Rule R920-6. Snow Tire and Chain Requirements.

As in effect on December 1, 2009

Table of Contents

• R920-6-1. Purpose.
• R920-6-2. Authority.
• R920-6-3. Provisions.
• R920-6-4. Responsibilities.
• KEY
• Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment
• Notice of Continuation
• Authorizing, Implemented, or Interpreted Law

R920-6-1. Purpose.

The purpose of this rule is to allow the Executive Director of the Utah Department of Transportation to designate travel restrictions on certain state highways located in canyon areas of the State of Utah, that may not be safely traversed by the public or which would tend to create hazard or hamper road maintenance activities of the Utah Department of Transportation, unless the vehicle or motor vehicle traversing said highway is adequately equipped with certain safety devices.

R920-6-2. Authority.

The authority for this rule is in Sections 72-1-201 and 72-3-102; Title 72, Chapter 4, Part 1, Transportation Code, and Section 41-6-21.

R920-6-3. Provisions.

A. Locations shall be requested by the Department's District Director after coordinating with the local Utah Highway Patrol office. The designations by the Executive Director shall be established through a Traffic Engineering Order (TEO) from the Division of Traffic and Safety to the District Director's office wherein the designated highway is located.

B. The Division of Traffic and Safety shall maintain and annually publish a listing of those highways so designated for distribution to:

1. Utah Department of Transportation District Offices;

2. Utah Highway Patrol;

3. county offices;

4. local law enforcement officials.

C. When any designated highway is so restricted, no vehicle or motor vehicle shall be allowed or permitted the use of the highway, during the period between November 1 and March 31, unless:

1. Said vehicle is equipped with either:

a. Steel link chains or have chains in possession; or

b. Mounted snow tires; or

c. Elastomeric tire chains, designed for use with radial tires.

2. Four-wheel drive vehicles must have a minimum of two mounted snow tires to meet the requirements.

3. Radial tires without snow tread do not meet the requirements.

R920-6-4. Responsibilities.

A. Personnel of the Utah Department of Transportation or the Utah Highway Patrol, on location to enforce this resolution, may permit vehicles or motor vehicles not equipped with the traction aids defined in the preceding paragraph to travel a designated state highway if, in the opinion of said personnel, the vehicle or motor vehicle may do so without endangering the public safety or creating a hazard to or interference with, highway maintenance operations.

B. The Utah Department of Transportation requests the Utah Highway Patrol, or designated local law enforcement agency, to enforce this rule.

C. The Utah Department of Transportation will notify the county officials of counties in which highways are so restricted, as outlined above.

D. All authority shall rest with the Transportation Commission to control use of highways where avalanche danger and other threats to the public safety are concerned.

E. The District Director or designee shall work with the Utah Highway Patrol in establishing working criteria for the adequate enforcement of the above provisions.

KEY

tires, snow*

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment

1992

Notice of Continuation

August 13, 2007

Authorizing, Implemented, or Interpreted Law

41-6-21