When would you pull over a car towing a trailer?

Eric in Davis

Eric in Davis

Well-known member
Car: Volvo V70 wagon.
Trailer: small 1 bike trailer with 1 race bike on it
Lane: #1 or possibly #2 if there are 4 lanes and lots of merging.
Area: LA area

At what speed do you think this vehicle would get pulled over at? 65? 70? Assuming traffic in left lanes is moving faster, and posted speed limit is either 65 or 70.

I know anything over 55 mph is in violation of the law, just curious to get some LEO's opinions on this.

Thanks :thumbup
 
Dougmo531

Dougmo531

Well-known member
On a 4 lane highway (the #1 lane is the left most lane) when towing a trailer you are restricted to the #3 or #4 lanes only! If you're towing in the #1 or #2 lanes you could be cited. On a 3 lane highway you're restricted to the #3 lane and can use the #2 lane only to pass. When towing your speed limit is 55 mph so chances of you passing another vehicle going less than 55 mph is slim.

Hope this helps...
 
silversvs

silversvs

Lean, Twist, repeat.....
As with most responses to any of these ask the LEO type questions you have two types of responses.

"Letter of the law" says if you are towing a trailer and going anything over 55 you are breaking the law and subject to citations. Some officers will enforce as such and will stop you and cite you.

The second response is "Spirit of the law." This is the way I operate. If I see you cruising along under the flow of traffic at 60-65, your trailer looks sturdy and has proper registration, and you're not weaving in and out of traffic, I would not bother you at all. If you are driving in such a manner as to call attention to yourself, then you are much more likely to be stopped and cited.

All officers have their own interpretation on what's important and what isn't. Lots of things will impact that interpretation. Their personal experiences, demands from their supervisors, their specific training.

If you happen to be cruising down the freeway towing your trailer at 65 MPH and pass by an officer who took a speed related fatal traffic accident recently where a trailer towing vehicle was involved, that officer is probably going to be more apt to tag you. If that officer's supervisor happens to have mentioned in briefing that there have been complaints of folks speeding while towing trailers, that officer is more apt to tag you. If you happen to pass a traffic officer who is more versed in trailer laws, he/she is more apt to tag you.

So the long answer to your question is what you already knew to be true. If ya run above 55 you are taking the chance of being cited. If you drive cautiously, don't weave in and out of traffic, and don't draw attention to yourself, you will limit the possibility of getting that ticket.
 
Eric in Davis

Eric in Davis

Well-known member
Thanks for the replies. I got my lane numbers reversed. I meant to say that I'm either in the right most lone, or 1 over if there are lots of interchanges in the area (think 405/101 & 5/405 type sections)
 
slydrite

slydrite

On a brake
silversvs said:
As with most responses to any of these ask the LEO type questions you have two types of responses.

"Letter of the law" says if you are towing a trailer and going anything over 55 you are breaking the law and subject to citations. Some officers will enforce as such and will stop you and cite you.

The second response is "Spirit of the law." This is the way I operate. If I see you cruising along under the flow of traffic at 60-65, your trailer looks sturdy and has proper registration, and you're not weaving in and out of traffic, I would not bother you at all. If you are driving in such a manner as to call attention to yourself, then you are much more likely to be stopped and cited.

All officers have their own interpretation on what's important and what isn't. Lots of things will impact that interpretation. Their personal experiences, demands from their supervisors, their specific training.

If you happen to be cruising down the freeway towing your trailer at 65 MPH and pass by an officer who took a speed related fatal traffic accident recently where a trailer towing vehicle was involved, that officer is probably going to be more apt to tag you. If that officer's supervisor happens to have mentioned in briefing that there have been complaints of folks speeding while towing trailers, that officer is more apt to tag you. If you happen to pass a traffic officer who is more versed in trailer laws, he/she is more apt to tag you.

So the long answer to your question is what you already knew to be true. If ya run above 55 you are taking the chance of being cited. If you drive cautiously, don't weave in and out of traffic, and don't draw attention to yourself, you will limit the possibility of getting that ticket.
Click to expand...


:thumbup

why can't all LEO's be like you?!?:cry
 
Diezel

Diezel

كافر extraordinaire
slydrite said:
:thumbup

why can't all LEO's be like you?!?:cry
Click to expand...

Most ARE. Your attitude and actions around LEO's usually dictate the end result.
 
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