Stay Safe, Avoid a Ticket: Colorado Cracks Down on Traction Law and Passenger Vehicle Chain Law

Winter driving conditions in Colorado are a serious force to be reckoned with. Semi-trucks aren’t the only vehicles accountable for the use of chains and proper tires on Colorado highways, anymore, and with good reason. As Mayor Michael Hancock wrote in regards to The Denver Vision Zero Action Plan, 
“Traffic deaths and severe injuries are unacceptable and preventable, and safety must be the most important consideration for every Denver street.”
Passenger vehicle drivers like yourself are now responsible for knowing and complying with the Traction and Passenger Vehicle Chain Laws. Don’t worry though, we’re here to make sure you’re compliant, safe, and secure!

Cars that are unable to properly grip the roads slow down traffic and slip easily on snow and ice. Did you know that you can be fined more than $130 if you don’t have the proper equipment on your vehicle and the Colorado Department of Transportation, or CDOT, issues an active Traction Law, also known as Code 15? That fine increases to $650 if you’re blocking the roadway because you’re lacking traction on your tires. Ouch.

If CDOT issues an active Traction Law, or Code 15, they will post signs to notify drivers. You can also click here to sign up for text or email alerts and customize them to your neighborhood and preferences. 

Under Traction Law, “motorists must have either snow tires, tires with the mud/snow (M+S) designation, or a four-wheel/all-wheel drive vehicle. All tires must have a minimum one-eighth inch tread.” (CDOT) Alternatively, you can install chains or other traction devices (like AutoSock) on your vehicle so that you are in compliance with the law if your tires don’t have adequate tread.

To reiterate, if you're not driving a four-wheel or all-wheel drive vehicle, all-weather tires do not meet the tire requirement under the Traction Law. They must have a mud and snow rating, which is normally designated on the sidewall of the tire with "M+S" or "M&S." If you are driving a four-wheel or all-wheel drive vehicle, all-weather/all-season tires meet the requirement if all four tires have a minimum one-eighth inch tread. View CDOT’s Passenger Vehicle Traction & Chain Laws frequently asked questions here.

The Quarter Test

You may have heard of this trick before: The Quarter Test. This will let you measure your tire tread with ease. You’ll want to see that the quarter fits nicely between the treads.
  • Insert a quarter into the tire tread upside down, Washington’s head first.
  • If the top of George’s head is covered by the tread, your tires are OK
  • If the top of his head is visible at any point around the tire, your tires won’t meet the Traction Law minimum, and you should consider new tires.
  • Remember to do this test at multiple points around each tire.

 CDOT has broadcasted their efforts to crack down on motorists who don’t have the proper tires or chains when traveling during winter driving conditions. During severe storms in Colorado, you will now be ticketed if your vehicle does not have chains or an alternative traction device (like AutoSock).

 If winter weather conditions weren’t already deterring you from taking a drive without the proper equipment, these fines will! Remember, it’s $130 for not having the proper equipment or more than $650 for blocking the roadway.

Stevinson Automotive has been helping customers accommodate their vehicles for winter driving conditions in Colorado since 1962. That’s over 55 winters, so we know how to help. Our Service and Parts Department employees are well-educated on the best tires, tools, and resources for your vehicle, and always look forward to getting you geared up for winter driving because then we’re all safer on the roads.

Feel free to call or stop by any one of our dealerships with questions about your vehicle’s safety, or about getting new tires, chains, or advice on traction devices:

Find alternative traction devices like AutoSock here!
780 Indiana Street, Lakewood, CO 80401 - (303) 277-0550

444 South Havana St, Aurora, CO 80012 – (303) 340-2170

801 Denver West Colorado Mills Blvd., Lakewood, CO 80401- (303)277-9339

8337 Raspberry Way, Frederick, CO 80504 – (303)772-5999

5500 South Broadway, Littleton, CO 80121 – (303) 794-3550

15000 W. Colfax Avenue, Lakewood, CO 80401 – (303) 279-3311

600 South Main Street, Longmont, CO 80501 – (303) 651-2623

Find a Stevinson Dealership in Your Neighborhood


Traffic Facts Courtesy of Colorado Department of Transportation: 

• At 60 MPH on snowy pavement, winter tires require 310 ft. to stop. All-season tires require more than double that (668 ft.).
• In 2014, one of the worst traffic delays on the I-70 Mountain Corridor was caused by unprepared motorists. Severe delays were caused by 22 vehicles spinning out and causing crashes — 19 of those vehicles had worn tires.
• Traffic accidents — not the volume of traffic — account for as much as 60 percent of all traffic delays.
• A crash that only takes 10 minutes to clear can delay traffic for an hour.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to Prepare Your Vehicle for Rainy Weather

Image
You and your car survived the cold mornings of the winter, and while we're not all driving with the windows down quite yet, spring is well on its way. Before breathing that sigh of relief and going on your way, spend some time preparing for the road ahead. The following steps are crucial in keeping you safe on the road during spring rains.  Inspect Windshield Wipers During the winter, windshield wipers can stick to the windshield and tear before breaking free, and even if your wipers look fine, the rubber is easily deteriorated in warmer weather. Don’t let damaged wipers catch you off guard when the spring rains hit. Inspect your wipers and replace them if they look damaged or worn. If you need help with this, stop by any Stevinson Automotive dealership in your area for assessment, parts, and installation. Inspect Tires Your tires were fine before winter. Several months and possibly thousands of miles later, your tires may not be in such good shape now...
Read more

Stevinson Automotive + the Denver Rescue Mission

Image
It was a bitter cold Wednesday morning in Lakewood, Colorado when Stevinson Automotive hosted two individuals from the Denver Rescue Missio n, Blake Nauman and Jordan Smith. They have both dedicated their careers to serving people who are experiencing homelessness, and they visited Kent Stevinson and the Stevinson corporate office to conduct an interview for their newsletter featuring Kent Stevinson, a donor to the Denver Rescue Mission. It may seem an odd coupling; a family-owned automotive corporation featured in the newsletter of the Denver Rescue Mission, but the Stevinson family has actually been involved with the organization for decades, since around 1970. Before diving into the interview questions, we reflected on how awful the past weekend must have been for those without a home, considering we experienced about five inches of snow across Denver. Denver has experienced an almost four percent rise in homelessness since the last count in 2016, according to a new repo...
Read more

Ask a Technician: What Should I Do When the Warning Light on My Dashboard Comes On?

Image
Q. The warning light came on my dashboard, should I panic and drive straight to the mechanic? A. First, don’t panic. The “check engine” warning light is simply a general alarm. How it looks and what it means varies from car to car. It might be a yellow or red light or just a little engine symbol. No matter what it looks like, all it lets you know is that the computer that monitors your car has determined that some component of your car is not working properly. That problem can be a minor one or a major one. It could indicate something as simple as a loose fuel cap, especially if you’ve recently refueled. Stop the car in a safe place, turn off the engine, and tighten the gas cap until you hear two or three clicks. Sometimes, that does the trick. But if it doesn’t, you need to take your car in for a diagnostic evaluation. Don’t worry; they’re generally painless. As a Stevinson general rule of thumb, if your check engine light comes on and stays on, you should take your...
Read more