Illegal trailer hitch?

[Momz]

I came out of  local courthouse this morning and found a cop standing in back of my pick-up truck looking at my trailer hitch. I asked if there was a problem and was told that I had an illegal hitch on my truck. WTF!!!

The cop said that someone could walk into it and hurt themselves. He also stated that I would need a commercial license plate on my truck to legally use that hitch. WTF!!!

I asked if he was going to write a ticket for me using a "load equalizing hitch" on my truck. He said that he was giving me a break and only going to give me a verbal warning.

I went home reasearched all laws and ordinances pertaining to towing/trailering and types of hitches.  I also called "Reese Hitches" in Plymouth MI (manufacturer of my hitch) to inquire about the legality of the use of my trailer hitch.



I could not find any laws against using this type of hitch on a personal or commercial vehicle. Reese Hitches also confirmed that there are no laws pertaining the use of load equalizer hitches on non-commercial vehicles.

I am selling my current Toy Hauler and purchasing a larger one, so I need to use it to move the trailer when I show my trailer to perspective buyers.
I normally don't leave it on my truck, but I believe that the cop was in error. Maybe he walked into it while in the courthouse lot and bumped his shin.
I, however am not going to remove my hitch just because he said it was not legal on his word alone.

[Daniel Meyer]

He was not in error. He was full of sh!t.

[Hooter]

Did you ask him how his shin was?  There is no law about that hitch...Just take it off if you aren't using it. Boy the road must be boring today. There is a law however about anything protruding a certain distance beyond the rear of a motor vehicle, but I believe that pertains to a load and I forgot what it is? My state law / ordinanace books are in my briefcase.

[MP]

It seems like a couple years ago on one of the RV forums I frequent, there was a discussion about this.  I do not know for a fact, but some members reported that some jurisdictions DO have laws requiring one to remove the hitch when not hooked to a trailer.

MP

[Skinhead]

You need a chauffers license for towing trailers over a certain GVW rating, (don't recall what that number is off the top of my head) but that is only required for commerce (in other words if you are using the vehicle commercially).  You need a CDL for a combined gross vehicle rating over I believe 23,000 lbs.  That cop is full of crap, there is nothing Illegal about that hitch, and you do not need commercial plates.  Call the state police and ask to talk to the commercial vehicle enforcement officer if you want the straight poop.

Personally, I would remove that hitch when not towing as they are $$$ to replace if some one decides they need it more than you do.  Even with a locking hitch pin.

[Serk]

Basically, ANYTHING is illegal somewhere and by someone's standards. We can all be arrested at any time if a cop decides he wants to make things difficult for us, the laws are so many and so convoluted...

[BF]

Put a red rag/flag on it and call it a day. 

[da prez]

  In Illinois , it is illegal to have an exposed hitch on a vehicle when you are not pulling a trailer. (including a motorcycle)  They can cause more damage in an accident.

     Without the trailer rating , the leo is blowing smoke. The capacity of the truck must be rated  to the capacity of the trailer. ( do not pull a 10,000 pound trailer with a Ford Ranger) Equalizer hitches can also be used for braking safety , to keep them level.

                                             da

[Patrick]

Supposedly here in NY that is illegal and folks have received 'coupons for a not so free visit to the local judge' for parking in the same manner. 'They' claim that you have to something hooked to the hitch to be legal.
Thats part of why I'm looking at getting one of those rubber step thingys.

[old2soon]

cop must like the smell of kaka as far up his ass that his head was!  I'm bettin he barked his shin on it and being as you showed up he vented. BUT bein as I was NOT there it's pure conjecture on my part-EXCEPT for the cranial rectal inversion part!  RIDE SAFE.

[CaribouHunter]

I can tell you that it is illegal to have any type of trailer hitch on a truck in KY if it's not connected to a trailer, and it's a $200 fine I think. 

[PAVALKER]

I can tell you that it is illegal to have any type of trailer hitch on a truck in KY if it's not connected to a trailer, and it's a $200 fine I think. 

I believe there are more states, PA included, that have a law against hitches in the receiver without the trailer on.  It is a hazard.  Most are not enforced tho.   As for the type of hitch, maybe he thought that was a pintel  hitch which is used often commercially.

[Whooray]

He was not in error. He was full of sh!t.

 

[fudgie]

I leave my hitch on all the time. Sometimes a ball or just a reg hitch with a pin in it if im pulling wagons. Plus it keeps folks from hitting my truck in parking lots.

