[brian2sun]

Warning: This is a rant, so if you don't want to hear it - leave now.
I've lived in the same mountain town all my life (except for a couple years while I was going to college). I've seen 7, 8, even 10 ft. snow storms and have been driving in the snow every winter since 1993. The cops have always made 4x4s carry chains when it snows, but this is getting ridiculous and I need to say my peace.

Now since the dumbing down of America is in full swing and nearing total completion, the CHP around here is requiring 4x4s to not only carry chains but put them on too - even when there's only a few inches on the ground. The problem is that they let everbody and their sister come up the mountain in these conditions, and then the idiot "flatlanders" crash their sh*t and block the roads. For every 1 local that gets into an accident in the snow, I would venture to say that there's at least 100 flatlanders crashing their Hyundai Sonatas (or whatever) at the same time.

The CHP thinks if they make everyone on the road put their chains on regardless of where they're from, what kind of vehicle they have, or their driving experience in snowy conditions, then magically everything will be safe and no one will get stuck. The reality is the idiots still get stuck, still block the roads (with their chains on), and still think stopping in the middle of an intersection is the best place to tighten or re-install their chains. Nothing is different except now they expect me with my very capable 4runner to uselessly put my chains on too. And if I don't, I will face up to a $700 fine. Yes, $700 if I'm "caught" driving without them on. Flatlanders have always been required to put chains on before going up the mountain, now the only difference is that the locals who don't crash and know how to drive in bad conditions have to also for no reason.

I'm sorry, but I don't need the f*cking government deciding for me when it's too unsafe to drive my 4runner especially when they do not take experience or the vehicle being driven into consideration. Hell, I've rescued a Brinks amoured car in the snow before that was carrying over $1,000,000 cash with my 4runner and no chains on. The Brinks drivers were so happy that they sent me a $300 check as a thank you and informed me how much $$ they were carrying at the time and how much was at risk. But apparently I'm the "risk" on the road now.

They could just as easily turn the flatlanders around and tell them come back when the roads are clear, but they don't. They purposely let them up to make a mess out of our streets and then try to look like they're solving the problem by misdirecting the attention to the locals. You see, they like to "trap" people up here - get em up here while it's snowing and hopefully they will get snowed in their hotels overnight and then have nothing better to do than spend money in town. But they underestimate their stupidity. The flatlanders think their Mercedes coupe can get through 2 ft of snow so they try to venture out to explore and then they crash - big freakin surprise! And low and behold, the road will close because 17 other douchebags had the same idea.

It just think it's bullshit that I have some of the best snow tires $$ can buy and more than twice as much ground clearance than an average car. And if that's not enough I have 4WD, and if that's not enough I have 4LO, and if that's not enough I have a diff locker, and if that's not enough I have 18 years of experience in this sh*t. So Officer Dingleberry and his crew of numbnuts can go to hell, I WILL NOT PUT MY CHAINS ON UNLESS I DEEM THEY ARE NECESSARY.

[K.C.]

Right on Buddy!!

I totally agree.

If the road condition is that bad...close the highway.

[techno]

Shut up and put the chains on dude!

That seems a bit too strict. Where I come from it all depends on the conditions. Road signs would change accordingly, with stuff like
2wd with chains and 4wd only (for moderate to heavy snow)
4wd with chains only (for remote area, very heavy snow)
road closed (certain death ahead)

[JohnsD90]

Don't they have to catch up to you give you a fine. , Im sure the exploders they are using aren't half as capable as you.

[Pure 98]

Wow $700 fine thats a load of

Do you mean people like this.

This is after I shoveled out all the pack snow from under and around the car.
This guy is an F-ing moron . lol look at the road, how he lost control???????...........

[brian2sun]

Originally Posted by techno

Shut up and put the chains on dude!

Wear 2 pairs of underwear in case you poop your pants. Even though you know you can hold it, someone who doesn't know anything about you should decide that for you right?

[brian2sun]

Originally Posted by Pure 98

Wow $700 fine thats a load of

Do you mean people like this.

This is after I shoveled out all the pack snow from under and around the car.
This guy is an F-ing moron . lol look at the road, how he lost control???????...........

That's exactly it! You have to wonder how???? I would have to get drunk and drive around with my eyes closed!

[Pure 98]

LMFAO

[LINY4Runner]

my. favorite. rant. ever.


if you get a ticket, challenge that sh!t and tell the judge exactly what you told us!

[redbeard]

Nice!!

I love the people here in CO that can't get up the little hills in their neighborhood because of their bad tires on their Camero, Mustang, Civic, Mercedes, Etc.

Also the 4x4 drivers that can't figure out why the ended up in the ditch while they were going 75 on ice. Way too many people here that have expensive rides and no driving skills.


Then we all have to suffer in one way or another

[SilverBullet01]

now im wondering if this is just CHP in your area, or if i need to go see what these guys are going to say to me on my frequent trips to Tahoe.

i agree, i have much more experience than 90% of people, with a more than capable rig. if its that bad, close the damn road

[brian2sun]

I'm sure glad my fellow 4runner owners know what I'm talking about. John, I thought the same thing.. "try to catch me in your exploder". It just scares me that I'll get a $700 fine in the mail if they got my license plate. My buddy drove right through a chain check last night, so we'll see if he gets one.

[rdgt4r]

haha but Brian their Aerostar has new tires, they dont need chains and they can go the speed limit! Ive never needed chains. Some think 4WD is an end all to conditions and their good to resume the speed limit, thats who CHP should worry about.

But I do love the PT Cruiser's and such on the side of the road with the husband trying to put chains on and the wife *****ing the whole time all while their in the number 2 lane of traffic.

I hear you CHP is very restrictive (overly) I explained to a CalTrans guy one time its mostly about SPEED that is the determination on how far I can make it not chains. Dont get me wrong chains can have their place but up here they will shut down I-5 (a very important road for those of who aren't familiar with the area) if there's more than 3 inches of snow, which mind you not is fine without chains and a nice steady/slow speed. Common sense plays a huge role, but hell this is California.

[brian2sun]

Originally Posted by rdgt4r

haha but Brian their Aerostar has new tires, they dont need chains and they can go the speed limit! Ive never needed chains. Some think 4WD is an end all to conditions and their good to resume the speed limit, thats who CHP should worry about.

But I do love the PT Cruiser's and such on the side of the road with the husband trying to put chains on and the wife *****ing the whole time all while their in the number 2 lane of traffic.

I hear you CHP is very restrictive (overly) I explained to a CalTrans guy one time its mostly about SPEED that is the determination on how far I can make it not chains. Dont get me wrong chains can have their place but up here they will shut down I-5 (a very important road for those of who aren't familiar with the area) if there's more than 3 inches of snow, which mind you not is fine without chains and a nice steady/slow speed. Common sense plays a huge role, but hell this is California.

I couldn't agree more, slow and steady.

[rdgt4r]

Trust me same thing every year up here, especially because of the 5. CalTrans is to blame they control the chain checks, they are weak and lazy and dont want to plow to up here.