HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3911        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3514

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

James M. Kelcourse

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to trailer hitch drawbars.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3911        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3514

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4804 OF 2019-2020.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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An Act relative to trailer hitch drawbars.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 19K of Chapter 90 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the first paragraph, the following new paragraph:-

For the purposes of this section, the term “trailer hitch drawbar” shall be defined as a removable coupling platform, which fastens with a clip and mounts the rear bumper or frame of any commercial or non-commercial truck to engage towing. Nothing in this section shall apply to state, county or municipally owned or operated vehicles. Any vehicle with a gross weight of less than 26,000 pounds which is equipped with a trailer hitch drawbar shall be required to remove said drawbar whenever the vehicle is not actively engaged in towing. If the trailer hitch drawbar is used to carry a bicycle rack or other accessory attachment, the drawbar must be removed whenever the accessory is removed.

SECTION 2. Said section of said chapter, as so appearing, is further amended by inserting, in line 22, after the words “hitching mechanisms”, the following words:- or trailer hitch drawbar. 

SECTION 3. Said section of said chapter, as so appearing, is further amended by inserting, in line 30, after the words “hitching mechanisms”, the following words:- or trailer hitch drawbar.