What motorists need to know as UDOT steps up enforcement of traction laws in Cottonwood Canyons

COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS – A winter storm that arrived in Utah on Thursday is forecast to dump more than a foot of snow in the Cottonwood Canyons by the end of the work week and could trigger the canyons' first traction law requirements of the season.

But even if that's not the case, Utah transportation officials are using the fall storm to highlight how a new state law will help them better enforce traction laws this winter.

Utah Department of Transportation officials said Thursday that the state will work with Cottonwood Heights and Sandy police and the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office to ensure that only four-wheel/four-wheel drive or tracked vehicles enter each canyon on the mountain roads are smooth.

The additional help is also expected to speed up inspection processes in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons, which are sometimes blocked when people try to reach resorts within the canyons.

“With officers dedicated to enforcing the traction law once the winter season begins, we can ensure canyon roads remain safe without diverting law enforcement from their other public safety responsibilities,” said UDOT Director Carlos Braceras.

Cottonwood Heights police plan to send one or two officers to assist with traction inspections taking place near the Canyon Estate Drive gate about 2 miles into Big Cottonwood Canyon, according to Deputy Chief Paul Brenneman. He said on busier days an extra officer or two would be deployed to ensure traffic was not backed up.

Sandy Police Chief Greg Severson said his department will do something similar for inspections that take place at A Gate/Gate Buttress about 5 miles from Little Cottonwood Canyon.

However, ensuring proper traction is only half the battle. Authorities say motorists should still slow down and pay attention to the road to prevent slipping and accidents, especially when travel conditions are poor.

“Drivers need to continue to use caution,” Severson said. “Avoid distracted driving, reduce speed and drive according to weather conditions.”

Funding for the additional officers comes through HB488, which was partially enacted in July and will take full effect in January. Among other changes, the Cottonwood Canyons Transportation Investment Fund was changed to allow UDOT to receive more transportation assistance from local governments.

The bill included a one-time appropriation of $400,000 for the fund and created the framework to target existing taxes toward various transportation projects in the region.

On-site assistance is not the only way to speed up the inspection process. UDOT also launched this year's Cottonwood Canyons Sticker Program inspections on Thursday. With the sticker, drivers can enter the gorges without being checked, provided their vehicles first undergo a free traction device/tire pre-inspection.

Drivers can receive an inspection and sticker by visiting a Burt Brothers, Big O Tires or Les Schwab location in the Wasatch Front and Park City areas, as well as some other participating businesses. All tires on the top of the four-wheel or all-wheel drive vehicle must have a tread depth of at least 5/32 inch.

Checks as part of the sticker program will continue this year until the end of February 2025. Drivers with a sticker can still be subject to controls.

Future changes are also possible. Salt Lake County leaders passed a motion earlier this week to support new public safety improvements in the canyons and consider additional legislative changes to improve canyon safety.

The Salt Lake County Council directed the county's legislative affairs coordinator to work with state lawmakers on improvements to vehicle safety and traction laws that could be addressed in the upcoming legislative session. Rep. Gay Lynn Bennion, D-Cottonwood Heights, said the proposed changes would aim to make traction laws more enforceable given the number of visitors to the canyons.

The canyons attracted over 2 million visitors in the 2021-2022 ski season alone.

“Traffic congestion, safety and accidents in the Cottonwood Canyons are a growing problem that must be addressed,” Salt Lake County Councilwoman Dea Theodore added after the county’s measure passed Tuesday. “I support UDOT’s push to enforce the decal program and educate the public about the need for appropriate traction devices if they plan to use the canyons this winter.”