Skier and other mountain traffic on Interstate 70 would run smoother under a revised bill that increases financial penalties for truckers who ignore chain laws, according to its sponsor.

At the same time, the Colorado Transportation Commission pledged $2.5 million Thursday to build and expand new I-70 chain-up spots.

"When the highway shuts down, it's not a good situation for the truckers, it's not a good situation for the cars," Rep. Dan Gibbs, D-Silverthorne, told the House Transportation and Energy Committee Thursday.

Mountain towns and ski resorts suffer, too, when their I-70 lifeline is snarled by big-rig spinouts.

Gibbs' bill got out of committee with a unanimous vote Thursday nearly a month after it was stalled by critics. It now advances to the Appropriations Committee.

Gibbs, a former ski coach, forged a working group of state highway, State Patrol, ski resort and trucking association officials to hammer out a "win-win" solution for everyone.

Originally, his bill raised fines for chain law violations to $500 from $100. Violators who also block a traffic lane would be slapped with four points on their license.

But opponents said that wasn't fair because the state needed to provide more areas for big rigs to safely chain up.

Under the new measure, the fine for truckers who ignore chain laws would be $500 - $1,000 if the violator blocks traffic. But Gibbs agreed to drop the four-point license penalty after State Patrol officials said 80 percent of the violations are by out-of-state truckers whose licenses Colorado often can't penalize.

The bill also calls for lower speeds near chain-up areas, vendors to provide roadside chain services, and improved signs warning arriving trucks to have chains ready.

gathrighta@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5486