Bumper hitch removal

[mpierce]

A friend reported that he had been told by a cop that it was illegal to leave his ball hitch in the receiver when he was NOT towing. That he needed to remove it.

Anyone ran into this? Or, was it a cop just ranting?

[SilverEscape]

We always remove ours when not towing. I believe it's illegal where I am in Canada thought not enforced. I actually thought it had to do with safety in a collision as it changes the way the forces are distributed since someone is no longer hitting your bumper that is designed to take the force. While I don't want people rear ending me, I also don't want to cause more injury to them if they should hit me, assuming I'm correct in the reasoning.

Edit: hard to find the info here but may be only if illegal if it sticks out more than 8ish inches.

[cbshoestring]

I do not normally have my WDH in the receiver unless we are on a "trip". Even then, I sometime take it out, because it rattles when the trailer is not attached. Having said this....

If I hit my shin on my hitch, it is because I forget it was there, If YOU hit your shin on my hitch...YOU ARE WALKING WAY TO CLOSE TO MY TRUCK.

[steve-n-vicki]

I drove almost the length of Illinois from south to north with my hitch installed and not one did one of the many state police or LEO that I encountered said anything to me about it, might be because it legal in my state to leave it in

[whiteeye42]

in California it is illegal to leave the hitch in why i know this is because a friend got a ticket for it when he was on vacation out there he left the camp ground to go fill up the truck and got pulled over for the hitch it cost him 100 dollars at the time

[_tpc_]

What about every time you go to pick up a trailer from storage, or on the way home after dropping it off?

Personally mine comes off when I am not in the immediate need of using it. But I have rear sensors and it can affect those to the point of disabling them.

But I wouldn't be tossing it in the back of the truck for the run to/from storage.

[garyindaupeh]

According to my research a resolution was submitted in the Michigan House requiring hitches to be removed when not actually being used for towing. It however went nowhere. I guess the others in the House of Representatives realized what a "Bone Headed" proposal it was! I can't imagine having to remove my hitch every time I unhitch.

[dwayneb236]

Police Officer in Texas for over 20 years and have never heard of this. Not to say it's not there but I know I would never give a ticket for it or even initially pull someone over for it. I guess I need to do some research. Whatever I find I know I will not be enforcing it. Not an issue and never has been for me. And I've cracked my shins too many times to count, on mine and others.

[_tpc_]

Sounds like maybe the officer wanted another reason to stop him, and this was the easiest choice.

I live in michigan and if I had a dollar for every hitch ball left in the hitch I'd be a rich man.

I think most use it as a deterrent for tailgators and to protect the back of their vehicle somewhat in case of an accident.

[Tlauden]

I've heard talk of them trying to make it a law in PA. I don't see what the big deal is. If your going to rear end me then you deserve to have a ball with an 8" shank driven into your engine block!!

[bcbouy]

so, a bike carrier is ok,but not a hitch ball??

[camp-n-family]

Same laws in areas of Canada. Never seen or heard of it being enforced but I'm pretty sure my Hensley stinger would raise some eyebrows if left in the receiver. It's lethal looking.

[Bumpyroad]

tie a red flag on it (or red ball) and that should meet the requirements.
bumpy

[cbshoestring]

3oaks.....In PA they can always claim the concealed plated rule. I sure bet that trooper could use that 2" obstruction if they wanted to.

Then again, my WDH has a 5" drop, so the ball is less of a fear for me then the SMOKED plate cover I have over it.

[3oaks]

Nice to see someone interested enough to research the facts. It's a state law which, of course varies from state to state. 😉
I have heard of it before but didn't know which states have it on their books.