Officials with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) announced today they have extended the already extended deadline for removing studded tires to May 15th.
The annual March 31st deadline was previously extended to April 30th. WSDOT will re-evaluate the situation near the end of the new extension period in the event further deadline extension is required.
WSDOT officials said the further extension of the deadline was “due to COVID-19 virus concerns and Gov. Jay Inslee’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy order to help reduce the spread of the virus by limiting social interactions.”
The May 15 deadline means that starting at midnight on Saturday, May 16, drivers with studded tires face a $136 fine.
WSDOT encourages drivers to remove studded tires prior to the deadline when possible. Studded tires are known to damage pavement, so removing them promptly after winter has passed helps preserve state roadways.