Current through Register Vol. 24-06, March 15, 2024
(1)
Vehicles under 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight.
When traffic control signs are posted by the department of
transportation it will be unlawful for any vehicle to enter the controlled area
without having mounted on its drive tires the traction device specified by the
sign, which must also meet the requirements of WAC 204-24-040.
(a) Exception for all wheel drive vehicles.
When "chains required" signs are posted, all-wheel drive vehicles will be
exempt from the chain requirement when all wheels are in gear and are equipped
with approved traction devices as specified in WAC 204-24-040 provided that
tire chains for at least one set of drive tires are carried in the
vehicle.
(b) Alternative traction
devices listed on the patrol's website as being approved for passenger vehicles
as outlined in this chapter will be considered approved for use when "chains
required" signs are posted.
(2) Vehicles or combinations of vehicles over
10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR).
When traffic control signs marked "chains required" are posted
by the department of transportation it will be unlawful for any vehicle or
combination of vehicles to enter the controlled area without having mounted on
its tires, tire chains as follows: Provided, That highway maintenance vehicles
operated by the department of transportation for the purpose of snow removal
and its ancillary functions are exempt from the following requirements :
(a) Vehicles or vehicle combinations with two
to four axles including but not limited to trucks, truck-tractors, buses and
school buses: For vehicles with a single drive axle, one tire on each side of
the drive axle must be chained. For vehicles with dual drive axles, one tire on
each side of one of the drive axles must be chained. For vehicle combinations
including trailers or semi-trailers; one tire on the last axle of the last
trailer or semi-trailer, must be chained. If the trailer or semi-trailer has
tandem rear axles, the chained tire may be on either of the last two
axles.
(b) Automobile transporters
are any vehicle combination designed and used specifically for the transport of
assembled (capable of being driven) highway vehicles. For vehicles with single
drive axles, one tire on each side of the drive axle must be chained. For
vehicles with dual drive axles, one tire on each side of each of the drive
axles must be chained. For vehicle combinations including trailers or
semi-trailers, one tire on the last axle of the last trailer or semi-trailer
must be chained. If the trailer or semi-trailer has tandem rear axles, the
chained tire may be on either of the last two axles.
(c) Vehicle combinations with five axles
consisting of a truck tractor with dual drive axles and a tandem axled
semitrailer; all tires on one drive axle may be chained or one tire on each
side of each of the drive axles may be chained. Chains must be applied to a
minimum of four tires on the drive axles. On the tandem axle semi-trailer, the
chained tire may be on either of the last two axles.
(d) Vehicle combinations with five axles,
consisting of a truck and trailer, or truck tractor and semi-trailer with a
single drive axle, or truck tractor, semi-trailer and full trailer: For
vehicles with a single drive axle, all tires on the drive axle must be chained.
For vehicles with dual drive axles, all tires on one of the drive axles must be
chained. For vehicle combinations including trailers or semi-trailers, one tire
on the last axle of the last trailer or semi-trailer must be chained. If the
trailer or semi-trailer has tandem rear axles, the chained tire may be on
either of the last two axles.
(e)
Vehicle combinations with six or more axles, including but not limited to truck
and trailer or truck tractor and semi-trailer or truck tractor semi-trailer and
full trailer: For vehicles with a single drive axle, all tires on the drive
axle must be chained. For vehicles with dual drive axles where traffic control
signs marked "approved traction tires required" are posted, all tires on one of
the drive axles must be chained. For vehicles with dual drive axles where
traffic control signs marked "chains required" are posted, all tires on one of
the drive axles must be chained. In addition, one tire on each side of the
additional drive axle must be chained. For vehicle combinations including
trailers or semi-trailers, one tire on the last axle must be chained. For
vehicles with tandem axle trailers or semi-trailers, the chained tire may be on
either of the last two axles.
(f)
All vehicles over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) must carry a
minimum of two extra chains for use in the event that road conditions require
the use of more chains or in the event that chains in use are broken or
otherwise made useless.
(g)
Approved chains for vehicles over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating
(GVWR) must have at least two side chains to which are attached sufficient
cross chains of hardened metal so that at least one cross chain is in contact
with the road surface at all times. Plastic chains will not be
allowed.
