| Braking
Law Requirements |
| State |
Maximum
Length Towing |
For
Towed Cars
(Braking System Required) |
For
Trailers
(Braking System Required) |
| Alabama |
57' |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Required
over 3,000 lbs. |
| Alaska |
75' |
Breakaway
required over 3,000 lbs. |
Required
over 5,000 lbs., Breakaway required |
| Arizona |
65' |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Required
over 3,000 lbs. |
| Arkansas |
No
limit given. |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Required
over 3,000 lbs. |
| California |
65' |
Not
stated, see Trailer Laws. Also, Mudflaps or Mudguards are required
on 3 or more wheel vehicles 1,500 lbs or more if the body of the
vehicle does not provide adequate protection against spray or splash
of water or mud. |
Required
over 1,500 lbs. |
| Colorado |
45' |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Required
with breakaway over 3,000 lbs. |
| Connecticut |
60' |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Required
over 3,000 lbs. |
| Delaware |
70' |
Required
over 4,000 lbs. |
Required
over 4,000 lbs. |
| Dist.
Columbia |
55' |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Required
over 3,000 lbs., or 40% of gross weight of towing vehicle. |
| Florida |
65' |
Required
with breakaway over 3,000 lbs. |
Required
over 3,000 lbs. |
| Georgia |
55' |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Required
over 3,000 lbs. |
| Hawaii |
65' |
Brake
hookup required. |
Required
over 3,000 lbs. |
| Idaho |
75' |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Required
with Breakaway over 1,500 lbs. |
| Illinois |
60' |
Required
over 3,000 lbs. |
Required
over 3,000 lbs. Breakaway required over 5,000 lbs. |
| Indiana |
For
combination of 2 vehicles 60'. For combination of 3 vehicles
65'. |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Required
with breakaway over 3,000 lbs. |
| Iowa |
65' |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Required
over 3,000 lbs. |
| Kansas |
59.5' |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Brakes
required on towing vehicle. |
| Kentucky |
65' |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Vehicles
must be able to stop within distance specified by statute. |
| Louisiana |
70' |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Required
over 3,000 lbs. |
| Maine |
65' |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Required
over 3,000 lbs. |
| Maryland |
No limit
given. |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Required
over 3,000 lbs. |
| Massachusetts |
No
limit given. |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Not
stated. Required if towing vehicle can't stop within legal
limits. |
| Michigan |
65' |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Required
over 3,000 lbs. |
| Minnesota |
60' |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Brake
hook up required except where brakes on towing vehicle are adequate
to stop both vehicles within distance required by law. |
| Mississippi |
75' |
Brake
hookup required. |
Required
over 2,000 lbs. |
| Missouri |
65'
on interstate hwys; 55' on others. |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Not
stated. Required if towing vehicle can't stop within legal
limits. |
| Montana |
65' |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Required
with breakaway over 3,000 lbs. |
| Nebraska |
65' |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Required
over 3,000 lbs. Breakaway required over 6,500 lbs. |
| Nevada |
70' |
Required
over 3,000 lbs. w/ Breakaway. |
Required
at 1,500 lbs. if trailer made after 7/1/75. If trailer made before
7/1/75, required if over 3,000 lbs. |
| New
Hampshire |
48' |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Required
for house trailers over 1,500 lbs. 3,000 lbs. for all other
types of trailers. |
| New
Jersey |
52' |
Brake
hookup required. |
Every
vehicle towing needs to be equipped w/ brake hook-up and brakes must
be synchronized w/ towed vehicle. |
| New
Mexico |
65' |
Brake
hookup required. |
Required
over 3,000 lbs. |
| New
York |
No limit
given. |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Every
trailer weighing more than 1,000 lbs. (unladen) and every trailer
manufactured on or after January 1, 1971, having a maximum gross
weight or actual gross weight of more than 3,000 lbs. Shall be
equipped with adequate brakes in good working order. |
| North
Carolina |
No
limit given. |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Required
over 4,000 lbs., and on house trailers more than 1,000 lbs. |
| Oklahoma |
No limit
given. |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Required
on all wheels when over 3,000 lbs. |
| Oregon |
50'
* A combination that includes a recreational vehicle that is not
more than 45 feet long, when operating on Group 1 or Group 2
highways as designagted by the Department of Transportation, may
exceed the maximum length for vehicles in a combination established
under ORS 818.080 if the combination is not more than 65 feet long.
