§ 145-c. Snow emergency route. A street or highway designated as a snow emergency route by the state or municipality having jurisdiction over such street or highway upon which no vehicle shall operate without snow tires and/or tire chains when a snow emergency has been declared by the state or municipality having jurisdiction thereof. Each snow emergency route shall be posted in accordance with the provisions of article forty-four of this chapter. The provisions of this section shall not apply to signs installed and operative prior to the date on which this section takes effect, provided, however, that the provisions of this section shall apply to signs replaced on and after such date.