What's happening
This bill lowers the unladen weight threshold for requiring trailer and semi-trailer brakes from two thousand to one thousand five hundred pounds.
Why it matters
Increases safety requirements for lighter trailers. By lowering the weight threshold from 2,000 to 1,500 pounds, more trailers and semi-trailers will now need to have operational brakes, potentially reducing the risk of accidents caused by insufficient stopping power.
Impacts a broader range of trailer owners. This change affects people and businesses who use smaller trailers for personal, recreational, or commercial purposes, who may now need to retrofit or purchase trailers with brakes to stay compliant.
Potential for increased compliance costs. Individuals and companies may face additional expenses to upgrade or modify existing trailers that previously did not require brakes, affecting both private owners and rental businesses.
Reflects evolving standards and vehicle usage. The amendment suggests a recognition of increased traffic, higher speeds, or changes in vehicle and trailer technology, aiming to update safety laws to better match current road conditions and transportation practices.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Raise Trailer Brake Weight Limit
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4733
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 22, 2019
Introduced by Sen. GRIFFO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the weight of certain trailers and semi-trailers driven on public highways
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 1 of section 375 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 231 of the laws of 2003, is amended to read as follows:
(c) Every trailer and semi-trailer weighing more than one thousand five hundred pounds unladen and every trailer and semi-trailer manufactured or assembled on or after January first, nineteen hundred seventyone having a registered maximum gross weight, an actual gross weight or gross weight consisting of the unladen weight and maximum carrying capacity recommended by the manufacturer in excess of three thousand pounds also shall be equipped with adequate brakes in good working order if operated or drawn on the public highways of this state. Every trailer while being drawn upon the public highways of this state shall be so attached to the vehicle drawing the same as to prevent the wheels of such trailer from being deflected more than six inches from the path of the towing vehicle's wheels. On and after January first, nineteen hundred seventy-one every trailer, except a semi-trailer, while being drawn upon the public highways of this state, shall be attached to the vehicle drawing the same by a device of a type approved by the commissioner.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10891-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the weight of certain trailers and semi-trailers driven on public highways
Purpose
To increase the allowable weight of trailers and semi-trailers from 1,000 pounds unladen to 1,500 pounds unladen.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends the vehicle and traffic law to increase the allowable weight of trailers and semi-trailers from 1,000 pounds unladen to 1,500 pounds unladen.
Section 2 marks the effective date.
Existing law
Current law lists the maximum unladen weight of a trailer to 1,000 pounds.
Justification
The current law as it pertains to the maximum allowable weight for an unladen trailer is outdated. The technological performance of modern day trucks and sport utility vehicles allows for better and safer handling of large trailers.
States which neighbor New York, as well as other non-border states in close proximity to New York, allow for similar or greater maximum trail- er weights. This change would create parity in terms of what New Yorkers can legally purchase and use, as well as sell in terms of businesses that deal in the direct marketing and sale of trailers to contractors, landscapers, recreationalists and other individuals who wish to utilize larger trailers.
Legislative history
This is a new bill
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.