Chain and traction law · Colorado
Colorado has a Traction Law and a Passenger Vehicle Chain Law. CDOT can put the Traction Law into effect at any time of year. Below: the chain and traction reports in the COtrip feed right now, then the law, each item linked to the official page it comes from.
Tires with at least 3/16-inch tread, plus one of these: snow tires, M+S tires, 4WD or AWD, or chains or an approved alternative such as AutoSock.
Source: codot.gov/travel/winter-driving/TractionLawChains or an approved alternative on every passenger vehicle, 4WD and AWD included. CDOT uses it as the last step before closing the road.
Source: codot.gov/travel/winter-driving/TractionLawNews reports quote CDOT and the State Patrol using "Code 15" for the Traction Law and "Code 16" for the Passenger Vehicle Chain Law. No CDOT page read for this page names the numbers.
Colorado's traveler site. Current chain and traction requirements are posted there.
Road conditionsEvery closure and alert COtrip is posting, on one map.
Winter closuresSeasonal closures with the dates each agency gives.
Live mapChain and traction reports from every state feed on one map.
Colorado has a Traction Law and a Passenger Vehicle Chain Law. CDOT can put the Traction Law into effect at any time of year. The levels, rules and fines on this page are linked to the official source. The sign on the road is the rule that applies.
Not meeting the Traction Law or Chain Law: $100 fine plus a $33 surcharge. If it causes a lane to close: $500 fine plus a $157 surcharge.
COtrip posts current requirements. The block at the top of this page reads the COtrip feed every five minutes and lists chain and traction reports. If the feed cannot be reached, the page says so.
Your mile marker shows even offline. COtrip alerts on your route, chain rules included, are part of MileCheck Premium and need a connection to update. Runs on CarPlay and Android Auto.
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