studded tire les schwab oregon city

Adam Smith installs a studded tire on one of the many customers that poured into the Oregon City Les Schwab store in this 2004 photo.

(Doug Beghtel/The Oregonian/2004)

Is there a number to call to report people with studded tires still on? It's 80 degrees out.

The rumbly season is far behind us. But just as there are people who keep their Christmas lights hung all year, some people keep studded tires on long after they're of any use -- and after the law requires they be removed.

Unlike the Christmas lights, we all ultimately pay for their delay.

In Oregon and Washington, tires with protruding metal studs are legal between Nov. 1 and March 31, with an option for those states' transportation departments to extend the season in the case of heavy weather.

But reporting studded-tire scofflaws is a little complicated, said Oregon Department of Transportation spokesman David House.

"There is no single hotline for that particular purpose or any other traffic violation," House wrote in an email. "Violations can be reported to local law enforcement, the county sheriff's office or state police."

Which agency depends on where the violation took place, House said.

The tires are illegal most of the year because of the damage they cause to the state's roads. Studs help tires grip in certain conditions because they grind into sheets of ice -- but they do the same thing to road surfaces when there's no ice.

The Oregon Department of Transportation says damage from studded tires costs the state $8.5 million a year in the form of earlier road repairs. They also leave ruts that can be slippery in rainy weather.

It's not clear how often drivers are cited for using studded tires out of season. House said the "unlawful use of metal objects on tires" isn't an offense that's reported to the Oregon DMV. However, it can come with a fine of $160.

What about DEQ violations?

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality does have a hotline to report vehicles that show visible exhaust for more than 10 seconds. The number is 888-997-7888, and there's an online form.

DEQ says it might contact the driver, but only to give them a stern talking-to. In that case, too, it's up to police to provide enforcement.

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Have a commuting question? Contact Elliot Njus at enjus@oregonian.com or on Twitter @enjus