HOUSE BILL No. 4626


     May 4, 1999, Introduced by Rep. Callahan 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.


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 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 chain or device and connection used

11    shall be of sufficient strength to haul the vehicle or trailer

12    when loaded.

13         (4) A pickup truck with a fifth wheel assembly shall not tow

14    a semitrailer unless the fifth wheel assembly conforms to the

15    standards prescribed in the motor carrier safety act OF 1963,

16     Act No. 181 of the Public Acts of 1963, being sections 480.11 to

17     480.21 of the Michigan Compiled Laws  1963 PA 181, MCL 480.11 TO

18    480.22.

19         (5) Notwithstanding subsection (1), a pickup truck with a

20    towing rating equal to, or greater than, the weight being towed,

21    equipped with a fifth wheel assembly  which  THAT conforms  with 

22    TO the standards prescribed in  Act No. 181 of the Public Acts of

23     1963  THE MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ACT OF 1963, 1963 PA 181, MCL

24    480.11 TO 480.22, towing attached with a semitrailer designed for

25    recreational living purposes may tow an additional trailer or

26    semitrailer under the following conditions:





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 1         (a) The additional trailer or semitrailer  shall be  IS

 2    attached  pursuant to  AS REQUIRED UNDER subsection (3).  The

 3    safety chains described in subsection (3) shall be securely

 4    attached at the extreme outer edge of the attached trailer or

 5    semitrailer with a locking mechanism.  The towing vehicle hitch

 6    shall be of substantial material and shall be attached in a

 7    proper and skillful manner to the frame of the towing vehicle AND

 8    SHALL BE REMOVED AFTER THE TOW IS COMPLETED.

 9         (b) The total length of the pickup truck, semitrailer

10    designed for recreational living purposes, and additional trailer

11    or semitrailer, and load, shall not exceed 59 feet.

12         (c) The gross weight of the additional trailer or semi-

13    trailer towed or drawn shall not exceed the empty weight of the

14    pickup truck or the empty weight of the semitrailer.

15         (6) IMMEDIATELY AFTER A PASSENGER VEHICLE OR PICKUP TRUCK IS

16    USED TO TOW OR DRAW ANOTHER VEHICLE OR TRAILER, THE HITCH OR

17    OTHER CONNECTION USED TO SECURE THE VEHICLE OR TRAILER BEING

18    TOWED SHALL BE REMOVED FROM THE TOWING VEHICLE.

19         (7)  (6)  For the purposes of this section, a pickup truck

20    towing a semitrailer and additional trailer shall be considered a

21    passenger vehicle and shall comply with the speed limit require-

22    ments of section 627(5).

23         (8)  (7)  A person who violates this section is responsible

24    for a civil infraction.









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