ORS 818.170
Exemptions from towing safety requirements


This section establishes exemptions from the towing safety requirements under ORS 818.150 (Safety requirements for towing) and 818.160 (Violating towing safety requirements). Exemptions under this section are in addition to any under ORS 801.026 (General exemptions). Operation in accordance with one of the exemptions described is not subject to ORS 818.160 (Violating towing safety requirements). Exemptions are partial or complete as described in the following:

(1)

The requirements for mounting and slack of towing connections under ORS 818.150 (Safety requirements for towing) (2) do not apply where the towed vehicle is temporarily disabled.

(2)

The requirements for safety chains or cables under ORS 818.150 (Safety requirements for towing) (5) do not apply to the following:

(a)

A temporarily disabled vehicle that is being towed by another vehicle.

(b)

A dolly without a tow bar.

(c)

A semitrailer coupled to a towing vehicle with a fifth wheel hitch or any ball and socket type assembly that is positioned above and forward of the rear axle of the towing vehicle. To qualify for the exemption under this subsection, the assembly must be designed so that the upper and lower halves of the assembly may not be separated without being manually released.

(d)

A booster axle bolted or pinned to another vehicle that redistributes weight from one or more axles and pivots from side to side at the connection point or has wheels that steer during turning.

(3)

Operations exempt from the towing safety requirements by a variance permit issued under ORS 818.200 (Authority to issue variance permits) are subject to the terms of the permit. It shall be a defense to any charge of violation of ORS 818.160 (Violating towing safety requirements) if the person so charged produces a variance permit issued under ORS 818.200 (Authority to issue variance permits) authorizing the operation of the vehicle or combination of vehicles issued prior to and valid at the time of the offense.

(4)

The towing safety requirements do not apply on any way, thoroughfare or place owned by a district formed under ORS chapters 545, 547, 551 or a corporation formed under ORS chapter 554.

(5)

The towing safety requirements do not apply on any road or thoroughfare or property in private ownership or any road or thoroughfare, other than a state highway or county road, used pursuant to any agreement with any agency of the United States or with a licensee of such agency or both. [1983 c.338 §523; 1999 c.361 §2]

Source: Section 818.170 — Exemptions from towing safety requirements, https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors818.­html.

818.010
Maximum allowable weight
818.012
Wheel load on certain vehicles
818.030
Exemptions from weight limitations
818.040
Violation of posted weight limits
818.050
Exemptions from posted weight limits
818.060
Violation of administratively imposed weight or size limits
818.070
Exemptions from administratively imposed weight or size limitations
818.080
Maximum size limits
818.100
Exemptions from size limitations
818.105
Request for unrestricted access to specified highway for overlength combination
818.110
Exceeding maximum number of vehicles in combination
818.120
Exemptions from limits on number of vehicles in combinations
818.130
Violation of posted limits on use
818.140
Exemptions from posted use limits
818.150
Safety requirements for towing
818.160
Violating towing safety requirements
818.170
Exemptions from towing safety requirements
818.200
Authority to issue variance permits
818.205
Continuous operation variance permit
818.210
Limits on authority to issue variance permit
818.220
Requirements, conditions and procedures for issuance of variance permit
818.225
Road use assessment fee for single-trip nondivisible load permittee
818.230
Sifting or leaking load permit
818.235
Permit for wide load of hay bales
818.240
Dragging permit
818.250
Permit for fire company warning lights
818.260
Permit for use of bus safety lights on certain buses
818.270
Fees for permits
818.300
Operating with sifting or leaking load
818.310
Exemptions from prohibition on sifting and leaking load
818.320
Dragging objects on highway
818.330
Exemptions from prohibition on dragging objects on highway
818.340
Operating in violation of variance permit
818.350
Failure to carry and display variance permit
818.400
Failure to comply with commercial vehicle enforcement requirements
818.410
Civil liability for certain violations
818.420
Penalties for certain violations
818.430
Penalties for violation of weight requirements
818.440
Penalty for procuring, aiding or abetting violation of this chapter
818.450
Civil penalty for violations of chapter
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