From: Bill Kealey (cwkealey@charter.net)
Date: Wed Dec 03 2003 - 20:02:00 PST
Glenn and the group,
I too live in Maryland and out of curiosity looked up the state regulations,
not to flame but to see if in fact MD does prohibit these brakes. As you
stated, ". . . outlawed (I believe)" for commercial use."
There may be and probably are more (many, many more) regulations and laws
covering this than what I found.
In COMAR (COde of MAryland Regulations) the sections on vehicle inspections
allows for the inspection of hydraulic surge brakes on trailers built after
June 1, 1970 if the trailer is over 3,000-lbs. GVW. COMAR- (sorry, I
forgot to locate the authority section of law here) .11.14.05.04 (D) (2)
COMAR .11.14.05.04 (I) (3) allows for the use of hydraulic surge emergency
brakes to be inspected for the same trailers with the requirements that the
brakes be able to automatically and promptly operate for up to 15 minutes
after the trailer becomes disconnected from the towing vehicle.
This is, in no way meant to imply that other laws and regulations have made
the use of these brakes illegal. It just shows that the inspection process
allows for the inspection of these vehicles and of course the regulations
here could very well be out of date and just not deleted from the inspection
section.
Before I retired last year, the state agency that I was employed by used
many boat trailers and the larger ones had the surge type brakes on them.
Our vehicles, though not required to be inspected the same as any other new
vehicles in the state, were required to comply with the state and federal
laws if for no other reason than fear of employee law suits for injury while
operating vehicles/vessels that would normally be considered unsafe. Again,
to imply that the vehicles were always safe is rediculous at best.
Maintenance depended on the quality of the mechanics, the operators ability
and interest in the vehicle/vessels condition and of course the dollars in
the budget.
As for the brakes on larger trailers, over 10,000 GVW, the inspection
process has requirements for different types of brake systems. I will not
try to explain what these requirements are for the simple reason that I have
absolutely no idea of what I would be talking about. <grin>
Again, I hope that this is not taken as flaming as that is not my intention.
I just had nothing more interesting to do right now and decided to play with
the state regulations.
Have a great day,
Bill K.
MVPA #24623
1954 USMC M38A1
1972 US Army M35A2 non-turbo w/winch
1985 USAF M105A2
----- Original Message -----
From: "Glenn McCalley" <glenn@combatcatering.com>
To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2003 11:45 AM
Subject: Re: [MV] [MV]
> Here in Maryland surge brakes are outlawed (I believe) for commercial use.
> All the lawn care guys etc. had to get electric brakes installed even
though
> the trailer came with surge brakes. The reasoning was that not only could
> you not apply from the cab but they could not be set when you parked.
>
> Interestingly I'm told that the trailer -rental- people are exempt. You
> can -rent- a trailer with surge brakes and use it in your business, you
just
> can't -own- that same trailer. And I'm sure politics had nothing to do
with
> that regulation.
>
> Glenn.
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