hitch ?

O/T I have been hearing of trafic tickets in ILL. and MO. hitches in recievers on non towing trucks. then i hear that it's only if it blocks the veiw of the plate. would like to know what is the law. RENE'

Dont know about here in Colorado,But I see a LOT of RHs setting back 6" or more behind that haven't seen a trailer for years.I think those guys should be ticketed.those things sticking out are a hazzard!Shin busters!!!If you're not pulling a trailer,remove the RH and place in the tool box!Then you won't need to worry....

first ive heard of that, this is ridiculous, the thing doesnt stick out more than 6 or so inches , i use the one on my pickup at least 3 days a week, the other 3 trucks, its made onto the truck bed, dont have that issue around here but i believe me and a cop would have issues over a ticket for that

Man,I must be getting grouchy in my 'old' age.What I meant to say was if you use it on a regular basis-OK if it doesnt stick out too far.I know,I just made a fool out of myself....

Have heard that too. Story I got it was pushed by insurance companies. Too many claims of hitches smashing into cars.

I leave mine in. Have not had any problems yet.

It certainly does make them easier to steal if you don't have to bend over to get it.

I hear to many officers were busting their shins on them as they walked around the vehicle, I feel their pain. BTDT got the T-Shirt.
Nate

This deal went thru about a year ago here, so I asked a Deputy Sheriff about it. He told me that it was a lot of "hogwash" that was started on the internet.

Goshen Township in Ohio does ticket you for leaving the hitch in the receiver.

This topic came up here on YT, about a year ago. At the time I was doing some work for a NY State Trooper, and asked him about it. He decided to double check the issue, and after checking said " that as long as the plate was (unobstructed), no tickets would be issued. However if a 6,8,9 was blocked by the ball, "in the view of the officer" was blocked, you may have to put up with a traffic stop, but, not likely, unless you did something else wrong, and then ,had an "attitude". Then he could also add an "obstructed plate", citation also.That's the way it is here in Central NY., acording to that officer.
Loren The Acg.

A dirty plate, no plate light on the rear, one of those plate brackets that is smoke colored or in any way covers part of the plate COULD be a violation worthy of a ticket. There's a big difference between COULD be and WILL BE. Unless it's some clown with a Sgt on his butt for low productivity, chances are, in NY at least, all you'll get is a brief look over and a verbal warning or advisement. The trailer ball or dirt is easily correctable even if you do get a ticket- remove the ball or wash the plate and take your correction slip to the nearest garage or police officer where they verify the defect is corrected . The ticket should be dismissed if the correction slip is signed with no later than 1/2 after sunset the first full business day following issuance of the ticket. I probably handed out a zillion of those correction slips and unless something has changed in the past 3 years, that's all there is to it in NY. Other states have different rules.

Also, consider the source on this stuff. 2 years back on this site there was a post detailing the new law in NY that outlawed grill guards/deer guards/brush guards, whatever you want to call them. The posters swore up and down it was true. I asked my former co-workers and no one knew anything about it. Came back and was told it was a for sure law. A few months later I started seeing all out local Troop cars with grill guards! It was total nonsense. Always consider the source.

I use to leave my in while driving in Detroit, MI. I figured it was a little extra buffer in stop and go traffic between the moron behind me and the bumper of my truck.

Since 1993, I had two people "tap" it. Both crept up a little too close.

Third guy, nice Porsche Boxster. He was on his cell phone... put my hitch w/2 inch ball right through his front fascia.

Fourth guy. 7 day old Chevy Cavalier. Didnt touch his brakes. Put the hitch through the radiator and right into the engine block. Trashed all the front sheet metal, glass etc. Oops. Bent the frame on my truck, new bumper and a little body work and I was on my way.

I use to leave mine in, but now I am away from metro Detroit, I don"t see the idiot tailgaters on the road that seem to congregate in large cities. 10 years never a ticket or even a warning.

Rick