Coupling Devices - Under-Rated Bumpers for Hitch
| Fecha de registro | 26 de agosto de 2026 |
|---|---|
| Número de asunto | 26-093-VEH |
| Nombre | Vincent Pontorno |
| Agencia | St. Marys County Sheriff's Office |
| Dirección | 23150 Leonard Hall Dr.Leonardtown, MD, 20650Ver en el mapa (se abre en una pestaña nueva) |
| Teléfono | 240-298-5255 |
| Correo electrónico | [email protected] |
| Comité | Comité de Vehículos |
| Estado | Abierto |
| Resumen del asunto | While conducting enforcement in St. Mary’s County, I located a truck and trailer that were coupled unsafely. The truck was a light-duty truck and had a ball secured to the manufacturer-installed bumper. The bumper was stamped with a load limit of 4,000 lbs. The trailer had a GVWR of 5,060 lbs. This exceeded the bumper's load limit. I attempted to document the violation under 393.70. Maryland State Police informed me that bumper ratings and capabilities are not part of the CFR regulations; therefore, we can't enforce anything related to tow weight on bumpers or hitches unless something is worn or damaged, such as a pintle hook or a loose ball nut. I have attahced photos of a similar setup |
| Justificación o necesidad | I would like guidance on how to document or cite this unsafe vehicle. |
| Solicitud de acción | If under the current CFR, the unsafe vehicle can not be documented or cited on an inspection, please consider adding it to future versions of the CFR |
| Documentos de respaldo |