State Laws on Towing
Chris
State Laws on Towing
Pop UP Times Staff Report
Everyone should be aware that state laws vary in regard to trailer
towing and driving safety. When making your traveling plans this season,
it is wise to contact the police or highway department of the individual
state where you ll be traveling to make sure that you comply with their
particular driving and towing laws. Penalties can range anywhere from
warnings to arrests!
For example,taking a 20 pound propane canister through a Maryland tunnel
is actually an arrestable offense, carrying a maximum $500 fine and/or
imprisonment. (MD rules and regulations #11.07.01.01)
Going through a Virginia or Pennsylvania tunnel with that same canister
(valve closed) is perfectly legal. The majority of states require the
use of seatbelts for all passengers, and safety seats for children under
a certain age.
Many states require your headlights to be on while your windshield
wipers are. Most have RV safety laws, requiring trailer brakes,
breakaway switch and safety chains for trailers exceeding a certain
weight.
Some states require the use of these items (if you re a resident) on
any trailer regardless of weight. Several states require RVs to have
flares, reflective signs and a fire extinguisher in case of emergency.
Many states also have laws regulating the speed of vehicles towing
trailers.
Some states may force you to use right hand lanes,while others may
simply restrict your speed to 55-60 mph. Some states will allow you to
travel in car pool lanes (with the appropriate number of passengers),
while others will not.
In a few states, there are additional restrictions involving the
transport of 20lb propane bottles. Several states allow you to travel on
highways with open valves on propane cylinders, and others, such as
California and New Jersey, do not. Some states, such as Virginia,
stipulate that you must close the valve before entering tunnels.Other
states,such as Maryland, New York and Massachusetts, do not allow
propane bottles in tunnels at all.
In New York, bottled gas is also prohibited on the lower levels of
George Washington Bridge and Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and on some roads
through Manhatta.
Some states,such as Connecticut,Illinois and Massachusetts, ban trailers
altogether from certain roadways. To avoid frustration, travel delays,
fines and potential dangers, it is wise to plan your route carefully, be
familiar with the varied state laws, and abide by them!
There are several sources that you can refer to for finding out
information on individual state laws:
Woodall s Campground Directory (www.woodalls.com) compiles a convenient
Rules of the Road list, organized by state, of driving laws and RV
Safety Requirements. It includes the addresses and phone numbers of the
appropriate state police or transportation department for further
information.
Check out RV Safety (www.rvsafety.com/state.htm) for information on
state laws, speed limits, multiple hookups and more.
RV Techstop by Egmax (www.rvtechstop.com)has compiled a list,
organized by state, of toll road rates, restrictions,phone numbers and
useful links.They list the following states as having no toll roads or
bridges at all:
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa,
Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico,
North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota,
Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.