Utah's Traction Law: Fines, Cottonwood Canyons Rules, and Fault in a Canyon Crash
General information, not legal advice. Read the full disclaimer.
Short answer: Utah's traction law comes from Utah Code § 41-6a-715. For the safe movement of traffic during predicted or existing adverse weather, a highway authority may restrict traffic to vehicles with specific equipment or capabilities, and it must post traffic-control devices to tell the public. Under the 2025 amendment (H.B. 196, effective May 7, 2025), once that notice is given, a person who operates a vehicle without the required equipment is guilty of an infraction. Utah's general limit on infraction fines is $750 (§ 76-3-301). In the Cottonwood Canyons (SR-210 and SR-190), UDOT's rule also adds a "Class 3" tire standard of at least 5/32 inch of tread. Violating the law doesn't automatically make a driver liable for a crash, but it is evidence a lawyer or insurer will point to when fault is argued.
Who this guide is for
Drivers in Utah's snow country — Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons, Parleys Canyon, and other mountain routes — and people hurt in a winter crash who want to know how the traction rules affect a claim.
What the statute says
Section 41-6a-715 (version effective May 7, 2025; confirm current text) provides:
- A highway authority may restrict a highway to vehicles with specific equipment or capabilities for the safe movement of traffic during predicted or existing adverse weather (subsection 2). The older wording was tied to existing weather conditions; the 2025 change added predicted weather.
- The authority must erect and maintain traffic-control devices to inform the public of any restriction (subsection 3).
- The Department of Transportation may make rules describing the required equipment (subsection 4), and counties and municipalities may adopt ordinances for highways they control (subsection 5).
- When notice has been given through a traffic-control device, a person who fails to follow the restriction and operates a vehicle without the specific equipment or capabilities during predicted or adverse weather is guilty of an infraction (subsection 6).
H.B. 196's enrolled text doesn't set a fine. Utah's general fine ceiling for an infraction conviction is $750 (§ 76-3-301), which is the figure local reporting has used; the actual fine for a given citation is set by the court's fine schedule.
What UDOT says is required
UDOT's published guidance describes these minimums (confirm the current rule and any posted signs before you drive):
| Vehicle | Requirement (per UDOT) |
|---|---|
| AWD/4WD | M/S or M+S tires, or 3-peak-mountain-snowflake (3PMSF) tires; or traction devices on at least two drive tires |
| 2WD cars and light trucks (under 12,000 GVWR) | 3PMSF tires, or traction devices on all drive tires |
| Over 12,000 GVWR | Traction devices on all drive tires |
| Class 3 (Cottonwood Canyons) | Acceptable tires with 5/32-inch tread or traction devices |
UDOT says you may need to comply up to 24 hours before a storm, and notes that law enforcement can now issue citations. In the Cottonwood Canyons, UDOT said enforcement is handled by Cottonwood Heights and Sandy police with support from the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office.
How a violation affects a crash claim
- Negligence evidence. A driver who entered a signed traction-law area without compliant tires or devices, then slid into your car, will have difficulty arguing they drove reasonably. How a traffic violation is admitted in a civil case is a legal question, so ask your attorney.
- Speed for conditions still applies. Even a driver with perfect tires can be at fault for driving too fast for ice or snow. See Utah Winter and Canyon Crash Claims and Utah Speeding Crash Claims.
- Shared fault. If you also lacked the required equipment, expect an argument that you share responsibility. Utah's comparative fault rule reduces your recovery by your share and bars recovery at 50% or more. See Utah's Comparative Fault Rule.
- Multi-car pileups. Several drivers may share fault, and a stopped or spun-out vehicle that blocked a lane is part of the analysis. See Utah's Several-Liability Rule.
- Road conditions. Claims that the state failed to plow or sand face immunity and notice rules. See Utah Road Defect Claims Against the Government.
Evidence to collect after a canyon crash
- Photographs of tires (tread and any chains), traction-law signs, road surface, and vehicle positions.
- UDOT traffic app and message-board status at the time (screenshots).
- Witnesses and dash cam footage.
- The crash report. See How to Request a Utah Accident Report.
- Tire and chain receipts that show what you had.
Frequently asked questions
Is the traction law a statute or a rule?
Both: § 41-6a-715 authorizes restrictions and the infraction, and UDOT's rules describe the equipment.
How much is the fine?
The statute makes it an infraction; Utah's infraction fine ceiling is $750, and the court's schedule sets the actual amount.
Do I have to follow it if there's no snow yet?
The statute covers predicted adverse weather, and UDOT says you may need to comply up to 24 hours before a storm — if signs say the restriction is in effect.
Can I sue someone who caused a crash because they had bald tires?
Possibly; a traction-law violation is evidence of negligence, and fault is allocated by percentage.