LEGAL QUESTION FOR TRUCK EXTENDER PEOPLE

[bus kid]

It depends on the LEO.
either the end of your tail gate when its down or tail lights.

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwevb/s...light=extender

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwevb/s...light=extender

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwevb/s...light=extender

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwevb/s...light=extender

[bwana]

I have a full sized pick up, with a steel box taking up a portion of the bed.

I have used a hitch extender for almost a decade to haul around my 14' kayak.

According to the CHP officer that pulled me over, I am not CA legal as the kayak is extending too far beyond the rear of the truck.

He pulled me over for speeding, not due to the kayak.

After requesting my license, registration and insurance he asked how I came about my flag.

I told him my daughter looked at me a little funny one day when I asked her if she had any old red laced bras I could have.

After that he let me go with a verbal warning to slow down. I have used one style or another of my "red flag" ever since.

[wiredantz]

That is HILARIOUS!!!!!!!!

[tacmik]

The answer is NO. When I first got my T-13, I went to the CHP office in El Cajon. The officer seemed to have all the answers immediately with no pauses to have to think. He said that if you take the length of your vehicle excluding the bumpers, divide by two. That is how far out you can extend with or without a hitch extender. The extender is merely for support. i.e. if your vehicle is 16 ft front to back, excluding bumpers. Your kayak can extend 8 feet from back of truck. If your tailgate is down, that doesn't count toward how far you can extend.

[wiredantz]

I wish CVC could provide a legal definition of " the last point of support", because it seems to leave the interpretation of this part of the law to CHP. (well many of the laws) This is probably the reason why, very few if any have gotten a ticket for this.


the Webster dictionary defines "Support" it as: v. t. 1. To bear by being under; to keep from falling; to uphold; to sustain, in a literal or physical sense; to prop up; to bear the weight of; as, a pillar supports a structure; an abutment supports an arch; the trunk of a tree supports the branches.


I would like to see how a court judge would rule on this matter, since you can argue that a truckbed extender is the last point of support for the kayak.

just a thought if anyone receives a citation for this.


But if you do get pulled over, I would not argue over it. Just go to court and see what happens.

[wiredantz]

Originally Posted by tacmik

The answer is NO. When I first got my T-13, I went to the CHP office in El Cajon. The officer seemed to have all the answers immediately with no pauses to have to think. He said that if you take the length of your vehicle excluding the bumpers, divide by two. That is how far out you can extend with or without a hitch extender. The extender is merely for support. i.e. if your vehicle is 16 ft front to back, excluding bumpers. Your kayak can extend 8 feet from back of truck. If your tailgate is down, that doesn't count toward how far you can extend.

The officer probably didn't know about this CVC CODE...

LOAD-CARRYING EXTENSIONS

35402. (a) Any extension or device used to increase the carrying capacity of a vehicle shall be included in measuring the length of a vehicle. ...

[jruiz]

Is this what we expect to see behind your truck/suv?

[tacmik]

Originally Posted by wiredantz

The officer probably didn't know about this CVC CODE...

LOAD-CARRYING EXTENSIONS

35402. (a) Any extension or device used to increase the carrying capacity of a vehicle shall be included in measuring the length of a vehicle. ...

Asked my son (lawyer with the DA's office) Said you would lose in court. It is a support and not load bearing. Also said if you think about it, your truck is 16 ft. long, extension is 4 ft. you would be able to extend 10 ft beyond the extension. Won't fly in court. Take it for what it is worth. If you win in court, great, if not. Have a fine to pay.

[wiredantz]

Originally Posted by tacmik

Asked my son (lawyer with the DA's office) Said you would lose in court. It is a support and not load bearing. Also said if you think about it, your truck is 16 ft. long, extension is 4 ft. you would be able to extend 10 ft beyond the extension. Won't fly in court. Take it for what it is worth. If you win in court, great, if not. Have a fine to pay.

well than, we are back to square one:

EXTENSIONS TO THE REAR:
Per CVC Section 35410, the load upon a vehicle, trailer or semitrailer shall not extend to the rear beyond the last point of supportfor a greater distance than that equal to two-thirds of the length of the wheelbase. The wheelbase of a semitrailer shall be considered as the distance between the rearmost axle of the towing vehicle and the rearmost axle of the semitrailer.

__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ____




True it is not load bearing, it is for support. So if they say that it is a support;then technically it is the last point of support, and you should be able to extend two-thirds of the length of the wheelbase not exceeding the 40 ft rule.

35400. (a) A vehicle may not exceed a length of 40 feet.



I am just reading the law with my own interpretation so take them with a grain of salt.