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Show Studded Tires Still Banned Through Utah There are no plans to lift the ban on studded snow tires, according to Clem Church, Chairman of the Utah State Road Commission. In fact, Mr. Church saul, "Lifting the tun would violate Hie intent in-tent of the Legislature." To clarify the Commission's role in cirrying out the intent of Hie Legislature. Chairman Church last week sought a legal opinion from the Attorney Attor-ney Gei neral's Office. That opinion was issued Monday by Assistant Attorney Attor-ney General, Mark Madsen. According to Mr. Madsen, the Commission can only permit the use of studded tires so Ions as they do not cause significant sig-nificant d.imge to I'tah highways. high-ways. Because the Road Commission Com-mission has determined that there has been significant damage, the Commission ". . . has no further authority other than to support the Legislative Legisla-tive ban on the use of such tires." The Legislative statute passed pas-sed in 1 966 by the I'tah State Senate made no special provisions pro-visions The law specifically stated that "no tire on a vehicle ve-hicle moved on a highway shall have on its periphery any block, stud, flange, cleat or spike or any other protuberance protu-berance of any material other than rubber which project beyond be-yond the tread of the traction surface of the tire". Several new designs are being employed em-ployed in the manufacture of studded snow tires, including a new plastic stud. A snow tire that employs a series of steel coils also has been in use several years. None of these winter tires are legal under Utah law. Until such time as new evidence evi-dence is presented documenting documen-ting a significant decrease in pavement wear by studded tires, there can be no change in Commission policy. |