Chain Enforcement on I-90, Is there a better way?

Anectdotally, I heard a story recently of a front wheel drive Honda full of young snowboarders that:
-  made it up to the Stevens parking lot
-  were stopped by the WSP and asked if they caried chains
-  when they said "no" they were given a ticket for $500 AND sent back down the mountain to buy chains.
-  After they bought chains in Monroe, they tried to get back up to ride, and were stuck in the traffic from the recent fatality on Hwy 2.
-  One expensive night for them.

With AWD or 4WD they always just wave you through, so it is pretty unlikely you will have a problem.

Not always, sometimes they stop you and ask if you have chains.

Not always, sometimes they stop you and ask if you have chains.

Is the consequence of not having them just a turn around or is the the turn around and $500 ticket Rusty Knees mentioned.

In my experience, it's just the turn around (makes sense, since you haven't done anything illegal yet if you're only just entering the chain control area).

Thanks Phil.

Even if you have 4WD/AWD you can still be ticketed for not having chains. So sayeth a tropper neighbor of mine.

Also, it seems like once a year the have a 'Chains required ALL vehicles' and you would need them then.


Michael