UDOT Cottonwood Canyons Sticker Program

• Prior to visiting one of the participating sticker inspection locations, participants MUST fill out the digital form posted on the UDOT Cottonwood Canyons website associated with the tire shop they plan to visit.
• Once you fill out the form, you will receive a confirmation email. Please keep this for your records.
• After filling out the form, contact the tire shop you want to visit for sticker inspection and let them know you have filled out the sticker program form and will be visiting for a tire inspection.
• Please fill out the form with ACCURATE INFORMATION AND WITH THE CORRECT SPELLING (name, email, phone number) so that the tire shop employee can find you on the form during the inspection process. Ensuring that your information is accurate helps maintain an efficient inspection process for all participants.
• If you have multiple vehicles, please fill out the form one time for each vehicle. You may use the same email address or phone number, but you should let the inspector know that you have multiple vehicles under the same email address or phone number.

Participation in the sticker program remains voluntary and free of charge. In order to qualify for a sticker, a vehicle must meet the following conditions:

• 4WD/AWD Vehicles: 3PMSF or M+S tires with a tread depth of 5/32 minimum
• 2WD/FWD Vehicles: 3PMSF tires on all wheels with a tread depth of 5/32 minimum or proof of chains (chains must be in vehicle at time of inspection)

* According to Utah Code 41-6a-1636, a person may not operate a vehicle if one or more of the tires in use on the vehicle has a tread depth less than 2/32 inch measured in any two adjacent tread grooves at three equally spaced intervals around the circumference of the tire.

* Due to the challenging winter driving conditions often present in the Cottonwood Canyons, the sticker program requirement is a tire tread depth minimum of 5/32.

• Participants will arrive at the tire shop inspection location that they signed up for and ask to have their vehicle’s tires inspected as part of the UDOT sticker program.
• Tire shop employees will inspect tires and distribute stickers only to those that meet the requirements of the program.
• Participants are not obligated to buy tires at the inspection locations, the tire shop is simply verifying that the tires meet the requirements of the sticker program and distributing stickers. Participants may purchase tires from any vendor they choose and then visit/return to a participating sticker inspection location for inspection.
• If a vehicle is not properly equipped for winter driving and fails to meet the requirements of the sticker program, the driver can choose to purchase compliant tires/traction devices from a vendor of their choice or opt out of the program.

This is a completely free and voluntary program for participants, where UDOT will purchase the stickers and authorize local tire shops to distribute stickers to qualifying participants.

• Participating businesses are not to charge sticker program participants for the inspection of the tires as part of the sticker program.
• Tire shop employees will inspect tires and distribute stickers to those that meet the requirements of the program.
• If a vehicle is not properly equipped for winter driving and fails to meet the requirements of the sticker program, the driver can choose to purchase compliant tires/traction devices at the business of their choice or opt out of the program.
• Participating businesses are not to collect sticker program participant information for marketing purposes if the participant is only there for the sticker program and does not expressly give consent.
• Participating businesses must NOT use sticker program inspections to pressure motorists to upgrade tires or purchase other products or services. It is appropriate to offer upgrades, products and/or services. It is NOT appropriate to make a purchase a requirement for receiving a sticker.

• Safety and preparedness education for winter driving conditions is a high priority for UDOT, but we cannot guarantee enforcement when the Traction Law is in effect since we are not a law enforcement agency.
  • UDOT’s role is to provide education and communication on the Traction Law and when it is in effect.
• The program provides an avenue for canyon travelers to inspect and prepare their vehicles at a time convenient to them and receive education prior to traveling in the canyons.
  • Non-compliant vehicles with underprepared or undereducated drivers often delay travel for buses, shuttles and other personal vehicles, and are a safety hazard; pre-inspection is an opportunity for all drivers to prevent this from occurring.
• High participation in the program has a larger impact on the safety and preparedness of travelers in the Cottonwood Canyons and helps public transit function more efficiently if there are fewer crashes, slide offs and struggling vehicles causing schedule delays related to underprepared vehicles.
• Drivers are encouraged to take responsibility for preparing their vehicles for winter driving conditions prior to traveling to the canyons; participating in the program and encouraging others throughout your community to do the same is a small but significant way to positively impact road safety and mobility in the canyons.
• Participating in the sticker program helps UDOT better assess the number of properly equipped vehicles traveling in the canyons throughout the winter.

Having a sticker does not guarantee access to the canyons, rather it verifies the vehicle’s tires meet the required equipment standards when the traction law is in effect.

• Vehicles may still be subject to inspection at the discretion of law enforcement.
• Having a sticker is not a requirement for vehicle travel in the canyons and does not allow holders to enter the canyon during closures.
• The sticker does not allow vehicles with the sticker to have priority to enter the canyons.