Interpretation ID: aiam1338
Chief of Police
City of San Marcos
P.O. Box 725
San Marcos
TX 78666;
Dear Mr. Nelson: This is in reply to your letter of November 14, 1973, concerning th permissibility of installing trailer hitches which prevent the proper function of a vehicle's shock absorbing bumper device.; The attachment of trailer hitches to motor vehicle bumpers will no constitute a violation of any Federal motor vehicle safety standard. The testing requirements of Standard No. 215, which are here applicable, specify that trailer hitches are to be removed prior to testing for compliance. Thus, it is only necessary that the vehicle comply with the regulation when the trailer hitch is not attached. Further, the requirements of the standard do not apply after the first purchase of the vehicle for purposes other than resale, which removes the welding company and the vehicle owner from the standard's coverage once the initial sale has occurred.; Thank you for your inquiry. Yours truly, Richard B. Dyson, Assistant Chief Counsel