03/27/1996 01:29 PM House TRA

 SB 241 - STUDDED TIRES ON STERLING HIGHWAY                                  
                                                                               
 Number 0086                                                                   
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN GARY DAVIS announced the first item on the agenda was SB
, an act relating to the use of studded tires on the Sterling              
 Highway.                                                                      
                                                                               
 SENATOR JOHN TORGERSON, sponsor of SB 241, said he introduced this            
 bill to correct a problem on the lower half of the Sterling Highway           
 which runs from Ninilchik down to Homer.  He said when the statutes           
 were formed to identify the time line for studded tires, the                  
 drafters used 60 North Latitude as the line to mark the dates for             
 studded tires.  He said this line intersects the Sterling Highway             
 at Ninilchik and created two separate dates for which studded tires           
 could be used.  He said the way the statutes exist right now, if              
 you were driving south between April 15, and May 1, you would need            
 to stop in Ninilchik and remove your studded tires, continue to               
 Homer and then on your way back you would change your tires again.            
 He said, currently, this does not take place, but it could happen             
 if the statute was enforced.                                                  
                                                                               
 Representative Williams joined the committee meeting at 1:31 p.m.             
                                                                               
 Number 0193                                                                   
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE TOM BRICE said it was obvious that Senator Torgerson           
 did not have any financial involvement with this bill.                        
                                                                               
 Number 0248                                                                   
                                                                               
 SENATOR TORGERSON said no, and in a joking manner said the only               
 person opposed to SB 241 was the person who owned the service                 
 station in Ninilchik.  He said people are not removing their                  
 studded tires and this bill came about because of an incident with            
 public safety.  He said SB 241 would clear up the statutes before             
 any one wrote a ticket because of the tires.                                  
                                                                               
 Number 0269                                                                   
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE BEVERLY MASEK clarified that a person could be                 
 ticketed for having studded tires.                                            
                                                                               
 Number 0299                                                                   
                                                                               
 SENATOR TORGERSON said you could be ticketed during the 15 day                
 period on either side of the 60 degree latitude.                              
                                                                               
 Number 0317                                                                   
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE MASEK said SB 241 was a good bill and made a motion            
 to move SB 241 with zero fiscal note and individual                           
 recommendations.  Hearing no objections SB 241 was moved from the             
 House Standing Committee on Transportation.