Latest I-70 chain law crackdown in Colorado sets record for temporary driving bans issued to violators 

This past week’s chain law enforcement operations on the Interstate 70 mountain corridor saw a significant number of commercial vehicles forced out of service for violations. 

Colorado State Patrol (CSP) held its weekly multi-agency enforcement operation on this corridor on April 3. Between the four agencies that reported their enforcement results before the Friday deadline — CSP, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Parachute Police Department, and Vail Police Department — officers made contact with 220 commercial vehicles and gave out 14 total citations to those that failed to comply with the state’s chain law.

The law requires all commercial vehicle drivers to carry chains from Sept. 1 to May 31, regardless of weather conditions. Unprepared drivers have been the cause of several delays and closures on the I-70 mountain corridor, which have lasted up to nine hours during winter months.

For the first time since CSP began its weekly chain law enforcement, the government agency reported that seven commercial vehicles have been temporarily prohibited from continuing operations after being cited for violations.

The violations may or may not be for failing to comply with the chain law, according to CSP Trooper Sherri Mendez. Commercial vehicles can be placed out of service for several safety violations including defective brakes, steering, lighting, or if a driver has violated their hours of service.

This is not the first time a commercial vehicle has been placed out of service as part of the agency’s weekly enforcement operations, though it was included in the published results because of the higher volume of cases. Previous enforcement days have recorded no more than four suspensions for violations, and sometimes none at all, Mendez said. 

“I thought it was really significant because seven is a lot of trucks to put out of service,” she said. “Looking back, there would be one vehicle out of service for some (dates).”

The commercial vehicles will be allowed to operate once the violation is corrected.

The maximum fine for violators of the chain law in Colorado is currently $1,150. Gov. Jared Polis told reporters in March that he would be “very open to increasing the penalties” on vehicles traveling without chains or adequate tire traction on mountain roads.

In March, the town of Vail approved a winter “emergency ordinance” with fines of $1,500 for drivers caught without chains on Vail Pass. City council members also passed an ordinance implementing a $2,650 fine for commercial vehicle drivers who spin out and block the roadway because of chain law violations.

Troopers and other participating agencies also gave out 41 passenger vehicle citations during the April 3 enforcement operation, 23 of which were for speeding.

The next CSP multi-agency enforcement operation will be held on Wednesday, April 9.