but...

[LBZ]

There were some decent cars going to Denver this week but passed on them because of the chain law. Didn't know how they enforced it & have full fenders over the tandems. Not sure if I could even get chains on the tires & don't own any. Would a couple of old 25' freight chains work?:)

[bth9461]

There were some decent cars going to Denver this week but passed on them because of the chain law. Didn't know how they enforced it & have full fenders over the tandems. Not sure if I could even get chains on the tires & don't own any. Would a couple of old 25' freight chains work?:)

I wonder if the tire socks are legal? Or insta chains?

Is Vegas Max on here? I think he has insta-chains on his FL.

[LBZ]

Am going to move the chain part of the conversation out of Tosch's employee thread. Every year am always referring to what their law is or is not. Although it seems that you can only run out there w/o chains over the 4th of July...

Colorado
Colorado Motor Carriers Association
4060 Elati Street
Denver, CO 80216
O: (303) 443-3375
F: (303) 477-6977
Patti Olsgard – Director of Safety
Patti@cmca.com

The Colorado chain law may be viewed at www.cotrip.org/.

Summary:

Chains are required on every state, federal or interstate highway.
Metal chains must have at least nine (9) cross links.
Driver may be fined for not chaining when required.
Additional fines if unchained vehicle blocks roadway.
Two level chain restrictions:
Single axle tractor trailers must chain all four drive tires (cables are not authorized).
Chains required for all commercial motor vehicles.
ATDs are authorized.
Cables must be at least 0.415″ diameter.
Further information is available from CDOT in a pamphlet called “Chain up Tips” or by calling the Public Information Office at (303) 757-9228. Road condition information is at (303) 639-1111.

Difficult passes in Colorado include Rabbit Ears Pass on US 40, Vail and Loveland on I-70, Raton on I-25, and Monarch on US 50.

[ETS]

What are ATDs?

[haulin rv]

Alternate traction devices

[ETS]

LOL, ok. What would that be?

Do they have to be chains? Is there a brand of cables that are legal to run?

[haulin rv]

http://www.coloradodot.info/library/Brochures/ChainTips.pdf

[bth9461]

LOL, ok. What would that be?

Do they have to be chains? Is there a brand of cables that are legal to run?

Auto sock is a fabric material, and the Insta-chain (they are super expensive) appear to be legal.

[LBZ]

http://www.coloradodot.info/library/Brochures/ChainTips.pdf

Thanks for posting that! Should have grabbed those cars last week! When I read it, it all came back to me about the dates & mile markers.

I draw my line in the sand on 25 anyway. ;)

[Haul-A-Round]

I have a 3/4 ton 4dr. ford short bed , single rear wheel,will be pulling a 16' car hauler with 1 suzuki samurai and 2 atv's on it. guess this will apply to this truck also. not for hire either.

[ColoradoRVHauler]

Not overkill at all. I remember back a few years ago, Denver had 17 inches of snow on Sept. the 7th. The yoyo's without chains on I70 were all crossed up and stuck. So they had to close I70 for about 24 hours till they got all the idiots without chains off of the hills. In the Colorado mountains expect it to possibly snow from Sept 1st to June 1st. No not snow inches. Sometimes it snows feet.

Yes this year it has been warm, doesnt mean next year it will be.

Carey


Auto sock is a fabric material, and the Insta-chain (they are super expensive) appear to be legal.

Both legal and work very well

[pmmjarrett]

Hang Iron baby,,,, You can be fined up to $5000 in Yosemity national park:eek:

Dang, didn't know it changed to sept to carry. Gonna have to put the rack on the truck and get some new iron.

Might wanna get some for my wheelchair too. (http://www.tirechain.com/Wheel-Chair-Tire-Chains.htm)

[littlejoe]

you mean to tell me those idiots in colorado get more snow than we do in michigan????? hell if we are caught with snow chains on here ,we get fined for it . Besides that we know how to drive here I guess!!!!!!!!! (unlike those oxygen depraved morons in colorado)


Joe