§ 31-23-4 - Brake equipment required.
SECTION 31-23-4
§ 31-23-4 Brake equipment required. –(a) Every motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle, whenoperated upon a highway, shall be equipped with brakes adequate to control themovement of and to stop and hold the vehicle, including two (2) separate meansof applying the brakes, each of which means shall be effective to apply thebrakes to at least two (2) wheels. If these two separate means of applying thebrakes are connected in any way, they shall be so constructed that failure ofany one part of the operating mechanism shall not leave the motor vehiclewithout brakes on at least two (2) wheels.
(b) Every motorcycle, and motor-driven cycle, when operatedupon a highway shall be equipped with at least one brake, which may be operatedby hand or foot, and which is adequate to control and stop the vehicle.
(c) Every trailer or semi-trailer of a gross weight of fourthousand pounds (4,000 lbs.) or more, when operated upon a highway, shall beequipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of and to stop and tohold the vehicle, and so designed as to be applied by the driver of the towingmotor vehicle from the driver's normal operating position, and the brakes shallbe so designed and connected that in case of an accidental breakaway of thetowed vehicle, the brakes shall be automatically applied.
(d) Every new motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer sold inthis state and operated upon the highways shall be equipped with service brakesupon all wheels of the vehicle, except any motorcycle or motor-driven cycle,and except that any semi-trailer of less than four thousand pounds (4,000 lbs.)gross weight need not be equipped with brakes.
(e) In any combination of motor-drawn vehicles, means shallbe provided for applying:
(1) The rearmost trailer brakes, of any trailer equipped withbrakes, in approximate synchronism with the brakes on the towing vehicle anddeveloping the required braking effort on the rearmost wheels at the fastestrate; or
(2) Braking effort first on the rearmost trailer equippedwith brakes; or
(3) Both of the above means capable of being usedalternatively may be employed.
(f) Every motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer, and poletrailer, and any combination of those vehicles, except motorcycles andmotor-driven cycles, shall be equipped with parking brakes adequate to hold thevehicle on any grade on which it is operated under all conditions of loading ona surface free from snow, ice, or loose material. The parking brakes shall becapable of being applied in conformance with the requirements in thissubsection by the driver's muscular effort, by spring action, or by equivalentmeans. The operation may be assisted by the service brakes or other source ofpower, provided that failure of the service brake actuation system or otherpower assisting mechanism will not prevent the parking brakes from beingapplied in conformance with the requirements in this subsection. The parkingbrakes shall be so designed that when once applied they shall remain appliedwith the required effectiveness, despite exhaustion of any source of energy orleakage of any kind. The same brake drums, brake shoes and lining assemblies,brake shoe anchors, and mechanical brake shoe actuation mechanism normallyassociated with the wheel brake assemblies may be used for both the servicebrakes and the parking brakes. If the means of applying the parking brakes andthe service brakes are connected in any way, they shall be so constructed thatfailure of any one part shall not leave the vehicle without operative brakes.
(g) The brake shoes operating within or upon the drums on thevehicle wheels of any motor vehicle may be used for both service and handoperation.
(h) It shall be unlawful to sell, offer for sale, ordistribute brake linings for use on motor vehicles, unless they are of a typeand meet specifications promulgated by the administrator of the division ofmotor vehicles. The administrator of the division of motor vehicles isauthorized and empowered to adopt and amend regulations governing types andpromulgate specifications of brake linings which comply with approvedstandards, as promulgated by the vehicle equipment safety commission, and shallestablish and maintain an approved list of brake linings meeting thespecifications as established in this chapter. Any person who violates theprovisions of this section shall be guilty of a civil violation and is subjectto fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.