Commercial truck drivers will face steeper fines for not properly using tire chains on B.C. highways.
The province increased the fine to $598 for not using chains and $196 for not carrying chains when they are required. The amounts are both up from $121.
The fines will go into effect on Oct. 1 when winter tire and chain-up regulations begin on most highways, as part of rules brought in last November to improve winter highway safety.
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Previous regulations only required vehicles weighing more than 27,000 kilograms to carry and use traction devices, with only one wheel requiring chains during winter conditions and mandatory chain-ups.
Under the new rules, commercial vehicles weighing more than 5,000 kg – including buses and five-ton trucks – must use chains on at least two tires and can use steel chains, cable chains, automatic chains, socks or wheel sanders if not equipped with winter tires.
Vehicles weighing more than 11,794 kg must use steel chains, and the number of tires requiring them ranges from at least two for vehicles without a trailer, to six on larger vehicles.
