
It may also interest you to know that there is a lively cottage industry of chain rentals and installers just prior to these checkpoints. Theoretically they are checking that AWD/4WD vehicles, without chains, also have snow tires, but that isn't really happening - they can't tell that at the 8-10 mph speed you roll through at. They make sure that you either have a AWD/4WD vehicle or that you have chains on. They usually funnel the interstate down to two lanes and have two guys waving cars through, one by one. during dangerous driving conditions, that is.

On I-80, heading into Donner pass as you go through lake tahoe, CHP/Caltrans does indeed check every single car as it drives through.


"Do they really check every car, one by one, to make sure they have all the required equipment? Sounds time intensive."
