Legislature(2003 - 2004)
03/18/2003 01:37 PM House TRA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HB 173-FEE FOR STUDDED TIRES CO-CHAIR MASEK announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 173, "An Act relating to a fee on studded tires; and providing for an effective date." Number 1586 CO-CHAIR HOLM moved to adopt the proposed committee substitute (CS) [Version 23-GH1127\D, Kurtz, 3/12/03] as the working document. There being no objection, Version D was before the committee. Number 1558 BARBARA COTTING, Staff to Representative Jim Holm, Alaska State Legislature, speaking as the committee aide, explained that Version D, under Section 1, creates a fine for people who violate the law. It also eliminates the language "or other transfer" on page 1, line 8. Furthermore, it changes the definition of studded tire to refer to a motor vehicle tire rather than just a tire, which might refer to bicycle tires. Number 1498 DAVE SNYDER, Operator, Diversified Tire, related his belief that most people aren't likely to pay the extra $40 for studded tires. He estimated that 30-40 percent of Alaskans would be more willing to jeopardize their safety and that of other innocent drivers on the road than to pay the proposed fee. Mr. Snyder said that he believes the $10 fee per studded tire is extreme. He suggested an alternative of a $1 tax on all tires. All tires wear out the road and studded tires keep many people safe on the road. CO-CHAIR HOLM inquired as to the cost of siped tires. MR. SNYDER said his facility does a lot of siped tires. Mr. Snyder informed the committee that siped tires and studless winter tires don't have the same effect on glare ice conditions as studded tires. Mr. Snyder related that he charges customers according to the situation. When a tire is full of rocks, there is a labor-intensive rock-picking session before the tire can be siped, and that can cost from $15-$20 per car tire. For tires without rocks, there is a fee to sipe the tire of $10 per tire. CO-CHAIR HOLM asked if siped tires are an alternative in most cases. Co-Chair Holm highlighted that Alaska is one of three states that allow any type of studded tires. MR. SNYDER answered that in Alaska most of the winter conditions [justify] the need for studded tires or chains. If studded tires are eliminated, Mr. Snyder predicted an increase in accidents. Mr. Snyder said that his customers don't want studs, but they need them and must have them to be safe. Number 1320 CO-CHAIR HOLM offered his understanding that Canada doesn't allow studded tires and thus he asked if there is any information regarding whether this has compromised the safety of drivers in Canada. He related that in most cases the use of studded tires has been eliminated because of the damage they create to the highways and that perhaps those areas are doing more salting than in Alaska. Therefore, perhaps more salting is an option. Number 1285 JUDY SNYDER, Diversified Tire, announced her opposition to HB 173 as written. She related that testing has proven that the use of studded tires significantly increases safety with regard to braking and handling while on icy road conditions. Regarding the use of studded tires, the National Tire Safety Organization has mandated the use of four studded tires if any are used on a vehicle. Therefore, HB 173 is essentially a $40 per vehicle fee. She expressed concern that such a fee would preclude many Alaskans from purchasing studded tires, which could have a serious negative impact on road safety. If it's determined to be absolutely necessary to impose a tire surcharge, Ms. Snyder echoed the earlier suggestion to charge $1 on all tires sold in Alaska and thus the burden would be more evenly distributed among all drivers. CO-CHAIR MASEK, upon determining that no one else wished to testify, asked if there was any discussion on HB 173. REPRESENTATIVE FATE said the testimony was that all tires exact some wear on highways. He asked if there have been any studies with regard to the ratio of wear from a studded tire and an all- weather tire. Number 1164 GEORGE LEVASSEUER, Maintenance and Operations Manager, Southcentral District, Northern Region, Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF), informed the committee that there have been a number of studies that have reviewed the amount of wear that studded tires do. The department estimates that every studded tire costs $50 in wear. Therefore, for a set of four tires, over the length of their life, there will be $200 worth of pavement damage. There have been a number of tests in which studded tires were run on one track and an all-weather tire or radial tire alongside of it. What was illustrated was that there isn't much appreciable wear at all from the standard winter tire as compared with the studded tire. Mr. Levasseuer highlighted that in Alaska the grooves in the highway are about 55-58 inches apart, and that's not related to truck wear because the width between those tires is about 80-82 inches. Therefore, the grooves are related to a standard passenger vehicle equipped with studded tires. The department estimates that over $5 million a year [worth of] damage is experienced from studded tires. CO-CHAIR MASEK recalled an earlier meeting during which it was noted that the most wear can be seen on the Glenn Highway and the Seward Highway. CO-CHAIR HOLM pointed out that the total amount of revenue [generated by HB 173] is about $1,950,000. Therefore, [the state] would be subsidizing in the amount of about $3 million, even with HB 173. Number 1052 REPRESENTATIVE KOOKESH asked if there has been a study reviewing the safety of studded tires versus [standard all-weather] tires. MR. LEVASSEUER informed the committee that the department has done a number of studies which show that Alaska has clear roads about 95 percent of the time in the winter. There has been review of several factors that help with the newer cars such as those with anti-lock braking systems, which provide much better traction in the winter. There are also siped tires as well as radial tires that provide much better traction. Furthermore, more and more front-wheel-drive vehicles and sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) are in use. Mr. Levasseuer explained that when studded tires came out in the mid-1960s, studded tires were a valid way in which to increase traction and safety. However, now there are a number of methods being used that make studded tires almost obsolete on Alaska's main arterials. He noted that the department has a very aggressive maintenance program on the main arterials throughout Southcentral Alaska and Southeast Alaska. Furthermore, the department utilizes a very aggressive chemical application program with magnesium chloride. Number 0942 MR. LEVASSEUER reiterated that Alaska has clear roads about 95 percent of the time and said this negates [the need] to use studs on the main arterials. He asserted that [the use of studs on the main arterials] actually decreases the safety of the traveling public because of the grooves from stud wear, which collect water and cause the loss of traction due to hydroplaning and decreased visibility. Therefore, Mr. Levasseuer related his belief that there are a number of alternatives available that provide adequate safety on Alaska's main arterials and thus negate the need for studded tires. REPRESENTATIVE KOOKESH said this didn't answer his question. CO-CHAIR MASEK announced that HB 173 would be held over.
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