HOUSE BILL No. 6032
September 15, 1998, Introduced by Rep. Geiger 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 1995 PA 248. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT: 1 Sec. 721. (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2 (5), a passenger vehicle or a pickup truck shall not be driven 3 upon a highway drawing or having attached to the passenger vehi- 4 cle or pickup truck more than 1 vehicle or trailer. 5 (2) The drawbar or other connection between 2 vehicles, 1 of 6 which is towing or drawing the other on a highway, shall not 7 exceed 15 feet in length from 1 vehicle to the other. If the 8 connection consists of a chain, rope, or cable, there shall be 9 displayed upon the connection a red flag or other signal or cloth 10 not less than 12 inches both in length and width. 05679'98 TJS 2 1 (3) A vehicle or trailer towed or drawn by a vehicle shall 2 be attached to the vehicle with forms of coupling devices in a 3 manner so that when the combination is operated in a linear 4 alignment on a level, smooth, paved surface, the movement of the 5 towed or drawn vehicle or trailer does not deviate more than 6 3 inches to either side of the path of the towing vehicle that 7 tows or draws it. The vehicle or trailer shall also be connected 8 to the towing vehicle , by suitable safety chains or devices, 1 9 on each side of the coupling and at the extreme outer edge of the 10 vehicle or trailer. and each EACH chain or device and connec- 11 tion used shall be of sufficient strength to haul the vehicle or 12 trailer when loaded. IN THE CASE OF AN IMPLEMENT OF HUSBANDRY 13 WITH A GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING OR GROSS COMBINATION WEIGHT 14 RATING OF 10,000 POUNDS OR LESS, THE SAFETY CHAINS OR DEVICES 15 REQUIRED UNDER THIS SUBSECTION SHALL CONFORM TO THE FEDERAL MOTOR 16 CARRIER SAFETY REGULATIONS REQUIREMENTS CONTAINED IN 49 17 C.F.R. 393.70(d)(5). 18 (4) A pickup truck with a fifth wheel assembly shall not tow 19 a semitrailer unless the fifth wheel assembly conforms to the 20 standards prescribed in the motor carrier safety act, Act 21 No. 181 of the Public Acts of 1963, being sections 480.11 to 22 480.21 of the Michigan Compiled Laws 1963 PA 181, MCL 480.11 TO 23 480.22. 24 (5) Notwithstanding subsection (1), a pickup truck with a 25 towing rating equal to, or greater than, the weight being towed, 26 equipped with a fifth wheel assembly which conforms with the 27 standards prescribed in Act No. 181 of the Public Acts of 1963 05679'98 3 1 THE MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ACT OF 1963, 1963 PA 181, MCL 480.11 TO 2 480.22, towing attached with a semitrailer designed for recrea- 3 tional living purposes may tow an additional trailer or semi- 4 trailer under the following conditions: 5 (a) The additional trailer or semitrailer shall be attached 6 pursuant to subsection (3). The safety chains described in 7 subsection (3) shall be securely attached at the extreme outer 8 edge of the attached trailer or semitrailer with a locking 9 mechanism. The towing vehicle hitch shall be of substantial 10 material and shall be attached in a proper and skillful manner to 11 the frame of the towing vehicle. 12 (b) The total length of the pickup truck, semitrailer 13 designed for recreational living purposes, and additional trailer 14 or semitrailer, and load, shall not exceed 59 feet. 15 (c) The gross weight of the additional trailer or semi- 16 trailer towed or drawn shall not exceed the empty weight of the 17 pickup truck or the empty weight of the semitrailer. 18 (6) For the purposes of this section, a pickup truck towing 19 a semitrailer and additional trailer shall be considered a pas- 20 senger vehicle and shall comply with the speed limit requirements 21 of section 627(5). 22 (7) A person who violates this section is responsible for a 23 civil infraction. 05679'98 Final page. TJS