Pass Restrictions Explained
It happens every year: whether it is a product of people not understanding the restrictions or simply ignoring them, motorists on Teton Pass violate winter restrictions and often create bottlenecks for all those trying to traverse the pass. Lieutenant Tom Kelly of the Wyoming Highway Patrol says throughout the winter season, no trailers of any kind are permitted on the pass regardless of what the weather is doing or what the road conditions are at the time. The restriction is in place from November 15th through April 1st and that pertains as much to snowmobile trailers and other smaller trailers as it does to tractor trailers. Kelly points out that the fine for violating the restriction is $420. Another restriction that is periodically imposed calls for chains or adequate snowtires on any vehicle traveling that stretch of highway. Kelly says while Wyoming has two stages of the chain law, only the first stage will ever be imposed on Teton Pass. Under stage one, adequate snowtires or chains are required, or an all-wheel drive vehicle with adequate tires is permitted. Kelly says violation is $70 for non-compliance, or as high as $750 if the vehicle becomes stuck and impedes traffic on the pass. At the times the pass is closed, Kelly says there is nowhere between the two closure gates that anyone who is not maintenance or emergency personnel are allowed to be. At those times, he says, the closure has been closed either by avalanche conditions, poor visibility, or accidents blocking the road – and the closed road will be patrolled by the patrol.
