Governor Mike Dunleavy suspended AS 28.35.155(a), the statute referencing the studded tire usage, until May 11 to ease the financial burden of Alaskans and to assist with preventing the spread of COVID-19. Though there is an inherent risk in conducting non-urgent business and transactions, auto-repair facilities are considered essential businesses and are permitted to remain open and provide studded tire removal services, if they choose.
Commissioner Amanda Price, Department of Public Safety: “Protection of public health is critical at this time which is why it is necessary to abide by the issued health mandates. It is our hope to flatten the curve by keeping people in quarantine and not traveling for non-critical reasons. We will get through this together by looking for practical solutions to our current situations.”
Commissioner John MacKinnon, Department of Transportation & Public Facilities: “Studded snow tires cause additional wear and tear on paved roads, but we know there are significantly fewer Alaskans on the roads right now. Alaskans are observing mandates restricting nonessential travel and they are staying home. We appreciate that the studded tire deadline is pushed back, this is one less thing for people to worry about at this time.”
In a joint statement, the Departments of Public Safety and Transportation & Public Facilities would like to thank all Alaskans for their efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19.
A list of other statutes that are currently suspended can be found at https://gov.alaska.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/03.31.20-COVID-19-Order-of-Suspension-2-and-Appendix-A.pdf.