§ 9-20-9-8 — Draw bar or other couplers; length limitations; safety devices; compliance requirements

Indiana § 9-20-9-8

• Jurisdiction: Indiana
• Title 9: MOTOR VEHICLES
• Art. 20: SIZE AND WEIGHT REGULATION
• Ch. 9: Special Restrictions Concerning Combined Vehicles and

Text

(a) This section does not apply to farm wagons
(as defined in IC 9-13-2-60(1)). However, a farm wagon (as defined in
IC 9-13-2-60(2)) that is operated on a highway may not be used to tow
another vehicle.
(b) The draw bar or other connection between any two (2) vehicles,
one (1) of which is towing or drawing the other upon a highway, may
not exceed fifteen (15) feet in length from one (1) vehicle to the other.
(c) Each trailer and semitrailer hauled by a motor propelled vehicle
must be attached to the vehicle and to each other with the forms of
coupling devices that will prevent the trailer or semitrailer from being
deflected more than six (6) inches from the path of the towing vehicle
or to each other, by suitable safety chains or devices, one (1) on each
side of the coupling and at the extreme outer edge of the vehicle. Each
chain or device and connection used must be of sufficient strength to
haul the trailer when loaded.
(d) A vehicle, including a combination of vehicles engaged in
interstate commerce, and any safety equipment on the vehicle,
including safety chains, cables, or other devices, that is otherwise in
compliance with:
(1) the United States Department of Transportation Federal
Highway Administration motor carrier safety regulations;
(2) the motor vehicle safety standards of the National Highway
Safety Bureau of the United States Department of Transportation;
or
(3) the successor of either or both of those agencies;
is considered to be in compliance with this section.
[Pre-1991 Recodification Citations: 9-8-1-5; 9-8-12-2
part.]

Legislative History

As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.150-2009, SEC.8; P.L.256-2017, SEC.157.