Legislature(1993 - 1994)
04/05/1994 03:00 PM House L&C
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HB 301 - BAN SALE OF SOME STUDDED TIRES AND STUDS Number 010 REP. MARK HANLEY, Prime Sponsor of HB 301, concurred with Chairman Hudson that the short title of the bill is misleading. He mentioned that the Department of Transportation has been doing road wear studies during the past few years and the results of these, as well as research done in other parts of this country and other countries, all indicate that studded tires cause significant wear to the roads. He mentioned that he introduced this bill last year to initiate discussion, and since that time he traveled to Finland and talked with people there about this issue. Also, during the past year the department has determined that there are light weight studs that fit into tires and that decreasing the weight of studs can reduce up to 50 percent of the road wear. He said the actual stud casing is either plastic or aluminum. He also pointed out that the bill prohibits the use of studs that are heavier than a certain weight. The availability of the lighter weight studs was initially a concern; however, Johnson's Tire Service, the largest dealer in Anchorage, might elect to use the lighter studs as soon as next year as a marketing tool, thereby signifying that availability is not as great a concern as was anticipated. The additional expense of using lighter weight studs is estimated to cost anywhere from fifty cents to two dollars per tire, and as production increases that cost might decrease. Studies over the past eight years show that it is the actual change in weight of the stud that affects the road wear, and with regard to stopping, the stud itself remains hard and does not wear out. Number 038 REP. SITTON said he supports this bill, but questioned if tire retailers and marketers would if stuck with an inventory of tires that are illegal to sell, and he wondered if there would be any recourse with a manufacturer. Number 042 REP. HANLEY said the act takes effect in 1998 and he might suggest that it move to 1997. He said there was a concern to provide adequate time, but since they heard from Johnson's Tire Service in Anchorage, it appears that people have plenty of time to adapt. He said there are apparently only two plants in Europe that manufacture studs for snow tires and they are already going to be making these light weight designs. Number 050 REP. PORTER asked what the observed effect was on traction. Number 052 REP. HANLEY mentioned that in the more current European studies it appears that there is little if any difference. Apparently, from the studies being done in Sweeden and Finland, the stopping ability between the light and heavy studs is similar, but the road wear is different. He said it is only the casing that shows a difference and that is inside the tires so it does not actually affect whether you are stopping. He commented that it seems like a win-win situation. Number 060 CHAIRMAN HUDSON asked what the results were of discussions with the Department of Transportation. They had previously asked that the bill be amended to include an additional requirement regarding maximum stud hardness. Chairman Hudson also asked if there was anyone from the department to speak to this issue. Number 065 REP. HANLEY reported that there has been an on-going debate with the Department of Transportation. He said there is only one distributer of studs for snow tires in the United States, located in Florida, and he will be carrying the new lighter weight studs. He explained there are two manufacturing factories, both in Germany, that are apparently the only ones that make these items, and the softer metal studs are not being produced anymore. He commented that some people want to totally ban studded snow tires, and that evidence shows that with good tires you get as good a stopping distance. He stated that he does not want to go to this extent, that there are no studs with the "Rockwell scale" being made now and he does not want to put a back door route into the system to eliminate studded snow tires, especially since there is, seemingly, a win-win first step that can reduce up to 50 percent of the road wear at a cost not much more than the current one. Number 085 CHAIRMAN HUDSON asked if there were any further questions. He asked for the wish of the committee. (Chairman Hudson indicated that Rep. Green had arrived.) Number 087 REP. PORTER made a motion to move the HB 301 out of the committee with individual recommendations and zero fiscal note. After some discussion on the 1988 implementation date, CHAIRMAN HUDSON acknowledged that there had been no amendment regarding this date and Rep. Porter withdrew his motion. CHAIRMAN HUDSON stated that HB 301 was before the committee, capable of being amended. He noted that the prime sponsor's recommendation was to change the date from July 1, 1998, to July 1, 1997. He asked for the wish of the committee. It was so moved that the bill be amended with the implementation date changed to 1997. Hearing no objection, the amendment was so adopted. REP. PORTER then renewed his motion to move the bill. CHAIRMAN HUDSON indicated that there were no objections to moving HB 301 with the attached fiscal note. CHAIRMAN HUDSON announced the next order of business would be committee substitute (CS) for HB 388.
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