The mayor of the Colorado town of Vail is seeking to dramatically increase fines for truckers who violate the state’s chain law.
In a January 7, 2025, Vail Town Council meeting, Mayor Travis Coggin called for action to be taken to dramatically increase fines for truckers who fail to chain up.
Coggin called on Colorado lawmakers to increase monetary penalties for violations of the state’s Commercial Motor Vehicle Chain Law after a December 30, 2024, incident during which several trucks became stuck on eastbound I-70 through Vail Pass after passing a chain up station amid winter weather conditions. The stuck trucks resulted in a road closure of more than three hours, Vail Daily reported.
“Clearly five hundred bucks does not change anyone’s mind. I think I saw on the Vail Daily the other day that the first snowstorm, twelve truckers had blown by … It’s offensive to our community, and I would like to see if we can get Eagle, Summit, Clear Creek, Jefferson, Lake, and Pitkin Counties, including every other municipality in between who is on I-70. Because there needs to be points, or there needs to be a $20,000 fine,” said Coggin.
“They just need the political willpower to do it, and it is decades past time,” Coggin concluded.
Current Colorado law sets the penalty for non-compliance with winter driving restrictions for commercial vehicle drivers at up to a $500 fine plus a $79 surcharge or, if the vehicle is stuck and blocking any traveled portion of the roadway the fine is $ 1000 plus a $157 surcharge.
Last year, Colorado enacted expanded chain law requirements and added commercial vehicle lane restrictions to I-70. The law expands the number of roadways where truckers are required to carry chains during the fall, winter, and early spring. It also prohibits truck travel in the far left lane of I-70, with exceptions. You can click here to learn about recent changes to Colorado chain law.