Mud Flap Laws

[JWhitcomb]

In a recent post it was stated some state laws require flaps on duel wheels, who knows for sure what their state requires? I am in CA and don't have a clue about the law. If CA does require them there are a whole bunch of us breaking the law.

 

[Thomas]

California Vehicle Code

Here are ALL the rules for California:





California Vehicle Code



Section 27600 appears to be the only mention of splash prevention equipment that applies to our trucks.

 

[MCummings]

Ditto for me here in Tx. although I haven't taken the time to look up the laws,, I know the DPS Officer gave my Dad a good warning about having a Cracked Mudflap.



The Cumins powershop has some good mudflaps for about ~$40-50. THe look good, and are kinda "Hard/Flexible" Plastic,, they aren't rubber. I have them on my truck,, they have the red Ram head and the Blue "C" Cummins logo.



MerrickNJr

 

[BIG BOB]

It seems to me that if the State the truck was sold in required mudflaps, the truck manufacture would have to put them on as standard equipment before they could sell the truck.



Just my $. 02.

 

[Pit Bull]

I'll ask my neighbor, he is a Highway petrol type. I agree that if it was a law here in Mo. that the dealers would have to have them on the trucks when sold. If it is agains't the law more than half the 3500 and 2500's I see are breaking the law???

 

[illflem]

I backed up over a curb and tore the mud flap off my 3500, got pulled over the next day for it in WA state. He let me go with a warning when I showed him the flap in the back of the truck. I have a feeling that the main reason I was pulled over was because I only had one flap on, maybe with both missing they won't notice. Bought my 3500 in Oregon, it came with flaps stock. If you tow it's silly not to use mudflaps unless you want to sandblast your trailer. My 2¢



Here's the CA law:



27600. No person shall operate any motor vehicle having three or

more wheels, any trailer, or semitrailer unless equipped with

fenders, covers, or devices, including flaps or splash aprons, or

unless the body of the vehicle or attachments thereto afford adequate

protection to effectively minimize the spray or splash of water or

mud to the rear of the vehicle and all such equipment or such body or

attachments thereto shall be at least as wide as the tire tread.

This section does not apply to those vehicles exempt from

registration, trailers and semitrailers having an unladen weight of

under 1,500 pounds, or any vehicles manufactured and first registered

prior to January 1, 1971, having an unladen weight of under 1,500

pounds.



It seems to me if a CHP gets behind you and you pelt him with rocks he's going to pull you over.

 

[RustyJC]

Mudflaps are required in Texas. We brought our 1996 3500 down when we moved back to Texas from Ohio - the Ohio-purchased 3500 wouldn't pass Texas safety inspection until mudflaps were installed. The Texas-purchased 2002 had them installed by the dealer before delivery.



Rusty

 

[pnwradar]

Originally posted by illflem

I backed up over a curb and tore the mud flap off my 3500, got pulled over the next day for it in WA state. He let me go with a warning when I showed him the flap in the back of the truck. I have a feeling that the main reason I was pulled over was because I only had one flap on, maybe with both missing they won't notice. Bought my 3500 in Oregon, it came with flaps stock.

I bought my truck in Idaho, which evidently doesn't require mudflaps. The dealer made me sign a little paper, acknowledging that I'd been told that WA required them, and it was my responsibility to put them on myself.



I've been driving around Seattle for a year and a half, no flaps, and have never been pulled over for it. Yeah, I know I need to get some, other stuff keeps jumping into the shopping cart first.



-jon-

 

[Bill Stockard]

Yes, Rusty is right. It's the law in Texas. No flaps--no State Safety Inspection sticker. It is the delivering dealer's responsibility to install the flaps as part of customer make ready. The selling dealer is required to have a State Safety Inspection sticker on the new vehicle before it is delivered to the customer.



Incompleted Trucks(Cab & Chassis units without a bed) are required to have temporary flaps installed for manufacturer to dealer and dealer to dealer transit. In this case, the State Safety Inspection sticker isn't required until the truck is completed. In some special cases where the body of the truck covers the rear tires to the rear a certain distance(I have forgotten the distance and height requirements) flaps are not required.



The main reason for flaps is to protect a vehicle and driver following a dual wheeled vehicle from objects being thrown from between the dual tires. A large rock can be run over, caught between the tires, and thrown to the rear by the centrifugal force. The rock becomes a missle to any following vehicles.



Bill

 

[roadranger]

There are a lot of different rules in states east of the Mississippi about how LONG a mudflap has to be. Some say they must hang past the axle centerline, some say must hang 6 in. from road surface, and various other dimensions.



When working construction sites backing in and out of mudholes, the mudflaps hung to within 6 in. of road surface got ripped off regularly... .

 

[Pit Bull]

Solved my problem with Mud Flaps today. Got a real nice set for $85. 00 heavy rubber with heavy chrome strip at the bottom. Attached to bed frame and fender with 3 bolts (it's not going anywhere. Looks like it will last forever and looks sharp.

 

[JoeyD]

I have gotten plenty of flaps for free from my local dealer. When they send a cab and chassis out to get a dump body put on the outfitter always put flaps on with the body sometimes there black and sometimes the have the outfitters name on them. When the truck comes back to the dealer they take them off and put some on that say the dealers name on them. I am sure all dealers do it and my local Chevy dealer will give them to you if you ask.

 

[lawdog]

Michigan Law states that if you take a line fron the rear of the tire contact patch, rearward at a 22. 5 degree angle, there must be a mudflap if this angle does not get covered with body

 

[C Schomer]

I remember from my OTR trucking days, Texas mud flaps had to be within 7" of the road surface too! We referred to them as 'Texas mudflaps' and if they were OK in Texas, they were good for any state. Craig