Chain enforcement operation in Oregon results in dozens of citations with fines as high as $880

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) released results from a recent chain check operation that resulted in dozens of citations for commercial vehicle drivers.

Last week, ODOT’s Commerce and Compliance Division officers conducted a a chain enforcement operation at OR 140, Lake of the Woods Highway, “to make sure commercial vehicles were prepared for challenging travel conditions.”

The six and a half hour operation yielded six warnings and 33 citations, including 29 citations for failure to use chains when required.

Under Oregon law, all truck drivers must carry chains “whenever road conditions might require their use during your trip and signs are posted.”

ODOT said that truck drivers can be fined up to $880 for not having an appropriate set of chains.

The fine amount was increased by the Oregon State Legislature in 2021 “in recognition that failure to carry chains leads to postponed deliveries, closed roads, long delays to travel or snow removal operations, and most tragically, in preventable loss of life,” officials said.

ODOT said that delays caused by trucks failing to follow Oregon chain laws cost the trucking industry and other road users more than $8 million each year.

“While staffing limits and even mountain pass geography (safe location for an enforcement operation of this variety) mean we can’t be at every trouble spot, every time (yes, we wish this was possible too) – experienced drivers already know that all commercial vehicles over 10,000 pounds GVW must carry chains whenever road conditions might require their use, or where Snow Zone signs are posted,” ODOT said.

For more information on minimum chain requirements in Oregon, you can click here.