Lawmakers reject raising chain fines for truckers

[Staff]

State lawmakers are not interested in cracking down on truckers who violate the state's chain law right now.

The House Transportation Committee rejected a proposal to raise the fine from $100 to $500 for truckers who do not put chains on their tires in snowy weather. Violators would also have had two to four points added to their license.

Lawmakers say the state needs to provide safer, well-lit places for truckers to chain up on Interstate 70 before taking such a step. Others say the state is not doing enough to enforce the existing law. Right now, there are a dozen chain areas along I-70.

Lawmakers rejected the bill from Representative Dan Gibbs of Silverthorne but there were not enough votes to kill the bill for the season.

Gibbs says closures are costing ski resorts and mountain businesses an estimated $800,000 an hour in lost business. He says the state transportation department may have some money to add more signs warning truckers about the chain law and providing more places to chain up.

Source: 9NEWS - Home Page