The agency released updated enforcement figures as Colorado’s mandatory chain carry season approaches its May 31 end date.

According to the Colorado State Patrol, port of entry officers conducted weekly proactive chain inspections throughout the season, while troopers assigned to the Interstate 70 corridor also carried out monthly mobile enforcement operations focused on commercial vehicles traveling through mountain areas.

The state patrol said enforcement efforts resulted in 2,218 citations at port of entry locations, 187 citations during mobile checkpoint operations, and 317 “port runner” stops involving commercial drivers who bypassed inspection points before later being stopped by troopers.

Officials also reported that 9.6% of commercial drivers contacted during mobile chain enforcement operations violated Colorado’s “Must Carry” chain law requirements.

Colorado Chain Carry Rules Continue Through the End of May

Colorado’s commercial vehicle chain law applies to commercial vehicles with a GVWR greater than 16,001 pounds that operate along designated mountain routes.

The law requires commercial drivers to carry four tire chains or approved traction devices between Sept. 1 and May 31 on Interstate 70 from Morrison to the Utah state line, along with several state and U.S. highways west of Interstate 25.

Colorado also restricts commercial vehicles from using left lanes in several mountain sections of Interstate 70, including Glenwood Canyon, Vail Pass, Georgetown Hill, Floyd Hill, Dowd Junction, and areas surrounding the Eisenhower–Johnson Tunnel corridor.

“We know that I-70 is also ‘main street’ for many of our mountain communities for commuting and emergency service access. Keeping the interstate open through the Colorado mountains is crucial for the state’s economy,” said Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol.

“In addition to keeping our tourism industries thriving, we also need the corridor to transport goods and life-saving services.”

Commercial drivers who fail to carry chains can face $100 fines, while drivers who fail to install chains when required can receive $500 citations. Trucks that block traffic because of inadequate traction can face penalties reaching $1,000.

Colorado’s current mandatory chain carry period remains in effect through May 31.

The Truck Drivers USA editorial team creates practical, driver-focused content covering industry topics, job trends, and real-world decisions that impact drivers at every stage of their careers. Each article is written to provide clear, accurate information that drivers can use.

Last updated: May 21, 2026

Source: Truckers News

Image Source: Colorado State Patrol

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According to a public update, the Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) and the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) carried out a Mobile Enforcement and Education Team (MEET) Detail on U.S. 287 south of Laramie on September 30. The initiative was designed to focus on commercial carrier traffic and highway safety compliance.

During the operation, officers conducted inspections on 82 commercial vehicles. From those inspections, 16 drivers and 24 vehicles were taken out of service. Officers also made four arrests and issued one citation related to marijuana possession.

In its statement, the Wyoming Highway Patrol noted that troopers made three of the arrests, each involving commercial drivers with repeat offenses. Two arrests were for repeated violations of operating without a CDL, while the third was connected to repeated English Language Proficiency violations.

Meanwhile, the Colorado State Patrol confirmed one arrest involving a driver wanted on a state-wide warrant.

The MEET Detail represents a continued cooperative effort between Wyoming and Colorado agencies to identify unsafe carriers and drivers while promoting safer highways across both states.

Source: Wyoming Highway Patrol
Source: Truckers News

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According to the Wyoming Highway Patrol WHP, the operation was carried out with the Colorado State Patrol as part of what they call a Mobile Enforcement and Education Team MEET Detail. The teams set up inspection checkpoints on US 287 south of Laramie, putting up signs requiring commercial trucks to pull in.

Any driver who kept rolling past the inspection zone was stopped and directed back for review by troopers and mobile inspectors.

One of those stops involved a white box truck, which rolled through the southbound inspection area without stopping. A trooper pulled the vehicle over and returned it to the checkpoint.

During that inspection, officers found the same driver had previously been cited in Colorado.

“While being inspected, troopers discovered the driver had been in violation of the English Language Proficiency ELP requirements on September 13 in Colorado and was put Out of Service,” the release stated. “The driver was arrested on repeat violations for violating Federal Motor Carrier Safety regulations, English Language Proficiency, and the box truck was towed.”

Across the day, 82 commercial trucks were inspected. By the time the teams wrapped up, enforcement numbers showed how seriously the agencies were taking repeat violations and unsafe vehicles

• 24 trucks were put out of service
• 16 drivers were sidelined
• 4 arrests were made
• 1 marijuana citation was issued

Three of the arrests involved commercial drivers with repeat offenses. Two were tied to operating without a CDL, and the other was the ELP repeat offender. Colorado State Patrol also made an arrest connected to an outstanding statewide warrant.

The WHP spelled out why these checks are not just routine boxes to tick; they are aimed at the safety of professional drivers and the public.

“The Wyoming Highway Patrol takes commercial vehicle safety very seriously,” the release stated. “Various driver violations, including ELP and driving without a CDL license, and vehicle violations, brakes, overweight, etc., can lead to a driver or a vehicle being put Out of Service, meaning the driver can no longer operate the vehicle.”

They added that putting a driver or truck OOS is about preventing dangerous incidents.

“Being put Out of Service is done to ensure the safety of everyone using our roadways, regular and commercial drivers alike. When a driver is found to be operating while not complying with critical FMCSA regulations, along with repeat violations like ELP, the driver may be arrested.”

For truckers who run legally and keep their equipment compliant, operations like this can help weed out the drivers and carriers who cut corners, the same ones that give the rest of the industry a bad name. But it is also a reminder that troopers are watching closely along the Wyoming-Colorado corridor, and repeat offenses are no longer getting a slap on the wrist.

Image Source: WHC
Source: The Trucker

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