Vail, Colorado is pushing for tougher penalties on truckers due to frequent accidents on Interstate 70.

The details: Mayor Travis Coggin sent a letter to Governor Jared Polis on February 10th. The letter calls for stricter enforcement of traction laws and increased fines for non-compliance.

• Current fines are up to $1,150 for blocking a road, which Vail believes is insufficient given the economic damage from closures, nearly $2 million per hour.
• In 2024, I-70 saw 99 full closures, totaling 161 hours, with estimated losses over $300 million.

The bigger impact: Road closures affect emergency services in Vail. Accidents prevent responders from reaching critical locations, causing major concerns for safety.

• Emergency routes, including those to the county's sole ER, have been blocked multiple times.

Look forward: Colorado has introduced laws to mitigate these issues. Heavy trucks must utilize right lanes on certain stretches, but enforcement is lacking according to Vail Daily.

Senate Bill 69 is also in talks, which will allow for effective chain-up stations to be set up by third-party vendors.

While enforcement and penalties are under discussion, no additional legislation has been passed yet.