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

I can tell you that it is illegal to have any type of trailer hitch on a truck in KY if it's not connected to a trailer, and it's a $200 fine I think. 

If so it ain't enforced all that much from what I see 

[Robert]

I also believe the cop was fos and could have been nicer, but with that said I would also remove the hitch knowing the pain I was in after hitting one at work. The two other thoughts that come to mind are with it being so easily removed I would be worried about someone taking it. With a truck and the short spaces at stores and the rear sticking out I would worry someone would clip it with the side of their car. Morons abound and if given a chance it will happen.

[cookiedough]

I leave my hitch on all the time. Sometimes a ball or just a reg hitch with a pin in it if im pulling wagons. Plus it keeps folks from hitting my truck in parking lots.

same here, good idea to leave the hitch on all the time.  Wish I had it on when the a-hole neighbor a few blocks down the road a few years ago rear ended my bumper on my then new 2010 Toyota Tundra worth 27K and he had NO insurance, no job, no money, nothing to pay for his damage he caused with his P.O.S. chevy malibu worth 1000 bucks.  Deadbeat had to go to small claims court and then to DMV to get his drivers license taken away taking 10 months to cough up 1200 bucks to fix my rear bumper and wiring harness/receiver hitch.

[PAVALKER]

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Laws+on+trailer+hitch#

[Varmintmist]

I can tell you that it is illegal to have any type of trailer hitch on a truck in KY if it's not connected to a trailer, and it's a $200 fine I think. 

I believe there are more states, PA included, that have a law against hitches in the receiver without the trailer on.  It is a hazard.  Most are not enforced tho.   As for the type of hitch, maybe he thought that was a pintel  hitch which is used often commercially.

You cant have the hitch on without a trailer, however the type of hitch means nothing. I have a class 4 hitch and we have pintel/ball hitches because some of the trailers dont have ball type hitches. Type doesnt make a difference, weight does.

Pretty sure in PA it only comes into effect if someone hits you. You get fined because the idiot that hit you did more damage to their car than they would have if they hit the bumper. Its a insurance driven law. Nothing to do with someone walking into the hitch.

[Momz]

OK,...I'm a scofflaw according to MI law HB-5610.
This law was introduced by Representative George Durany of Dearborn MI, after he walked into a trailer hitch.

Thank you PAVALKER

I guess I will have to be an outlaw. I will not remove that (or any) hitch from my pick-up.

[98valk]

they have been giving out money grab tickets here in Nazi-Jersey lately, even business vehicles for having tow hitches when not in use.
these towns need other peoples money cause they don't know how to stop spending, so they steel from the people, like the forfeiture laws being used against motorist in some states.

[Momz]

Now that I know that I'm guilty of (unwittingly) breaking a law that may injure the unaware pedestrian, I wonder if there should be a law against not paying attention while walking (distracted walking)?

Last week, I found that here in MI that it is not yet illegal to "text while driving". WTF!!!
Yet it is up to the LEO to determine if the driver is "distracted".

[PAVALKER]

I have considered adding a front hitch to my Honda Ridgeline and putting an additional bumper/step on the front and rear receiver during normal operation.....still might.

[F6Dave]

Last week, I found that here in MI that it is not yet illegal to "text while driving". WTF!!!
Yet it is up to the LEO to determine if the driver is "distracted".

I agree with that approach.  There are countless things that can distract you while driving, so why not have a single law rather than dozens of specific ones?

I saw a woman reading a book while driving on I-80 through Nebraska a few years ago.  That had to be more dangerous than texting.

[Otus]

The way I see it George, you might break the knee of a habitual texter. That could possibly make it impossible for them to drive and temporarily make the world a little safer for motorcycle enthusiasts. Leave it in.

[cookiedough]

Last week, I found that here in MI that it is not yet illegal to "text while driving". WTF!!!
Yet it is up to the LEO to determine if the driver is "distracted".

I agree with that approach.  There are countless things that can distract you while driving, so why not have a single law rather than dozens of specific ones?

I saw a woman reading a book while driving on I-80 through Nebraska a few years ago.  That had to be more dangerous than texting.

I thought pretty sure most states by now would have a NO texting law while driving.  WI just initiated it a few years ago,  but have seen even our local cops texting while driving in town here.   MI is messed up!  No hitch on truck, but hey, let us text while driving = dumb!