(h) If automatic tire
chains are used, the vehicle must carry regular tire chains for use on the
outside tires of the drive axle of all axles equipped with the automatic tire
chain.
(i) On the following routes
all vehicles and combinations of vehicles over 10,000 gross vehicle weight
rating (GVWR) pounds must carry sufficient tire chains to meet the requirements
of this chapter from November 1 to April 1 of each year or at other times when
chains are required for such vehicles:
(i)
I-90 - Between North Bend (MP 32) and Ellensburg (MP 101).
(ii) SR-97 - Between (MP 145) and Junction
SR-2.
(iii) SR-2 - Between Dryden
(MP 108) and Index (MP 36).
(iv)
SR-12 - Between Packwood (MP 135) and Naches (MP 187).
(v) SR-97 - Between the Columbia River (MP
0.00) and Toppenish (MP 59.00).
(vi) SR-410 - From Enumclaw to
Naches.
(vii) SR-20 - Between
Tonasket (MP 262) and Kettle Falls (MP 342); and SR-20 between Newhalem (MP
120) and Winthrop (MP 192).
(viii)
SR-155 - Between Omak (MP 79) and Nespelem (MP 45).
(ix) SR-970 - Between (MP 0) and (MP
10).
(x) SR-14 - Between Gibbons
Creek (MP 18.00) and (MP 108.40) intersection of Cliffs Road.
(xi) SR-542 - Mt. Baker highway between (MP
22.91) and (MP 57.26).
(xii) I-82 -
Between Ellensburg Exit 3 (MP 3.00) and Selah Exit 26 (MP 26.00).
Vehicles making local deliveries as indicated on bills of
lading and not crossing the mountain pass are exempt from this requirement if
operating outside of a chain required area.
(3) For the purpose of this
section, chained will mean that the tire has either a tire chain approved for
use under chapter 204-24 WAC or an alternative traction tire device listed on
the patrol's website as approved for the type of vehicle combination listed in
this section.
(4) The Washington
state department of transportation or Washington state patrol may prohibit any
vehicle from entering a chain/approved traction device control area when it is
determined that the vehicle will experience difficulty in safely traveling the
area.
Statutory Authority:
RCW
46.37.420. 12-17-116, § 204-24-050,
filed 8/21/12, effective 9/21/12. Statutory Authority:
RCW
46.37.005 and
46.37.420. 08-24-030, §
204-24-050, filed 11/24/08, effective 12/25/08. Statutory Authority:
RCW
46.37.420, 46.12.330,
46.37.005. 02-19-055, §
204-24-050, filed 9/12/02, effective 10/13/02. Statutory Authority:
RCW
46.37.005. 00-03-081, § 204-24-050,
filed 1/19/00, effective 2/19/00; 99-06-023, § 204-24-050, filed 2/22/99,
effective 3/25/99; 98-19-042, § 204-24-050, filed 9/11/98, effective
10/12/98; 95-07-137, § 204-24-050, filed 3/22/95, effective 4/22/95.
Statutory Authority:
RCW
46.37.420. 94-08-069, § 204-24-050,
filed 4/4/94, effective 5/5/94; 92-05-016, § 204-24-050, filed 2/10/92,
effective 3/12/92. Statutory Authority:
RCW
46.37.005. 91-14-004 (Order 91-003), §
204-24-050, filed 6/21/91, effective 7/22/91. Statutory Authority:
RCW
46.37.420. 83-21-080 (Order 83-10-01), §
204-24-050, filed 10/19/83. Statutory Authority:
RCW
46.37.005. 82-11-045 (Order 82-05-01), §
204-24-050, filed 5/12/82. Statutory Authority:
RCW
46.37.005 and
46.37.420. 81-10-038 (Order
81-04-01), § 204-24-050, filed 4/30/81; 78-02-091 (Order 7607A), §
204-24-050, filed 1/30/78; Order 7607, § 204-24-050, filed 9/14/76; Order
6902, § 204-24-050, filed 2/17/70.