New trailer hitch law in NY?

[bcp]

A 4 year old link:

https://www.nyspnews.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=15489

I would think a good defense would be to show that the state patrol website says it is OK to leave in.

Bruce

 

[Diamondpilot]

I'm just hoping they haven't changed the law and the agency that issued a ticket for this is wrong. I didn't get the ticket but a friend of a friend did. I know my friend wouldn't tell me that if it weren't true. I did make copies of JJZ's link to keep in my truck and pass along. Just hope the law hasn't been changed since 4 years ago. What a PITA it would be to have to pull the hitch out after each use.
I have looked on line but haven't found anything about this new law (if it exists). At this point it's just word of mouth.

Is it really that big of a deal to take it out? I tow all the time, 2 to 3 different trailers a day. For this reason I have to carry 3 ball mounts. One 3 ball straight mount with a 1 7/8" ball, 2" ball, and a 2 5/16" ball. I also carry a 2" ball on a 2" drop and a 2 5/16" ball with the same drop.

You already have to get out, unhitch the ball, unplug the lights, detach the safety chains, detach the brake away cable, the jack the trailer off the ball. To pull the pin and remove the ball takes another 15 seconds.

Chris

 

[JasG]

This rumor comes up every year here in NY and has for a while.

What I have been told by a LEO is that they are not giving tickets for leaving a hitch in place. They are being given a ticket for blocking the plate on the vehicle. If the ball or any other item breaks the plane of the plate you can be given a ticket. The majority of the tickets are given to people with cargo carriers and bike rack in their hitch. I guess a few years ago though outside Albany they were ticketing people for balls that were higher than the bottom edge of the plates, even though it didn't block the numbers or make the plate hard to read. I think that is where the rumor started.

NY for the last few years is so hard up for money they look for any reason to ticket people. Check points have become very common here, even on weekends. I was traveling around 6:00 AM on a Sunday a few months ago and a major road had a road block. Checking inspections, registration, and what looked like to me how loads were tied on trailers. One local village had what became known as ticket Tuesday where every Tuesday they would set up a road block. It made the papers, so now it's a random day, not just Tuesday.

 

[bigtiller]

This rumor comes up every year here in NY and has for a while.

What I have been told by a LEO is that they are not giving tickets for leaving a hitch in place. They are being given a ticket for blocking the plate on the vehicle. If the ball or any other item breaks the plane of the plate you can be given a ticket. I guess a few years ago though outside Albany they were ticketing people for balls that were higher than the bottom edge of the plates, even though it didn't block the numbers or make the plate hard to read. I think that is where the rumor started.

I betcha that is "the rest of the story" that some people have forgotten or maybe never heard.

 

[George2615]

Is it really that big of a deal to take it out? I tow all the time, 2 to 3 different trailers a day. For this reason I have to carry 3 ball mounts. One 3 ball straight mount with a 1 7/8" ball, 2" ball, and a 2 5/16" ball. I also carry a 2" ball on a 2" drop and a 2 5/16" ball with the same drop.

You already have to get out, unhitch the ball, unplug the lights, detach the safety chains, detach the brake away cable, the jack the trailer off the ball. To pull the pin and remove the ball takes another 15 seconds.

Chris

It's really not a big deal. Just tired of NY lawmakers continually telling us what we can and cannot do. This rumor stems from a lawsuit back in 2010 where a NYC councilwoman walked into the hitch on a parked truck and pops up every few years. I usually do take my hitch out when not towing because it interferes with the backup sensors. When I'm going to tow I disable the sensors so the warning doesn't pop up on the display.

Some jurisdictions are also giving tickets for having a frame around your license plate. You know, the kind you get when you buy a new or used vehicle that has the dealers name on it. They claim the entire plate must be readable and such frames partially block the words NEW YORK on the top and EMPIRE STATE on the bottom. I was pulled over for this and advised to remove the frame. I suggested the police should contact Albany and have the State notify all dealers not to install said frames. I think the police camera license plate readers can't read the plate when the letters are partially blocked.
Three things are certain in NY. DEATH, TAXES, AND MORE STUPID LAWS.

 

[JJZ 109]

Three things are certain in NY. DEATH, TAXES, AND MORE STUPID LAWS.

Correct. NY just passed a "tiger selfie" law. Apparently someone, somewhere posted of photo of themselves with a live lion, tiger or some such big cat.
So a NYC assemblywoman takes it upon herself to propose a law that people do not take photos of themselves with such large, dangerous animals. Just another example of another elected official with too much time on their hands. This what the woman had to do on our time instead of worrying about high taxes, unemployment, etc. And worse, she got enough fellow pols to vote and the dipshit governor to sign it. Extending my annual Florida vacation is looking better all the time.

 

[RoMad]

I didn't read the other thread, so forgive me if everyone but me knows this. If your ball isn't blocking your tag why not leave it in? All of my trailers have the same size ball and my drop down ball mount is heavy so what would be the advantage of removing it? I would bet anyone a crisp hundred dollar bill they can't remove my ball holder, carry it around to my tool box, find a place for it, put it in the tool box, and close the box in 15 seconds.
If you think you can bring the c note and come see me.

 

[JasG]

Correct. NY just passed a "tiger selfie" law. Apparently someone, somewhere posted of photo of themselves with a live lion, tiger or some such big cat.
So a NYC assemblywoman takes it upon herself to propose a law that people do not take photos of themselves with such large, dangerous animals. Just another example of another elected official with too much time on their hands. This what the woman had to do on our time instead of worrying about high taxes, unemployment, etc. And worse, she got enough fellow pols to vote and the dipshit governor to sign it. Extending my annual Florida vacation is looking better all the time.

It's like were in a contest with nutsofornia to see who can pass the most and most stupid laws. All of these bills start in NYC and now that they have driven enough people from the rest of the state we are doomed. Less than 10% of the land mass controlling the other 90%, that they have no clue about how life is outside of the NYC bubble.

Thanks for posting, not that I planned on a picture with a tiger, it is just one more example of the crap here.

Lets not forget the NY (un)Safe act that was passed in the middle of the night and signed before anyone read it. Can't have fireworks, TASERS, mace, or a whole host of products the rest of the country can. They have to "protect us from ourselves.

NY also makes regular changes to the CDL laws and regs IMO just to generate ticket money.

 

[HHR]

We all know the feeling.

 

[CJONE]

Is it really that big of a deal to take it out? I tow all the time, 2 to 3 different trailers a day. For this reason I have to carry 3 ball mounts. One 3 ball straight mount with a 1 7/8" ball, 2" ball, and a 2 5/16" ball. I also carry a 2" ball on a 2" drop and a 2 5/16" ball with the same drop.

You already have to get out, unhitch the ball, unplug the lights, detach the safety chains, detach the brake away cable, the jack the trailer off the ball. To pull the pin and remove the ball takes another 15 seconds.

Chris

Why take it out? Up here in the salt mecca we take them out so they don't seize in but I use mine almost everyday and the only time I remove it is to put another drop/rise in to replace it or I am worried about someone trying to steal it. Used to have a locking pin but that got to be too much of a pain to mess with. CJ