Common use of Safety Connections for Towed Vehicle (sec Clause in Contracts

Safety Connections for Towed Vehicle (sec. (1) Except as required under paragraph (2), every towed vehicle shall be coupled to the towing vehicle by means of a safety chain, cable, or equivalent device in addition to the regular drawbar, tongue or other connection. (2) Any vehicle towed by a tow truck shall be coupled to the tow truck by means of at least two safety chains in addition to the primary restraining system. The safety chains shall be securely affixed to the truck frame, bed or towing equipment, independent of the towing sling, wheel lift, or under-reach towing equipment. (3) Any vehicle transported on a slide back carrier or conventional trailer shall be secured by at least four tie-down chains, straps or an equivalent device, independent of the winch or loading cable. This subdivision shall not apply to vehicle bodies that are being transported in compliance with Sections 1340 to 1344, inclusive, of Title 13 of the California Code of Regulations. (b) All safety connections and attachments shall be of sufficient strength to control the towed vehicle in the event of failure of the regular hitch, coupling device, drawbar, tongue or other connection. All safety connections and attachments also shall have a positive means of ensuring that the safety connection or attachment does not become dislodged while in transit. (c) No more slack shall be left in a safety chain, cable, or equivalent device than is necessary to permit proper turning. When a drawbar [as defined in sec. 300] is used as the towing connection, the safety chain, cable or equivalent device shall be connected to the towed and towing vehicle and to the drawbar so as to prevent the drawbar from dropping to the ground if the drawbar falls. (d) Subdivision (a) does not apply to a semi trailer having a connecting device composed of a fifth wheel and kingpin assembly, and it does not apply to a towed motor vehicle when steered by a person who holds a license for the type of vehicle being towed. (e) For purposes of this section, a ‘tow truck’ includes both of the following: (1) A repossessor’s tow vehicle, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 615. (2) An automobile dismantler’s tow vehicle, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 615. (f) Vehicles towed by a repossessor’s tow vehicle, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 615, are exempt from the multisafety chain requirement of paragraph

Safety Connections for Towed Vehicle (sec. (1) Except as required under paragraph (2), every towed vehicle shall be coupled to the towing vehicle by means of a safety chain, cable, or equivalent device in addition to the regular drawbar, tongue or other connection. (2) Any vehicle towed by a tow truck shall be coupled to the tow truck by means of at least two safety chains in addition to the primary restraining system. The safety chains shall be securely affixed to the truck frame, bed or towing equipment, independent of the towing sling, wheel lift, or under-reach towing equipment. (3) Any vehicle transported on a slide back carrier or conventional trailer shall be secured by at least four tie-down chains, straps or an equivalent device, independent of the winch or loading cable. This subdivision shall not apply to vehicle bodies that are being transported in compliance with Sections 1340 to 1344, inclusive, of Title 13 of the California Code of Regulations. (b) All safety connections and attachments shall be of sufficient strength to control the towed vehicle in the event of failure of the regular hitch, coupling device, drawbar, tongue or other connection. All safety connections and attachments also shall have a positive means of ensuring that the safety connection or attachment does not become dislodged while in transit. (c) No more slack shall be left in a safety chain, cable, or equivalent device than is necessary to permit proper turning. When a drawbar [as defined in sec. 300] is used as the towing connection, the safety chain, cable or equivalent device shall be connected to the towed and towing vehicle and to the drawbar so as to prevent the drawbar from dropping to the ground if the drawbar falls. (d) Subdivision (a) does not apply to a semi trailer having a connecting device composed of a fifth wheel and kingpin assembly, and it does not apply to a towed motor vehicle when steered by a person who holds a license for the type of vehicle being towed. (e) For purposes of this section, a ‘tow truck’ includes both of the following: (1) A repossessor’s tow vehicle, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 615. (2) An automobile dismantler’s tow vehicle, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 615. (f) Vehicles towed by a repossessor’s tow vehicle, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 615, are exempt from the multisafety chain requirement of paragraphparagraph (2) of subdivision (a) so long as the vehicle is not towed more than one mile from the point of repossession and is secured by one safety chain. (g) This section shall become operative only if Senate Bill 378 of the 1999-2000 Regular Session is enacted and becomes operative and amends Section 615 of the Vehicle Code.” [This condition did not occur.]