Motor vehicle chain law.

WORKING DRAFT

ORIGINAL HOUSE

BILL

NO.
0085

ENROLLED ACT NO. 107, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTIETH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF
WYOMING
2009 GENERAL SESSION

AN ACT relating to motor vehicles; amending requirements for use of tire chains on motor vehicles as specified; providing penalties; providing a definition; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of
Wyoming
:

Section 1.

W.S. 31
‑
5
‑
956(e) and by creating new subsections (j) and (k) is amended to read:

31
‑
5
‑
956.

Tires; restriction of travel under hazardous conditions; penalties.

(e)

Travel on a highway may be restricted to all wheel drive vehicles or motor vehicles equipped with tire chains or adequate snow tires

W
hen the superintendent or his authorized representative determines that travel is sufficiently hazardous due to snow, ice or other conditions
travel on a highway may be restricted to use only by motor vehicles
utilizing
adequate snow tires or tire chains, motor vehicles that are all-wheel drive vehicles or necessary emergency vehicles as defined in W.S.
31
‑
5
‑
102(a)(ii)
, including snow plows. The superintendent or his authorized representative may further restrict travel in extremely hazardous conditions to use only by
necessary emergency vehicles as defined in W.S.
31
‑
5
‑
102(a)(ii)
, including snow plows, and
those vehicles
utilizing
tire chains or to all-wheel drive vehicles
utilizing
adequate snow tires with a mud and snow or all-weather rating from the manufacturer having a tread of sufficient abrasive or skid-resistant design or composition and depth to provide adequate traction under existing driving conditions. The prohibition or restriction of use shall be effective when signs, including temporary or electronic signs, giving notice thereof are erected upon that portion of the highway, and it shall be unlawful to proceed in violation of the notice. The operator of a commercial vehicle shall affix tire chains to at least two (2) of the drive wheels of the vehicle at opposite ends of the same drive axle when the vehicle is required to
utilize
tire chains under this subsection. The state highway patrol shall cooperate with the department in the enforcement of any closing or restriction of use under this subsection.

(j)

Any person who operates a motor vehicle in violation of restrictions imposed by the department or the highway patrol under subsection (e) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be subject to a penalty of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00). Any person who operates a motor vehicle in violation of restrictions imposed by the department or the highway patrol under subsection (e) of this section, where the result of the violation is an incident that causes the closure of all lanes in one (1) or both directions of the highway, is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be subject to a penalty of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00).

(k)

As used in this section, "tire chains" means metal chains which consist of two (2) circular metal loops, one (1) on each side of the tire, connected by not less than nine (9) evenly spaced chains across the tire tread and any other traction devices differing from metal chains in construction, material or design but capable of providing traction equal to or exceeding that of metal chains under similar conditions.

Section 2.

This act is effective July 1, 2009.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.

Chief Clerk

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