February 22, 2005, Introduced by Reps. Sheltrown, Polidori, Spade, Brown, Farrah, Sak, Adamini, Espinoza, Cushingberry, Vagnozzi, Plakas and Lemmons, III and referred to the Committee on Transportation.
A bill to amend 1949 PA 300, entitled
"Michigan vehicle code,"
by amending section 721 (MCL 257.721), as amended by 2000 PA 154.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 721. (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5),
a passenger vehicle or a pickup truck shall not be driven upon a
highway drawing or having attached to the passenger vehicle or
pickup truck more than 1 vehicle or trailer.
(2) The drawbar or other connection between 2 vehicles, 1 of
which is towing or drawing the other on a highway, shall not exceed
15 feet in length from 1 vehicle to the other. If the connection
consists of a chain, rope, or cable, there shall be displayed upon
the connection a red flag or other signal or cloth not less than 12
inches both in length and width.
(3) A vehicle or trailer towed or drawn by a vehicle shall be
attached to the vehicle with forms of coupling devices in a manner
so that when the combination is operated in a linear alignment on a
level, smooth, paved surface, the movement of the towed or drawn
vehicle or trailer does not deviate more than 3 inches to either
side of the path of the towing vehicle that tows or draws it. The
vehicle or trailer shall also be connected to the towing vehicle by
suitable safety chains or devices, 1 on each side of the coupling
and at the extreme outer edge of the vehicle or trailer. Each chain
or device and connection used shall be of sufficient strength to
haul the vehicle or trailer when loaded. In the case of an
implement of husbandry with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross
combination weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less, the safety
chains or devices required under this subsection shall conform to
the federal motor carrier safety regulations requirements contained
in
49 C.F.R. CFR
393.70(d)(5).
(4) A pickup truck with a fifth wheel assembly shall not tow a
semitrailer unless the fifth wheel assembly conforms to the
standards prescribed in the motor carrier safety act of 1963, 1963
PA 181, MCL 480.11 to 480.22.
(5) Notwithstanding subsection (1), a pickup truck with a
towing rating equal to, or greater than, the weight being towed,
equipped with a fifth wheel assembly that conforms with the
standards prescribed in the motor carrier safety act of 1963, 1963
PA
181, MCL 480.11 to 480.22, towing
attached with a
semitrailer
designed
for recreational living purposes may tow an additional
trailer or semitrailer under the following conditions:
(a)
The additional trailer or semitrailer shall be attached
pursuant
to as required in subsection (3). The safety chains
described in subsection (3) shall be securely attached at the
extreme outer edge of the attached trailer or semitrailer with a
locking mechanism. The towing vehicle hitch shall be of substantial
material and shall be attached in a proper and skillful manner to
the frame of the towing vehicle.
(b)
The total length of the pickup truck, semitrailer,
designed
for recreational living purposes, and additional trailer
or semitrailer, and load, shall not exceed 65 feet on any highways
in this state.
(c) The gross weight of the additional trailer or semitrailer
towed or drawn shall not exceed the empty weight of the pickup
truck or the empty weight of the semitrailer.
(6) For the purposes of this section, a pickup truck towing a
semitrailer and additional trailer shall be considered a passenger
vehicle and shall comply with the speed limit requirements of
section 627(5).
(7) A person who violates this section is responsible for a
civil infraction.