Manslaughter charges for improper towing equipment.

hotbyte wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

hotbyte wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

keymastr wrote:


And the throwable for a single occupant of a boat is to rescue someone from another boat you may find in the water.

not my responsibility. it is the responsibility of a person in HIS boat.
bumpy

It is totally your responsibility! If you see another boater in distress with risk to life or property you have a responsibility (a legal one) to render aid.

I didn't see them. I didn't hear them.
bumpy

Hope you are joking...if not, that is worse than sad.

But it is absolutely the right mentality. Never help, never stop, never get involved. No good deed goes unpunished.

willald wrote:

wa8yxm wrote:

Dave H M wrote:
What has this got to do with RVing. ?

I scanned the article and it seemed to be centered about cargo not being secured properly.

I answered that question: There are many folks towing 3,000, 4,000 or even heavier cars without aux brake systems.. A car in tow is a trailer, it trails behind the tow vehicle and thus is a trailer. Imagine loosing a hitch pin (i did) and not having an aux brake system (I also had that). and what could happen when the car breaks free?

In the incident being described here, there were no safety chains (or they were not used properly), and no break-away system. Thats the real issue here, that caused the results to be so tragic in this case. Had either of these (especially safety chains) been used properly, this incident would probably have had a far different (and much less tragic) outcome.

However, John, you're talking about MH owners towing vehicles without using supplemental brakes. Thats a whole different story, unless they aren't using safety cables or a break-away system, either. Given that most tow bars come with the safety cables, I'm betting even folks that don't use a supplemental brake system on their toad, ARE definitely using safety chains at the very least.

When I towed my wife's Festiva, I didn't use a brake system. (That tiny car was light enough to be under the 2000lb weight cutoff.) However, I was towing it with a 4000lb rated tow bar. I had two safety cables (lengths of wrecker winch cable), each rated for, IIRC, 12,000lbs. They were totally independent of each other, and the tow bar. (Though zip-tied to it so they wouldn't tangle.) ALl three (tow bar & both cables) would have to fail for it to come loose.

wa8yxm wrote:
I often see the question "Does my towed need a braking system"

Now in this story it was a cargo trailer... But fact is, when you hook a car behind a motor home it is ... The same as a trailer.. in fact... Reading the definition of "Trailer" in the Michigan vehicle code, it fits 100% (A true trailer does not, but is covered under other language).

(NOTE: Michigan is the only vehicle code I have on hard drive).

Not only is the driver facing possible criminal charges but the wrongful death civil suit can easily make one shudder as well.. Brakes on the trailer.. Important.

Just felt I should point out that MOST rental trailers (and many tow dollies) have NO brakes!

...

rhagfo wrote:

et2 wrote:
http://m.ktvu.com/news/news/local/chp-recommends-charges-fatal-pizza-oven-crash/nhgkX/

As he should be charged. I have zero sympathy of those who think it won't happen to them. If you pull over weight or don't have the proper equipment this is what damage you can do

Based on the short story sounds like dinky hitch, no or lack of properly sized safety chains, and no trailer brakes or backup battery.

Didn't know you could find a coupler rated as low as 3,500#!!

I have seen them rated for less! (Seen one for 2K.)

Bumpyroad wrote:

hotbyte wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

keymastr wrote:


And the throwable for a single occupant of a boat is to rescue someone from another boat you may find in the water.

not my responsibility. it is the responsibility of a person in HIS boat.
bumpy

It is totally your responsibility! If you see another boater in distress with risk to life or property you have a responsibility (a legal one) to render aid.

I didn't see them. I didn't hear them.
bumpy

Hope you are joking...if not, that is worse than sad.

hotbyte wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

keymastr wrote:


And the throwable for a single occupant of a boat is to rescue someone from another boat you may find in the water.

not my responsibility. it is the responsibility of a person in HIS boat.
bumpy

It is totally your responsibility! If you see another boater in distress with risk to life or property you have a responsibility (a legal one) to render aid.

I didn't see them. I didn't hear them.
bumpy

Bumpyroad wrote:

keymastr wrote:


And the throwable for a single occupant of a boat is to rescue someone from another boat you may find in the water.

not my responsibility. it is the responsibility of a person in HIS boat.
bumpy

It is totally your responsibility! If you see another boater in distress with risk to life or property you have a responsibility (a legal one) to render aid.

I may have said this already but there are thousands out there who have the theory "I don't need no steeenking license to drive".

Good thing too cause "Stinking" (Spelling corrected) sure describes their license.. In days of old when those folks were bold in one part of the country I got to see their driving records.... Ever see the comedy skit where the guy is holding a scroll and he says "I prepared a short speech" or "I have just a few words" and he unrolls the scroll the lower end hits the floor and rolls down the steps and down the isle.... Well what was on that paper was Mr. "I don't need no's" driving record.

I have seen people REVOKED 25 years into the future, I mean they can not even re-apply for 25 years (Did not stop them from driving though else I'd not have seen it).

So there is nothing we can say or do, there is no testing and certification program, there is no training session that we can do that will stop them save one.

Lock 'em up

And sadly, that is not practical,, Jails and prisons are already overcrowded.

keymastr wrote:


And the throwable for a single occupant of a boat is to rescue someone from another boat you may find in the water.

not my responsibility. it is the responsibility of a person in HIS boat.
bumpy