Trailer hitch law?

11105 Views 12 Replies 10 Participants Last post by Dukkilr, Jul 7, 2011

Dukkilr

Discussion Starter · Jul 6, 2011

A guy dad works with was given a $100 ticket this weekend for having his hitch in the receiver of his truck and not pulling a trailer. We've never heard of such a thing, is there an actual law like this or is there something missing from his story. I sent an e-mail to a sherrif I know but wondering if anyone on here new about this.

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Glansberg

· #2 · Jul 6, 2011

There was a post about this a while ago on IS...and I thought it sounded like it was just a proposed law. I guess I better go pull mine off. Talk about a dumb law, I mean yeah for me I'm just being lazy but I can see plenty of farmers with a valid reason for not taking it off 50 times a day...

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PrairieBelle

· #3 · Jul 6, 2011

Whats the danger? Besides killing my shins 2-3x a year?

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Dukkilr

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jul 6, 2011

My best guess would be to give them another bs reason to pull you over to see if you've been drinking!

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Last Honk

· #5 · Jul 6, 2011

Sounds like extra law enforcement revenue.
Next, I won't be able to rest my arm on the door when the window is down.

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AJB

· #6 · Jul 6, 2011

I have heard the rumor at work as well but in my opinion until I get notification in the mail or read it in the paper or hear it on the news I will keep mine in. I personally think if you want to start a law like that you should be required to send something in the mail to all Truck and SUV owners and give them notification.

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ringbill

· #7 · Jul 6, 2011

Put a red flag on the hitch.......problem solved as you as your are marking an unmarked extention of your vehicle.....I think you will have a leg to stand on, or atleast it will help law eforcement identify your neglegence.

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SNOTS

· #8 · Jul 6, 2011

ringbill said:
Put a red flag on the hitch.......problem solved as you as your are marking an unmarked extention of your vehicle.....I think you will have a leg to stand on, or atleast it will help law eforcement identify your neglegence.

I got one of those Red Shotgun shell ball covers, that the kids gave me for xmas last year. Wonder if that would work?

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ringbill

· #9 · Jul 6, 2011

Dukkilr said:
A guy dad works with was given a $100 ticket this weekend for having his hitch in the receiver of his truck and not pulling a trailer. We've never heard of such a thing, is there an actual law like this or is there something missing from his story. I sent an e-mail to a sherrif I know but wondering if anyone on here new about this.

I just got to thinking that I heard of this 5 to 10 years back had been passed. It was a product of insurance companies whining over replacemets of radiators ever time someone rear ended a pickup truck.

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GooseHunter131

· #10 · Jul 6, 2011

I would imagine that there is more to the story than you are getting told. The Only thing I can imagine is that the ball hitch was in the way of his license plate. If that were the case, it is illegal if the plate can't be clearly read. In Iowa, it is not illegal to have a ball hitch on your truck without pulling a trailer. Other states, I couldn't tell you because I don't know their laws. The only thing you need a red/orange flag for is if the load projects more than four feet from the rear of your vehicle. If that is what he got stopped for, there were no other violations, and he got a citation for it, that is rediculous. Something I would never write. If there were several violations at hand, he may have been given that citation as a form of a break and not perhaps a moving violation, or a citation that may have been more expensive. All depends on what actually happened. I have no issues with those stops if the officer is looking for a drunk. If they indeed are drunk and get stopped for that violation, it's one less drunk that is going to run into you, me or our families. Huff

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mudhungry

· #11 · Jul 6, 2011

Dukkilr said:
My best guess would be to give them another bs reason to pull you over to see if you've been drinking!

Winner winner chicken dinner!

Cerro Gordo's licken their chops!!

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lizard55033

· #12 · Jul 6, 2011

I couldn't find anything on the books about this BS law...

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Dukkilr

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jul 7, 2011

I'm starting to think that there is more to his story that he's not telling. Got an e-mail back from the sherrif that I know and he said he doesnt know of any such law unless it is protruding more than 4' then it must have a flag or light on it. Searched the internet for hours now and still cant find anything on it, but a guy I work with is on a fire department and said they were told to remove them off thier trucks because of this new law that took effect on july 1st.

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