h_tra_2016a_2016-01-27t13:33:10z0 Hearing Summary

Date: 01/27/2016

01:31 PM



Representative Tyler, chair, called the committee to order. A quorum was present.



01:32 PM -- HB16-1039



Representative Mitsch Bush and Representative Rankin, co-prime sponsors, came to the table to present House Bill 16-1039. A fact sheet (Attachment A) and a packet of letters of support (Attachment B) for the bill were distributed. The bill, recommended by the Transportation Legislation Review Committee, requires motor vehicles driving on Interstate 70 between milepost 133 (Dotsero) and milepost 259 (Morrison), when icy or snow-packed conditions are present, to be equipped with:



160127 AttachA.pdf160127 AttachB.pdf



• tire chains or an equivalent traction control device (i.e. cable chains);

• four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, and tires with a tread depth of one-eighth of an inch; or

• tires with any form of the mountain-snowflake symbol or "mud and snow" lettering (i.e., M/S and M+S) on the side wall of the tire and a tread depth of one-eighth of an inch.



Under the bill, “equipped” means that a motor vehicle uses or carries the appropriate traction equipment if icy or snow-packed conditions are not present, and that a motor vehicle uses the appropriate traction equipment if icy or snow-packed conditions are present.



A noncommercial violator of these requirements commits a class B traffic infraction and is subject to a $100 fine and a $32 surcharge. If a violation results in the closure of at least one lane of traffic, the violator is subject to an enhanced penalty of $500 and a $156 surcharge.



01:39 PM -- David Hall, representing the Colorado State Patrol, and Andy Karsian, representing the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), testified in support of the bill.

01:47 PM -- Commissioners Dan Gibbs and Jill Ryan, representing the I-70 Coalition, testified in support of the bill.

01:53 PM -- Grier Bailey, representing the Colorado Wyoming Petroleum Marketers Association, and Greg Fulton, representing the Colorado Motor Carriers Association, testified in support of the bill.

01:58 PM -- Jennifer Jones, representing the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, testified in support of the bill.

02:01 PM -- Brendan McGuire, representing Vail Resorts, testified in support of the bill.

02:02 PM -- Patrick Byrne, representing Colorado Ski Country USA, testified in support of the bill.

02:03 PM -- Nick Colglazier, representing the Colorado Competitive Council, testified in support of the bill.

02:04 PM -- Jeff Andrews, representing the Colorado Hotel & Lodging Association, testified in support of the bill.

02:05 PM -- Dwight Henninger, representing the Vail Police Department, testified in support of the bill.

02:08 PM -- Chris Montera, representing the Eagle County Ambulance District, testified in support of the bill.



02:10 PM



Representative Mitsch Bush noted the letters of support received from various entities throughout the I-70 corridor. Amendment L.004 was distributed to the committee (Attachment C), which adds a statement to the bill's legislative declaration that it is not the intent nor effect of the bill to create tire checkpoints.

160127 AttachC.pdf



02:14 PM



Amendment L.003 was distributed to the committee (Attachment D), which requires vehicles to be adequately equipped with traction control from October 1 to May 15 of each year.



160127 AttachD.pdf

02:16 PM



The bill sponsors made their closing comments on the bill. Committee discussion on the merits of the bill ensued.