Maryland Trailer Laws and Regulations

If you often find yourself towing heavy loads around your state you probably have some idea of the state laws and rules that apply to do this. Some people may not be aware however that sometimes laws can differ state by state. This can mean you might be legal in one state but crossing the border you might well get pulled over for an infringement you were not expecting.

In this article we are going to look at the laws for Maryland which may vary from the state you might be driving in from. There may also be regulations you were not aware of as a native to the state which might catch you out. So read on and let us try to keep you from costly tickets.

Do Trailers Need to Be Registered in Maryland?

In the state of Maryland all trailers are held to the same standard as passenger vehicles. This means that trailers must be titled and if they are used and are to be registered they must pass a safety inspection.

Maryland General Towing Laws

These are general rules in Maryland regarding towing that you might come foul of if you were not aware of them. Sometimes you may get away with an infringement of these rules because you did not know them but you can not assume this will be the case.

  • If a trailer is being towed by a Class E truck it is limited to 20,000 lbs. of Gross Vehicle Weight.
  • Class A passenger vehicles and Class M multipurpose vehicles can only tow up to 10,000 lbs.
  • Class A and Class M vehicles can only tow boat trailers, camping trailers, travel, house trailers or utility trailers.
  • You can not allow anyone to ride in a trailer that is being towed on a highway.

Maryland Trailer Dimension Rules

It is important to know the state laws governing the sizes of loads and trailers. You may need permits for some loads while others may not be allowed on certain types of roads.

  • You can not ride in or live in a trailer while it is being towed along public roads in the state.
  • The total length of tow vehicle and trailer can not exceed 55 ft including bumpers.
  • The maximum length of the trailer is 40 ft including bumpers.
  • The maximum width for a trailer is 102 inches.
  • The maximum height of a trailer and load is 13ft 6”.

Maryland Trailer Hitch and Signal Laws

There are laws in Maryland that relate to the trailer hitch and safety signals displayed by the trailer. It is important to be aware of these laws as they are safety based so may carry potentially large fines.

  • Every full trailer must be equipped with a tow bar and a means of attaching the tow bar to the tow vehicle and trailer.
  • The tow bar and method of attaching the bar must be structurally adequate for the proposed weight set to be towed. It must also be mounted correctly without excessive slack but enough play to support the action of the connection.
  • A method of locking the connection is required to prevent accidental separation of the tow vehicle and trailer.
  • The mounting of the trailer hitch must be sufficient to reinforce the frame providing additional strength and rigidity against undue distortion.
  • Trailers and semi trailers equipped with a tow bar must be coupled directly to the frame of the tow vehicle with at least I safety chain or cable. These must attach to the tow vehicle, trailer and the tow bar.

Maryland Trailer Lighting Laws

When you are towing something that will obscure the rear lights of your tow vehicle it is important to be able to communicate your upcoming and present actions in the form of lights. This is why there are rules regarding trailer lighting.

  • All trailers must be equipped with at least 2 rear tail lamps that emit a red light plainly visible from at least 1,000 feet to the rear.
  • Trailers that were manufactured before June 1, 1971 shall have at least 1 tail lamp that emits a red light plainly visible from a distance of at least 300 feet to the rear. On a combination of vehicles, it is only required that the tail lamps on the rearmost vehicle be seen from the required distance.
  • All trailers shall have either a tail lamp or separate lamp that illuminates the rear license plate with a white light that is visible from a distance of at least 50 feet.
  • Every trailer made after July 1, 1971, shall carry on the rear, either as part of the tail lamps or separately, 2 or more red reflectors that are visible from all distances between 100-600 feet behind the vehicle.
  • Every trailer made before July 1, 1971, shall carry on the rear, either as part of the tail-lamps or separately, 1 or more red reflectors visible from all distances between 100-600 feet behind the vehicle.
  • Trailers manufactured after July 1, 1971 should be equipped with at least 2 stop lamps which are either red or amber in color and visible from a distance of at least 300 feet. Vehicles manufactured before that date must have at least 1 stop lamp.
  • Trailers manufactured after July 1, 1971 should be equipped with electric turn signals on both the front and rear of the vehicle.
  • Trailers and semi trailers that are 80 inches or more in overall width shall have: On the front, 2 clearance lamps, 1 at each side on the rear, 2 clearance lamps, 1 at each side, and after June 1, 1971, 3 identification lamps that are grouped in a horizontal row, with the lamp centers being between 6 and 12 inches apart, and mounted to the permanent structure of the vehicle as close as possible to the vertical centerline. On each side, 2 side marker lamps are required 1 at or near the front and 1 at or near the rear; and on each side, 2 reflectors, 1 at or near the front and 1 at or near the side.
  • Rear reflectors on pole trailers can be mounted on each side of the bolster or load.
  • Clearance lamps should be mounted so as to indicate the widest width of the motor vehicle, not including the mirrors, and as near to the top of the vehicle as possible.
  • When rear identification lamps are mounted at the highest point of the vehicle then rear clearance lamps may be mounted at an optional height.
  • If the mounting of the front clearance lamps to the highest point of a trailer causes those lamps to fail to mark the width of the trailer, they may be mounted at an optional height, but must indicate the width of the trailer.
  • The front, side, rear clearance and identification lamps must be capable of being seen at all distances ranging 500 to 50 feet from the front and rear, respectively.

Maryland Speed Limits

When it comes to speed limits this varies and depends on the posted speeds of the specific area. You obviously should not exceed the posted speed limit in any area. When it comes to normal towing there are no specific different limits but it is expected that the speed is kept at a sensible level.

If your trailer is being caused to sway or lose control due to speed you may be pulled over even if you are within the posted limits. This is because the trailer may be posing a threat to public safety and you will be asked to slow down.

Maryland Trailer Mirror Laws

The rules for mirrors in Maryland are not specified although they are likely required and you may be pulled over if you do not have any or they are unusable. If your view is compromised by the width of your load you may want to consider extensions to your existing mirrors. These can be in the form of mirror extenders that slot into already existing wing mirrors.

If the internal rear view mirror is blocked by the trailer and load then the tow vehicle must have 2 rear view mirrors one on each side of the vehicle.

Maryland Brake Laws

The brakes on your tow vehicle and potentially on your trailer are important to the safety of any towing operation. Ensure that they meet state guidelines and adhere to the stated rules for use on the road with a trailer.

  • The parking brakes of the tow vehicle must be adequate to hold the vehicle and trailer stationary on any grade.
  • Trailers with a gross weight of at least 10,000 lbs. must have brakes on all wheels
  • Trailers 3,000 lbs. or less do not need brakes on all wheels as long as the trailer is less than 40% of the weight of the tow vehicle when connected together. The tow vehicle's brakes must be sufficient to deal with stopping both vehicles.
  • Trailers weighing between 3,000 and 10,000 lbs. do not require brakes on all wheels as long as the trailer has two axles or more and has brakes on both wheels of at least one axle. The combined braking power of trailer and tow vehicle also needs to enough to stop them when connected together and fully loaded

Conclusion

There are a number of laws in Maryland that pertain to towing and trailers which are designed to keep the roads and road users safe. The state of Maryland is very particular about their lighting and reflector laws so this is something to be aware of.

Maine also prefers trailer dimensions to be smaller than most states, only allowing 54 ft for tow vehicles and trailers. As a whole the state is firm on their rules so it is wise to make sure you know the rules in order to avoid legal woes.

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