Mounted search and rescue

["IRVIN LICHTENSTEIN" <ilichten1@verizon.net>]

Besides your skills and your trailer’s condition it is also a good idea to check your state’s laws about horse trailers. Each state is a little different and the differences can put you on the side of the road with a big fine and an impounded rig.

Pennsylvania requires annual inspection, a back up (breakaway) brake system, and registration that matches the gross weight in the trailer.  If you register for over 10,000 pounds GTW the tow vehicle must be include the trailer weight in the tow vehicle’s GVW (An 8600 pound GVW Suburban towing a 12000 pound GVW trailer must be registered as a 20600 pounds GVW).  It is the weight on the title that counts in this instance.  If you are overweight you can be forced to unload enough stuff to get under the registered weight.  Persons under 21 can drive a commercial vehicle in state (PA) but not across state lines.  The PA State and local police enforce the DOT rules as well—over 10000 pounds CGVW you need a US DOT number on the tow vehicle if you are in commerce.  If your trailer is marked with a farm name or related business name you are in commerce.  All PA State Police and most local officers are certified commercial vehicle inspectors and can spot inspect any vehicle if they spot a safety problem such as lights out, bald tires, no turn signals, rust or body damage, not riding level.  Most won’t know about horses or horse paperwork but they do know about shipping papers, insurance certificates, and registrations.  

 

Going to an emergency call may get you just a warning, but on the way home expect a citation.

 

Irv Lichtenstein  

 

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From: msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Finkle, Tomi <CTR>
Sent: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 10:00 AM
To: MSAR-Riders@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [MSAR] MSAR Horse Trailer Training and Horse Trailer Rodeo
Importance: High