ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor                             Ch. 355

the vehicle is below 50 percent of the air compressor governor cut-out pressure. In
addition, the vehicle shall be equipped with a pressure gauge visible to the driver,
which indicates in pounds per square inch the pressure available for braking.

(2)     Vacuum Brakes. After June 1, 1971, every truck tractor and truck
used for towing a vehicle equipped with vacuum operated brakes and every truck with
three or more axles using vacuum in the operation of its brakes, except those in
driveaway or towaway operations, shall be equipped with a warning signal, other
than a gauge indicating vacuum, readily audible or visible to the driver, which will
operate at any time the vacuum in the vehicle's supply reservoir or reserve capacity is
less than 8 inches of mercury.

(3)     Combination of Warning Devices. When a vehicle required to be
equipped with a warning device is equipped with both air and vacuum power for the
operation of its own brakes or the brakes on a towed vehicle, the warning devices may
be, but are not required to be, combined into a single device that serves both purposes.
A gauge or gauges indicating pressure or vacuum is not an adequate means of
satisfying this requirement.

(L) (1) IN THIS SUBSECTION, "SURGE BRAKES" MEANS A BRAKING SYSTEM
DESIGNED TO ACTIVATE THE BRAKES OF A VEHICLE BEING TOWED AS A RESULT OF
THE FORWARD PRESSURE OF THE VEHICLE AGAINST THE TOWING VEHICLE DURING
DECELERATION.

(2) A TRAILER OR SEMITRAILER MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH SURGE
BRAKES IF:

(I)      THE TRAILER OR SEMITRAILER HAS A MANUFACTURER'S
GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING, OR REGISTERED WEIGHT, WHICHEVER IS LESS, OF
10,000 POUNDS OR LESS;

(II)     THE COMBINED GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING, COMBINED
REGISTERED WEIGHT, AND THE GROSS COMBINATION WEIGHT OF THE TRAILER OR
SEMITRAILER AND THE TOWING VEHICLE IS 26,000 POUNDS OR LESS;

(III)   THE VEHICLE OR COMBINATION OF VEHICLES IS NOT
DESIGNED OR USED TO TRANSPORT 16 OR MORE PASSENGERS INCLUDING THE
DRIVER OF THE TOWING VEHICLE;

(IV) THE ACTUAL GROSS WEIGHT OF THE TRAILER OR SEMITRAILER
AND LOAD DOES NOT EXCEED THE MANUFACTURER'S GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT
RATING OR REGISTERED WEIGHT, WHICHEVER IS LESS;

(V)     THE ACTUAL GROSS WEIGHT OF THE TOWING VEHICLE AND
LOAD DOES NOT EXCEED THE MANUFACTURER'S GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING
OR REGISTERED WEIGHT, WHICHEVER IS LESS;

(VI)    THE TRAILER OR SEMITRAILER BRAKES ARE DESIGNED AND
CONNECTED IN SUCH A MANNER THAT IN CASE OF ACCIDENTAL BREAKAWAY OF
THE TOWED VEHICLE, THE BRAKES WILL APPLY AUTOMATICALLY;

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