This bill amends and reenacts several sections of Louisiana's motor vehicle regulations, specifically focusing on brake equipment and safety chain specifications for trailers and semitrailers. Key changes include the requirement that every trailer or semitrailer used in commerce and originally manufactured with brakes must be equipped with adequate braking systems if it has a gross weight of three thousand pounds or more. Additionally, the bill establishes that trailers and semitrailers with a gross weight of three thousand pounds or less are not mandated to have braking systems, provided the weight of the towed vehicle does not exceed forty percent of the towing vehicle's gross axle weight.

Furthermore, the bill eliminates specific exemptions for farm equipment regarding safety chain requirements and mandates that all trailers and semitrailers used in connection with farm vehicles comply with towing safety requirements. It also introduces new provisions for safety chains and devices, ensuring they conform to manufacturer specifications or federal safety standards. Notably, the regulations regarding safety chains do not apply to vehicles operated exclusively on private property or for crossing public roadways between contiguous parcels of land owned by the same person.

Statutes affected:
HB868 Original: 32:341(C), 32:384(A), 32:385(A)(1)
HB868 Engrossed: 32:341(C), 32:384(A), 32:385(A)(1)
HB868 Reengrossed: 32:341(C), 32:384(A), 32:385(A)(1)
HB868 Enrolled: 32:341(C), 32:384(A), 32:385(A)(1)
HB868 Act 778: 32:341(C), 32:384(A), 32:385(A)(1)