2014 Florida Statute on Double Towing
Has anyone, particularly from the great state of Florida, ever inquired and received a clear answer/response from a Florida state official as to why the state does not allow for double towing with pri...
Forum Discussion
Below is the response I got back from Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles. After that is my response Back to the FDHSMV:
Dear Gene,
Thanks for your question. As you know, each state in the U.S. has their own laws. The Florida Legislature has deemed the towing of double-trailers unsafe and has therefore banned them with the exception of double-trailers hauled by commercial motor vehicles (CMV) as classified by the Federal and Florida Departments of Transportation. Any vehicle not deemed to fall under these federal & state statutes is not permitted to haul more than one trailer at a time. Your 5th wheel (RV) would not qualify as a commercial vehicle.
Customer Service Center
Correspondence/Email Unit
Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles
www.flhsmv.gov
______________
Thank you for the quick response. Just for clarification purposes it is not against federal statutes otherwise no state would allow it if that state expected to get highway dollars. The federal government leaves it up to the individual states. In fact there are 28 states that do allow it (see below). In reviewing Florida accident/citation reporting on your website I do find quite a large number of commercial related accidents/citations however no information on RV related accidents or citations. Where would one go to obtain the statistics that supports the Florida legislature belief that it is unsafe for any vehicle other than commercial vehicles hauling/towing more than one trailer at a time. I have looked at a large number of reports and statistics and are unable to find any data reflecting the position that only commercial vehicles should double tow. It would be helpful to know how the Florida legislature came to the conclusion it is unsafe.
I’m not trying to be argumentative but If I may let me offer another scenario for your consideration. If I work for an RV transport company, I hold a commercial driver license, hold in accordance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations a Medical Examiner’s Certificate #3393280124, and my personal pickup truck is registered as a commercial vehicle then under Florida statutes I can legally haul/pull more than two trailers ( the tow vehicle, 5th wheel, vehicle trailer behind the 5th wheel) in your state. Is that right?
I’m still thinking unless there are very strong data that shows the contrary it would make sense to update the statute to allow double towing universally without regard to a commercial designation.
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated in directing me or providing me the statistics for the decision to exclude.
Gene Somogyi
2152 Persimmon Dr
Cibolo TX 78108 (by San Antonio)
_________
Francesca is totally correct - find the data and challenge the statute. But according to Karen in the Research Dept of the State of Florida Statutes it will take a resident of Florida to challenge the statute through the Legislative Affairs Office. And yes I carry a commercial drivers license.
Gene
Dear Gene,
Thanks for your question. As you know, each state in the U.S. has their own laws. The Florida Legislature has deemed the towing of double-trailers unsafe and has therefore banned them with the exception of double-trailers hauled by commercial motor vehicles (CMV) as classified by the Federal and Florida Departments of Transportation. Any vehicle not deemed to fall under these federal & state statutes is not permitted to haul more than one trailer at a time. Your 5th wheel (RV) would not qualify as a commercial vehicle.
Customer Service Center
Correspondence/Email Unit
Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles
www.flhsmv.gov
______________
Thank you for the quick response. Just for clarification purposes it is not against federal statutes otherwise no state would allow it if that state expected to get highway dollars. The federal government leaves it up to the individual states. In fact there are 28 states that do allow it (see below). In reviewing Florida accident/citation reporting on your website I do find quite a large number of commercial related accidents/citations however no information on RV related accidents or citations. Where would one go to obtain the statistics that supports the Florida legislature belief that it is unsafe for any vehicle other than commercial vehicles hauling/towing more than one trailer at a time. I have looked at a large number of reports and statistics and are unable to find any data reflecting the position that only commercial vehicles should double tow. It would be helpful to know how the Florida legislature came to the conclusion it is unsafe.
I’m not trying to be argumentative but If I may let me offer another scenario for your consideration. If I work for an RV transport company, I hold a commercial driver license, hold in accordance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations a Medical Examiner’s Certificate #3393280124, and my personal pickup truck is registered as a commercial vehicle then under Florida statutes I can legally haul/pull more than two trailers ( the tow vehicle, 5th wheel, vehicle trailer behind the 5th wheel) in your state. Is that right?
I’m still thinking unless there are very strong data that shows the contrary it would make sense to update the statute to allow double towing universally without regard to a commercial designation.
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated in directing me or providing me the statistics for the decision to exclude.
Gene Somogyi
2152 Persimmon Dr
Cibolo TX 78108 (by San Antonio)
_________
Francesca is totally correct - find the data and challenge the statute. But according to Karen in the Research Dept of the State of Florida Statutes it will take a resident of Florida to challenge the statute through the Legislative Affairs Office. And yes I carry a commercial drivers license.
Gene
