Current Law:

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 the provisions of 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 (25) miles per hour, 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.

New Law:

HB 3851 by *Marsh. (*SB 3433 by *Tracy.)

Motor Vehicles - As introduced, requires trailers have safety devices to prevent trailers from becoming detached from the towing vehicle; violation is a Class C misdemeanor. - Amends TCA Title 55, Chapter 9, Part 2.

Bill Summary

This bill prohibits a person from towing a trailer without a safety device approved by the department of safety that will prevent the trailer from becoming unhitched while being transported. This bill defines "safety device" as any locking mechanism that locks a trailer hitch into place between the trailer and ball hitch of the motor vehicle towing the trailer. Commercial vehicles subject to federal regulations governing coupling devices and towing methods would be subject to this bill.

A violation of this bill would be a Class C misdemeanor.

This bill would take effect January 1, 2011.
Bill HistoryActions Taken on HB3851Action DateAssigned to s/c Public Safety of TR02/08/2010P2C, ref. to Transportation Committee02/08/2010Intro., P1C.02/04/2010Filed for intro.02/02/2010Actions Taken on SB3433Action DateP2C, ref. to S. Trans Comm.02/01/2010Intro., P1C.01/28/2010Filed for intro.