HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-07 An Emergency Ordinance Amending Title 7 of the Vail Town Code by the Addition of a New Chapter 13 to Establish Chain Law Enforcement ProceduresORDINANCE NO. 7
Series of 2025
AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 7 OF THE VAIL
TOWN CODE BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW CHAPTER 13 TO
ESTABLISH CHAIN LAW ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE
TOWN OF VAIL, COLORADO, THAT:
Section 1. Title 7 of the Vail Town Code is hereby amended by the addition of
a new Chapter 13, to read as follows:
CHAPTER 13: CHAIN LAW
7-13-1: PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Chapter is to increase public safety on public streets
and highways within the Town.
7-13-2: DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Chapter, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
TIRE CHAINS: Metal chains consisting of two (2) circular metal loops, one
(1) on each side of the tire, connected by no fewer than nine (9) evenly
spaced chains across the tire tread.
7-13-3: CHAIN LAW.
(A) Between September 1 and May 31 of each calendar year, all
commercial vehicles must carry tire chains when operating in the Town.
(B) When deemed necessary for public safety, the Vail Police
Department is authorized to restrict any portion of a public street or highway
within the Town by placing a chain law into effect. A chain law is in effect
when signs or emergency notification systems, including without limitation
temporary and electronic signs, notify the drivers of the chain law. I
(C) When a chain law is in effect:
(1) The driver of a commercial vehicle with four (4) or more drive
wheels, other than a bus, shall affix tire chains to at least four (4) of the
drive-wheel tires; and
(2) The driver of a bus shall affix tire chains to at least two (2) of
the drive-wheel tires.
7-13-4: VIOLATION; PENALTY.
(A)Violation. It is unlawful to violate any provision of this Chapter. Each
incident of violation shall be deemed a separate offense.
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(B)Penalty. Violations of this Chapter shall be punished by a fine of one
thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) per violation, provided that, if the
Vail Police Department officer determines that the vehicle is blocking any
portion of the roadway so as to impede vehicular travel, the fine shall be two
thousand six hundred fifty dollars ($2,650) per violation. In addition to the
fine, Vail Police Department officers may take any or all of the following
actions:
(1) Officers may prohibit vehicles in violation of this Chapter from
further travel; and
(2) Officers may require towing of a vehicle in violation of this
Chapter by a private towing company at the driver's expense.
Section 2. If any part, section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this
ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid, such decision shall not effect the validity of
the remaining portions of this ordinance; and the Town Council hereby declares it would
have passed this ordinance, and each part, section, subsection, sentence, clause or
phrase thereof, regardless of the fact that any one or more parts, sections, subsections,
sentences, clauses or phrases be declared invalid.
Section 3. The Town Council hereby finds, determines and declares that this
ordinance is necessary and proper for the health, safety and welfare of the Town and the
inhabitants thereof.
Section 4. The amendment of any provision of the Vail Town Code as provided
in this ordinance shall not affect any right which has accrued, any duty imposed, any
violation that occurred prior to the effective date hereof, any prosecution commenced, nor
any other action or proceeding as commenced under or by virtue of the provision
amended. The amendment of any provision hereby shall not revive any provision or any
ordinance previously repealed or superseded unless expressly stated herein.
Section 5. All bylaws, orders, resolutions and ordinances, or parts thereof,
inconsistent herewith are repealed to the extent only of such inconsistency. This repealer
shall not be construed to revise any bylaw, order, resolution or ordinance, or part thereof,
theretofore repealed.
Section 6. Pursuant to Section 4.11 of the Vail Town Charter, the Town Council
hereby finds and determines that this ordinance is necessary for the immediate
preservation of public property, health, welfare, peace, or safety, to protect the safety of
the traveling public on streets and highways within the Town during the winter season.
As such, this ordinance shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
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INTRODUCED, READ, APPROVED, AND ORDERED PUBLISHED ONCE IN
FULL ON this 18th day of March, 2025.
_____________________________
Travis Coggin, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________
Stephanie Johnson, Acting Town Clerk