* taken from Chapter 818-Vehicle Limits of State of Oregon, Oregon
Revised Statutes, Oregon Legislative Counsel Committee of the Oregon
Legislative Assembly |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Not
stated, but vehicle must stop within legal limits. |
| Pennsylvania |
No limit
given. |
Breakaway
required when weight at or in excess of 3,000 lbs.. |
Required
over 3,000 lbs. |
| Rhode
Island |
No
limit given. |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Every
trailer with a gross weight of 4,000 lbs or more must have brakes
that are adequate to slow, stop and hold the vehicle. Brakes must be
designed so they can be applied from the driver of the towing
vehicle's normal operating position and that they will be
automatically applied in the case of an accidental breakaway. New
trailers must have service brakes on all wheels. |
| South
Carolina |
No limit
given. |
Required
over 3,000 lbs. Must not exceed 40% of the gross weight of the
towing vehicle. |
Required
over 3,000 lbs. Must not exceed 40% of the gross weight of the
towing vehicle. |
| South
Dakota |
81.5' |
Brake
hookup required. |
Required
over 3,000 lbs. Must not exceed 40% of the gross weight of the
towing vehicle. |
| Tennessee |
65' |
Brake
hookup required. |
Required
over 3,000 lbs. |
| Texas |
65' |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Required
over 4,500 lbs when speed is over 30mph |
| Utah |
61' |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Every
motor vehicle or combination of vehicles shall have a service
braking system which will stop the vehicle or combination within 40'
from an initial speed of 20mph on level, dry, smooth, hard surface. |
| Vermont |
72' |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Required
over 3,000 lbs. or when gross weight of trailer exceeds 40% of
towing vehicle weight. |
| Virginia |
65' |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Required
over 3,000 lbs. |
| Washington |
75' |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Required
with breakaway over 3,000 lbs. |
| West
Virginia |
55' |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Required
over 3,000 lbs. |
| Wisconsin |
65' |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Required
over 3,000 lbs. or when gross weight of trailer exceeds 40% of
towing vehicle weight. |
| Wyoming |
No limit
given. |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Must
be able to stop within 40' at 20 m.p.h. |
|
Canadian
Provinces
|
| Alberta |
20
m |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Required
over 909 kg. |
| British
Columbia |
20 m |
Required
over 1,400 kg. |
Required
over 1,400 kg. Breakaway required over 4,200 lbs. |
| Manitoba |
21.5
m |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Required
over 910 kg. |
| New
Brunswick |
23 m |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Required
over 1.5 ton. |
| Newfoundland |
23
m |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Required
if vehicle(s) cannot stop within a distance of 10 meters from point
at which brakes are applied. |
| Northwest
Territories |
25 m |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Required
over 1,360 kg. |
| Nova
Scotia |
23
m |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Required
over 1,800 kg. |
| Ontario |
25 m |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Required
over 1,360 kg. |
| Prince
Edward Island |
25
m |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Required
over 1,500 kg. |
| Quebec |
23m |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Required
over 1,300 kg. |
| Saskatchewan |
23
m |
Not
stated,
see Trailer Laws.--->> |
Required
over 1,360 kg. |
| Yukon
Territory |
22 m |
Required
over 910 kg. |
Required
over 910 kg. |
| Lights,
safety cables or chains, and a valid license plate are required in
all States and Provinces |
|
Information used in this
document came from: AAA 2002 DIGEST OF MOTOR LAWS, 68th
Edition, Copyright AAA, 2002 - Additional information was collected
from a variety of third-party sources. While reasonable efforts
were made to verify the information, Roadmaster, Inc., its employees
and agents, do not warrant the accuracy of the information and
disclaim all liability or any claims and damages of any nature that
may arise from errors or omissions. If you have any questions
regarding State/Province or local laws, please consult with the
appropriate government agency.
|
