KRIEGHOFF

But how do you know that for sure?

fordfan77

Please retract your "jerk off" comment now, here's your proof. Illinois has a law that says the hitch can't be more than 4" past the bumper, I know mine sticks out just a little more than that. I'm not sure what other states have this law, but I found this in 30 seconds on Google.

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/Bill...7&SessionID=76

XtraLargeTall

Leave it to Illinois...

Old Bessie

Might as well add Michigan to the list, just saying...........

2012 House Bill 5610: Ban driving with trailer hitch except when towing

• Introduced by Rep. George T. Darany (D) on May 9, 2012, to prohibit driving a vehicle with a trailer hitch unless actually towing a trailer. In other words, the hitch would have to be removed except when towing.
  • Referred to the House Transportation Committee on May 9, 2012.

One of the 84 laws swiftly signed into law by our idiot governor before January 1st.......

Hunttman01

http://www.iowadot.gov/mvd/omve/hitchRequirements.html
Not illegal here

Tyssa'sRide

Uummmm, sorry sir, but I believe I just heard a CHECKMATE !!!!!!!

Tussin_Wolf

Neither of these are law in Illinois nor in Michigan. They were proposed as bills but never made it into force.

In Michigan, the proposed change was to amend the Michigan Vehicle Code Chapter 6 Section 257.721 and add an offence in place of subsection (7) [current sub (7) would then become sub (8)] and the offence would read something like...

" (7) A PERSON SHALL NOT OPERATE A MOTOR VEHICLE UPON A HIGHWAY WITH TEMPORARY TOWING DEVICES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ABALL AND HITCH, ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE UNLESS THE MOTOR VEHICLE IS BEING USED FOR TOWING PURPOSES."

HOWEVER, if you pull up Michigan Vehicle Code and wheel on over to that section, you will see that it currently says......

MICHIGAN VEHICLE CODE (EXCERPT)
Act 300 of 1949

257.721 Passenger vehicle or pickup truck towing vehicle or trailer; drawbar or other connection; coupling devices and safety chains; pickup truck with fifth wheel assembly; conditions for towing additional trailer or semitrailer; speed limit requirements; violation as civil infraction.
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 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 480.25.
(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 480.25, 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 as provided 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 75 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.


I'll give you the beer outta my fridge if you can point out exactly where there is an offence in 257.721 to have your hitch in when not towing.

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(qel...me=mcl-257-721

Moving on to Illinois...

The proposed bill to amend Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/) would have added a new section to 625 ILCS 5/ Ch.12 by adding section 614. If you drag your *** over to Google and search out Illinois Vehicle Code (your 30 second effort didn't cut it last time so lemme help you out with that....http://lmgtfy.com/?q=illinois+vehicl...lcs+5%2F12-613) you will see that it currently ends at 625 ILCS 5/12-613 then jumps to Sec. 701

So in short, once again....

THERE IS NO VIOLATION FOR DRIVING WITH YOUR TRAILER HITCH IN WHILE NOT TOWING IN ANY JURISDICTION IN NORTH AMERICA.

Just because we can Google some obscure, moronic proposed bill does not mean its the law. Hell, we could probably find a proposed bill that aims to have the Statue of Liberty renamed for Capt. Kirk or Mount Rushmore changed to Mount Bigfoot, but just because it was proposed does not mean it is a law, in force. If anyone has something USEFUL to contribute to the conversation, feel free to find the actual violation in your state or province's vehicle code or traffic act and please, share that useful information with everyone. If you don't have a reference to the violation than please do your part to curb the spread of moronic urban legands like this. Your friendly local Statie only has so much time in a shift, and he'll never hit his monthly ticket quota if he has to spend his day fielding calls asking "I heard on them there intranet machines that I can't drive around with my trailer hitch in!! Whatchu gotta say about that Trooper?!!?" hahah.

Thanks for coming out though

Tussin_Wolf

I assume you were referring to my last post? How did you know I was gonna post such a well thought out reply? You give me too much credit

Old Bessie

Quoting an outdated law from 1949 doesn't make you wrong. It shows a resourceful person with outdated information and since this law was just signed days ago and is set to go into effect shortly, I am sure you will be able to very soon find this current statute to refute your own claim.....sorry the state of Michigan hasn't updated their data base to your satisfaction.

By the by these posts are ruining the under $50 mods thread. Enough said........

Let's get back to the good stuff!

Tussin_Wolf

"Michigan Vehicle Code Act 300 of 1949" doesn't mean the law is from 1949, the law is the CURRENT law in effect today. If you don't believe me, why don't you ask someone who writes MVC tickets all day long. The **** that "ruins" the under $50 thread is people posting bull$#it urban legands about getting ticketed for having a hitch installed. If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.

"Enough said"