§ 169.82 — Trailer Equipment
Plain-Language Summary
Trailers must have specific safety equipment including brakes, safety chains, and lights. This section sets the requirements for trailer equipment.
169.82 TRAILER EQUIPMENT.
§
Subdivision 1.Connection to towing vehicle.
(a) When one vehicle is towing another the drawbar or other connection must be of sufficient strength to pull the weight being towed.
(b) The drawbar or other connection may not exceed 15 feet from one vehicle to the other. This paragraph does not apply to the connection between any two vehicles transporting poles, pipe, machinery or other objects of structural nature which cannot readily be dismembered. §
Subd. 2.Marking.
When one vehicle is towing another and the connection consists of a chain, rope, or cable, the connection must display a white, red, yellow, or orange flag or cloth not less than 12 inches square. §
Subd. 3.Hitch, chain, or cable.
(a) Every trailer or semitrailer must be hitched to the towing motor vehicle by a device approved by the commissioner of public safety.
(b) Every trailer and semitrailer must be equipped with safety chains or cables permanently attached to the trailer except in cases where the coupling device is a regulation fifth wheel and kingpin assembly approved by the commissioner of public safety. In towing, the chains or cables must be attached to the vehicles near the points of bumper attachments to the chassis of each vehicle, and must be of sufficient strength to control the trailer in the event of failure of the towing device. The length of chain or cable must be no more than necessary to permit free turning of the vehicles. A minimum fine of $25 must be imposed for a violation of this paragraph.
(c) This subdivision does not apply to towed implements of husbandry.
(d) No person may be charged with a violation of this section solely by reason of violating a maximum speed prescribed in section 169.67 or 169.801.
History:
(2720-274) 1937 c 464 s 124; 1939 c 430 s 26; 1943 c 226 s 2; 1945 c 207 s 8; 1971 c 491 s 33; 1973 c 10 s 1; 1988 c 636 s 11; 1993 c 187 s 18; 1996 c 455 art 3 s 20; 1998 c 403 s 16; 2008 c 350 art 1 s 46
History: History: (2720-274) 1937 c 464 s 124; 1939 c 430 s 26; 1943 c 226 s 2; 1945 c 207 s 8; 1971 c 491 s 33; 1973 c 10 s 1; 1988 c 636 s 11; 1993 c 187 s 18; 1996 c 455 art 3 s 20; 1998 c 403 s 16; 2008 c 350 art 1 s 46