I do know in WI you cannot trailer anything without being secured, say straps, etc.  Our local landscaping company got a ticket on his open trailer for not having his huge lawn mowing riders strapped down on his trailers even while driving from house to house  in town to mow yards.  I see he still doesn't strap them down, figuring the time wasted isn't worth it would rather pay the ticket I guess?

I once got an 80 dollar ticket on my 10' jon boat from WI DNR on a non-gas motorized lake NO ONE around but me on entire lake, DNR came up flying on his GAS outboard boat with his wife telling me my trolling motor battery wedged in behind rear seat not able to move needed to be secured.  I asked him HOW?  Drill 2 holes for straps thru the 1/8" aluminum bottom and watch the boat sink?  Or use a bungee cord around the rear seat/battery doing what, when boat tips over, the bungee cord will not hold the battery in?  After he gave me the ticket, I told him he better write a ticket for himself since this is a NON-gas operated lake in case he didn't know that.  If my wife wasn't with me, I would have told him to F off!!  Haven't taken any of my boats back to that lake since.    He was also writing tickets that day to fisherman along shore for open glass bottles laying next to them even though they said those bottles were NOT theirs.  Welcome to WI DNR enforcement.  I think that DNR guy had a county wide quota to make up for that month or he was being a show off to his wife thinking he was god almighty.

[Momz]

I wonder if my old F150 would have been illegal with my old bumper mounted hitch ball?

[Patrick]

I have considered adding a front hitch to my Honda Ridgeline and putting an additional bumper/step on the front and rear receiver during normal operation.....still might.

I ran a front hitch for many years. It makes for easier trailer pushing and works especially well on airplanes.
I kinda stopped leaving the hitch in when the overzealous local cops started issuing coupons.

[Jess Tolbirt]

my hitch is all welded together,, ball welded to the receiver,, receiver welded to the hitch,, hitch welded to the frame..prevents theft,,

[Rams]

my hitch is all welded together,, ball welded to the receiver,, receiver welded to the hitch,, hitch welded to the frame..prevents theft,,

Note to Self:  Bring a torch when visiting Jess.   

[Rams]

I can tell you that it is illegal to have any type of trailer hitch on a truck in KY if it's not connected to a trailer, and it's a $200 fine I think. 

CaribouHunter,
I have two friends that are KY Troopers.   I've never heard of this so, I called and asked both of them.   Neither one had ever heard of such a citation.   Both asked me to find out exactly what the citation said.    I travel quite a bit in my Dodge Ram Diesel pulling a gooseneck but also use that Ram to pull bumper pull tag alongs.    I've never removed the male part of my Reese hitch.   

Please enlighten me as to what that $200 ticket was for.

[3fan4life]

Just the fact that there would be a law on the books ANYWHERE against leaving the hitch connected to the truck says:

Our legislators do NOT have enough to do.   

There are way TOO many real problems in the world for them to waste time writing and passing such TRIVIAL legislation.

[Spirited-6]

I learned a long time ago to remove 'hitch' from my truck. DAMN, that hurt. 

[Jess Tolbirt]

I learned a long time ago to remove 'hitch' from my truck. DAMN, that hurt. 

sorta like Bill Dance did?  you tube bill dance bloopers and prepare to laff a little

[baird4444]

Just the fact that there would be a law on the books ANYWHERE against leaving the hitch connected to the truck says:
Our legislators do NOT have enough to do.   
There are way TOO many real problems in the world for them to waste time writing and passing such TRIVIAL legislation.

   Being from The Police State of Illinois I can tell you that this was designed and lobbied for
by the insurance companies. seems they were paying out way to much for plastic bumpers
that had been damaged by trailer hitches....

[old2soon]

I had to stop at my V A med center today. There were 1/2 dozen pickups in the lot on the patient side and 4 or 5 more on the employee side. EVERY one of them and some cages had the male part stickin out from the rear bumper. One even had a ball mounted on the front bumper. I keep it-ball-off the M/C when not ion use. It sticks out far enough on the M/C to make contact with my lower shin area rather painfully.  Far as the insurance companies pitchin a bitch bout those balls they need to tell their customers to drive better. Some one piles into the ass end of my cage or pickup I want their vehicle way worse off than mine. Course be the same folks that don't buckle in their young uns. WARNING-off at a tangent-if the dummies have two rear enders they should be dropped after the second one.  RIDE SAFE.