§ 20-123. Trailers and towed vehicles.
§20‑123. Trailers and towed vehicles.
(a) The limitations inG.S. 20‑116 on combination vehicles do not prohibit the towing of farmtrailers not exceeding three in number nor exceeding a total length of 50 feetduring the period from one‑half hour before sunrise until one‑halfhour after sunset when a red flag of at least 12 inches square is prominentlydisplayed on the last vehicle. The towing of farm trailers and equipmentallowed by this subsection does not apply to interstate or federal numberedhighways.
(b) No trailer orsemitrailer or other towed vehicle shall be operated over the highways of theState unless such trailer or semitrailer or other towed vehicle be firmlyattached to the rear of the towing unit, and unless so equipped that it willnot snake, but will travel in the path of the vehicle drawing such trailer orsemitrailer or other towed vehicle, which equipment shall at all times be keptin good condition.
(c) In addition to therequirements of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the towed vehicleshall be attached to the towing unit by means of safety chains or cables whichshall be of sufficient strength to hold the gross weight of the towed vehiclein the event the primary towing device fails or becomes disconnected whilebeing operated on the highways of this State if the primary towing attachmentis a ball hitch. Trailers and semitrailers having locking pins or bolts in thetowing attachment to prevent disconnection, and the locking pins or bolts areof sufficient strength and condition to hold the gross weight of the towedvehicle, need not be equipped with safety chains or cables unless theiroperation is subject to the requirements of the Federal Motor Carrier SafetyRegulations. Semitrailers in combinations of vehicles that are equipped withfifth wheel assemblies that include locking devices need not be equipped withsafety chains or cables. (1937, c. 407, s. 86; 1955, c. 296, s. 3; 1963, c.356, s. 2; c. 1027, s. 2; 1965, c. 966; 1971, c. 639; 1973, c. 507, s. 5; 1975,c. 716, s. 5; 1977, c. 464, s. 34; 1981 (Reg. Sess., 1982), c. 1195; 1993, c.71, s. 1; 1995 (Reg. Sess., 1996), c. 756, s. 15; 1997‑148, s. 8.)