September usually signals the first snowstorms in Colorado, and with weather forecasters predicting an early winter, truckers need to make sure their chains are ready for the season.

Truckers traveling on I-70 and other mountain corridors through Colorado should make sure they have chains or adequate cables for the truck. The Colorado State Patrol has already indicated they plan on aggressively enforcing the Chain Law to reduce road closures. Last year, the Colorado DOT reported 17 road closures on I-70 with 15 of the closures caused by trucks without chains who jackknifed or spun out.
Truck drivers caught violating Colorado's chain law face a $100 fine. The fine could increase to $500 if the lack of chains causes the truck to block the highway.
The Colorado Motor Carriers Assn. has been working with state officials to identify additional chain-up areas, add more variable message signs, and provide improved traveler information to truck drivers on road conditions.
The CMCA supports a measure proposed by the State Patrol that will allow a $500 fine if a truck driver ignores the chain law and causes a closure of one or more lanes. Current law allows the higher fine to be assessed only if the lack of chains closes all lanes in one direction. The State Patrol says a truck without chains often jackknifes and block two of the three travel lanes, causing enormous traffic backups. In such cases the State Patrol could write a fine of only $100.
For more information on Colorado's chain law, go to www.dot.state.co.us/businesscenter/permits/trucks/commchains.asp.