§ 55-7-114 — Safety chains for trailers - Penalty - Exceptions

(a) In addition to any other attachment, any trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer operated on the highways of Tennessee shall be attached to the towing vehicle by a chain, securely attached to both vehicles, and reasonably capable of maintaining the attachment in the event of failure by any other attachment device. (b) The responsibility for providing safety chains for trailers rented, leased, or loaned to farmers by persons customarily doing so for the haulage of farm supplies or crops shall be with the person so renting, leasing, or loaning the trailer. (c) Failure to comply with this section shall subject the offender to a fine of fifty dollars ($50.00) on a first offense, that may be submitted by the offender to the clerk of the court that has jurisdiction of the offense in the county in which the offense charged was alleged to have been committed, in lieu of appearance in court by the offender. On second and subsequent offenses, the fine shall be not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500). (d) (1) This section does not apply to farm implements used in tillage, harvesting, or seeding, if the implements were not equipped at the time of manufacture with safety chains, and if the implements are being towed on state or local roads at a speed of less than twenty-five miles per hour (25 mph), except this exemption shall not apply to farm trailers. (2) This section also does not apply to any motor vehicle with an attached gooseneck type trailer or semitrailer with a fifth wheel.

Legislative History

Acts 1988, ch. 668, § 1; T.C.A., § 55-11-114.