Wyoming Chain Law Basics that Every Driver Should Know

What is Wyoming Chain Law?

The chain law is a type of law used by western states to regulate how large trucks can drive in adverse weather. It was first adopted by Wyoming, under Wyo. Stat. § 31-18-501 through 31-18-508. Wyoming chain law is the oldest chain law in the United States, and serves as an example for other chain laws. It states that when "tire chains are required at a certain location during adverse weather or road conditions," an individual in control of the vehicle (including agents, servants, and employees of the trucking company) must use a chain or a traction device. This is a general requirement for large trucks, which uses (and allows the use of) other friction devices for regular truck drivers, such as friction snow tire chains or roller cable chains. However, it does not apply to conventional automobiles, buses, or light trucks, unless otherwise noted.
If an individual fails to use a chain, and relies on a chain compliance sign instead of evaluating the weather on his or her own, they may be subject to demerit points and additional civil penalties. In other words, if you pass the sign that says it is the chain law, and fail to put on a chain, even if the weather conditions do not require a chain, you can be cited. Additionally , it is important to note that an individual’s failure to use a chain can impact not only him- or herself, but also the trucking company. Therefore, both the individual and the trucking company are expected to understand when chain laws are in effect.
In recent years, truckers have encountered Wyoming chain law violation tickets for failing to use chains, resulting in a civil penalty. The penalty for failing to use a chain for the first time is a $100 fine. For using single-axle chains, the penalty is $200. For double-axle chains, the penalty is $300. Around $30 of this penalty is used to support the law enforcement agency; $60 of the fine supports the highway fund, used to replenish roads; $6 of the fine gets kept by the legal department; and $4 are allocated to the county. A $10 penalty will also be added to the fine for each Colorado demerit point over five that the driver will accumulate on his or her driving record. There is good and bad news for the trucking company. On one hand, the trucking company cannot be subject to a penalty unless it "knew or should have known" that the driver would drive past a chain law sign without putting a chain on, resulting in a fine. However, the penalty for the trucking company is $500. With fines of $100 for their drivers, their businesses could bear the brunt of these fines.

When is the Chain Law in Effect?

The Chain Law is in effect whenever the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WDOT) deems it necessary. However, based on historical patterns, the Chain Law has been implemented mainly during the winter months, especially in December and January.
When there are winter storms of moderate to severe strength and travel is expected to be affected by high winds or blowing snow, the Wyoming Highway Patrol will usually implement the Chain Law. On the west side of the state, the Chain Law is occasionally implemented due to severe winter storms during the month of September.
The Chain Law will sometimes be implemented when there are high winds or blowing snow in the summer months, but in practice this occurs much more rarely. Warnings and Conditions of the Chains can be found on the WDOT website. In particular, the WYPATCH page features current road conditions, including travel restrictions across the state of Wyoming.

Types of Chains and Other Alternatives

You might think that the only way to get approved traction is to struggle with a standard chain. However, there are many types of permitted chains available that you might find easier to get on your tires.
Wiring the chains to the tire makes a variety of differences for drivers. Wires tend to increase the tire capability traction and can improve the stopping and starting of a vehicle on ice or packed snow. The Spiked E-Lock combines these anchoring wires to lock on the tread and uses spikes to lock onto tires. Rather than using a traditional chain style, there are other alternatives which are also permitted by the law.
There are automatic traction devices that have received permission from WYDOT and have been widely used on the East Coast. The AKW Traction Aid is an automatic traction chain for tires that includes permanent K5 stud spikes to increase traction on ice and hard packed snow. The auto chains stay on automatically until they are required to be removed once the end of a chain law zone has been reached.
Alternative systems such as the Palas Automatic Chain Brakes, the MAGnum S, the MAGnum LTS are automatic external chain braking systems. All of these systems are automatic, must operate correctly at all times, and are on the list of approved alternatives to tire chains.
WYDOT requires documentation and information from manufacturers of approved alternatives. The approved list is alphabetically and is listed by make, model, batch and part number. Drivers should note that equipment may change and drivers should not rely solely on this list. To reduce tampering concerns, any approved equipment may have its batch number on the NHTSA label.

Fines for Not Complying with the Law

Violations of the Wyoming Chain Law carry substantial penalties. For the operator of a commercial motor license, violation of a chain law regulation is generally a serious misdemeanor. Such a misdemeanor can have a fine of up to $200 or imprisonment of up to 20 days, or both under Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 31-5-1008(e) and Wyoming Department of Transportation Administrative Rules and Regulations, Ch. 5, § 2(a)(vi). In addition, the driver may be cited for driving a commercial vehicle without proper equipment in violation of federal regulations in Wyoming, 49 C.F.R. § 393.11, 393.100, 393.106. If the driver violates a chain law regulation with a passenger cm1v1. 49 C.F.R. § 391.65, operating under the influence or while impaired, or possesses an open container of alcohol on the interstate, the driver may be charged with felony DUI or DUI violations that carry maximum penalties of two (2) years in jail or up to $10,000 in fines. Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-4-401 et seq . Conviction of criminal violations of the chain law by a driver may need to be disclosed to an employer, government agency or potential employer under federal law, including the commercial driver’s license program and those laws, regulations, and policies prohibiting convicted felons from working in certain occupations. Damage to a commercial motor vehicle attributable to violation of the chain law may be turned over to the Department’s Program Coordinator at the Division. Those damages have the potential to negatively impact the motor carrier’s safety rating and insurance premiums as a result of the fine and potential litigation. In addition, if the motor carrier has to take on repair expenses such as having to have a wrecker travel a return trip to retrieve the vehicle, that may also increase the motor carrier’s fuel surcharge, maintenance programs and administrative costs. Driving without chains may also give a party not in compliance a potential means of liability against any party involved in the accident that resulted from the latter party’s failure to chain which may impact their premiums.

Ways to Prepare for Winter Road Conditions in Wyoming

As winter approaches, the chain law in Wyoming becomes a significant component of highway travel. Further, it also affects truckers traveling through the state. But what happens when the chain law is in effect and you do not have tire chains? You can obtain these at retail stores throughout the state as well as some truck stops. However, if you are on a deadline for delivery, you can be stuck waiting hours for chains to become available, which in turn can affect your company’s bottom line. One way to avoid tire chain delays is to prepare for inclement weather on the road. A good habit is to check the weather forecasts for areas you will be driving through. The National Weather Service provides current weather conditions, forecasts and information for the highest and lowest points in Wyoming. For example, Interstate 80 through the Laramie Region frequently experiences severe weather. So be sure to check the weather for that region prior to driving through. During winter months, always take care to have your vehicle in proper working order. This means checking engine fluids, brakes, windshield wipers, tires and chains if needed. It is also good practice to familiarize yourself with the location of emergency supplies and road equipment within your vehicle. Emergency supplies should include blankets, bottled water, first-aid kits, booster cables, flares and a spare tire. Road equipment should include a shovel and a scraper. Having such equipment on hand can reduce the amount of time you spend on the side of the road fixing or waiting for repairs. Prepare your vehicle for the winter environment before taking on the roads and you will save yourself time, money and frustration whether you drive for business or leisure.

Additional Resources and Information

For travelers looking for more detailed information on Wyoming Chain Law, the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WyDOT) website is the primary source for data regarding chain law requirements. Travelers can also access live updates of road conditions while en route to their destination through the wyoroad.info portal . WyoRoad also provides a direct link for lodging information and travel planning, telephone information for WYDOT information, additional websites showing webcams, and updates on highway usage and traffic conditions. Finally, travelers can answer frequently asked questions about chain law requirements, including the cost of a citation, by directly visiting the frequently asked questions page.