Required equipment of trailers……..
Someone asked recently about required equipment on trailers so I’ll try to explain as best I can. First of all when any trailer is being pulled by a car or pickup it is simply considered a vehicle. A pulled trailer does not need to be registered in Oklahoma but must have tail and stop lights and at least two rear reflectors. It also must be equipped with “stay” or safety chains of large enough size to keep the trailer attached to the towing vehicle should the hitch fail. Even fifth wheels and goose necks are included in this requirement with semi’s being the exception. Some will say that they have never seen a trailer come loose but I have on many occasions. It certainly can happen and these requirements are for everyone’s safety.
All trailers not equipped with fenders MUST also have mud flaps.
Something that will surprise a few people in rural areas such as Cimarron County is that ANY trailer with a gross (total) weight rating of over 3,000 pounds is required to have brakes. Few do and this is perhaps one of the least enforced laws on the books. The only exemption for this is that tanks under 1,200 gallons used for transporting fertilizer from one field to another may be exempt.
This is not a statute I would look forward to enforcing in a rural area like this one but in the event of an accident, especially if injuries occur the operator of the vehicle pulling the trailer could be both criminally and civilly liable. I only mention this because in that event a citation would be the least of the operators and owners concern.
Unfortunately when an accident and injuries does occur there is often increased pressure on law enforcement officers to enforce laws which are on the books.
In closing I will say this. Not I nor any trooper I know wants to be hard on farmers and ranchers just trying to make a living. However, our job is to enforce the law and in accidents, especially with injuries involved we MUST call it like it is. There will be no immediate rush to enforce this law as far as I know currently but I simply mention this so that when working on trailers or building new ones you should consider this law when doing so.
Anyone who would like to do what they can to bring their trailers into legal compliance with statute is welcome to contact myself or any other trooper for assistance.
Trooper Duane Johnson #280
Oklahoma Highway Patrol
