I can't imagine ever carrying chains. Being from Alaska I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen someone using them (and they usually have CA plates). I personally don't know of anyone who even owns them.
Being that the weather changes drastically in California based on your altitude, responsible people here carry chains. You can get 'em at Pep Boys. By contrast, in some places chains are illegal. It's weird. I'm thinking of Virginia and Illinois where I used to live, maybe? The laws might have changed.
Do you have 4 wheel drive? Or studded tires? The latter, IIRC, are not legal in CA.
Yeah, chains could be a California thing. At any rate, even with my FWD '80 Honda, I was glad I had 'em.
If you lived in a state where the roads with snow on them almost always go straight up, you would understand the reason for chains. I gaurantee you that if you lived here and had to drive in the mountains in the winter yyou wold have a 4 wheel drive or carry chains. It is a state law for one thing, and where the snow is very wet they are necessary. Try to curb your ignorance until you can ask someone who knows this area about driving conditions before you run your fat mouth.