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Coupling Devices - Under-Rated Bumpers for Hitch

Date d’inscription26 août 2026
Numéro de l’enjeu26-093-VEH
NomVincent Pontorno
OrganismeSt. Marys County Sheriff's Office
Adresse23150 Leonard Hall Dr.Leonardtown, MD, 20650Voir sur la carte (s’ouvre dans un nouvel onglet)
Téléphone240-298-5255
Courriel[email protected]
ComitéComité des véhicules
ÉtatOuvert
Résumé de l’enjeu

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

Justification ou besoin

I would like guidance on how to document or cite this unsafe vehicle.

Demande d’action

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

Documents à l’appui