Perhaps because they are talking about California and not the Midwest. The average driver in California, or specifically to the national parks and other mountain resort areas, tend to be inexperienced in snow and particularly mountain snow driving. Every winter, CHP and county LEOs respond to many, many emergency situations resulting from unprepared drivers confronting dangerous conditions for which many are unprepared. The legislature has taken steps to limit such over-extension of limited emergency resources by requiring a minimum level of preparation. As a retired LEO, I think that is a very good thing. We simply don't have the resources to be pulling clueless newbies out of ditches and up cliffs because they didn't have chains or other proper equipment for conditions.