Okla. Stat. tit. 47, § 47-12-301
This is the official text of Okla. Stat. tit. 47, § 47-12-301, part of Oklahoma’s Stat. tit. 47, — part of the compiled statutory law of Oklahoma, published by the state as "Stat. tit. 47,." Browse the sections below, each linked to its official government source.
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Brake equipment required
Official statutory text
A. Every motor vehicle manufactured prior to September 1, 1961,
when operated upon a highway shall be equipped with brakes adequate
to control the movement of and to stop and hold such vehicle,
including two separate means of applying the brakes, each of which
means shall be effective to apply the brakes to at least two wheels.
If these two separate means of applying the brakes are connected in
any way they shall be so constructed that failure of any one part of
the operating mechanism shall not leave the motor vehicle without
brakes on at least two wheels.
B. 1. Every motor vehicle manufactured on or after September
1, 1961, operated upon the highways shall be equipped with service
brakes upon all wheels.
2. A truck or truck-tractor having three or more axles need not
be equipped with brakes on the front axle if:
a. the vehicle was manufactured on or before July 24,
1980, or
b. the vehicle was manufactured on or after July 25,
1980, but no later than October 26, 1986, and the
brake components have not been removed. If the brake
components have been removed, the vehicle shall be
retrofitted to meet the requirements of this section.
C. 1. Every trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer of a gross
vehicle weight rating of three thousand (3,000) pounds or more when
operated upon a highway shall be equipped with brakes:
a. adequate to control the movement of and to stop and to
hold such vehicle,
b. so designated as to be applied by the driver of the
towing motor vehicle from its cab. Provided, braking
systems commonly known as “surge brakes” shall be
lawful when used on a trailer which is towing or
transporting a vessel or vessels, and
c. so designed and connected that in case of an
accidental breakaway of the towed vehicle the brakes
shall be automatically applied.
2. Every trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer required to be
equipped with brakes, except motor vehicles engaged in drive-away
tow-away operations as provided in 49 C.F.R., Part 393.42, shall be
equipped with brakes which are designed to be applied automatically
and promptly upon break-away from the towing vehicle, and means
shall be provided to maintain application of the brakes on the
trailer in such a case for at least fifteen (15) minutes.
Oklahoma Statutes - Title 47. Motor Vehicles Page 622
3. Any trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer having a gross
vehicle weight rating of less than three thousand (3,000) pounds
need not be equipped with brakes; provided, the trailer,
semitrailer, or pole trailer shall be equipped with brakes if the
weight of the towed vehicle exceeds forty percent (40%) of the gross
vehicle weight rating of the towing vehicle.
D. Every motor vehicle and every combination of vehicles shall
be equipped with a parking brake system adequate to hold the vehicle
or combination on any grade on which it is operated under all
conditions of loading, on a surface free from snow, ice, or loose
material.
E. The braking system on the rear axle of any motor vehicle may
be used for both service brake and parking brake operation.
F. 1. Air brake systems installed on towed vehicles
manufactured shall be designed as provided in 49 C.F.R., Section
393.43.
2. Every truck or truck-tractor, if used to tow a trailer
equipped with brakes, shall be equipped with service brakes as
provided in 49 C.F.R., Section 393.43.
3. Every truck or truck tractor equipped with air brakes, when
used to tow another vehicle equipped with full air brakes, in
operations other than drive-away or tow-away, shall, in addition to
the above, be equipped with two means of activating the emergency
features of the trailer brakes as provided in 49 C.F.R., Section
393.43.
4. Every motor vehicle which is equipped with power brakes,
shall comply with 49 C.F.R., Section 393.49.
5. Every truck tractor and truck used for towing other vehicles
equipped with vacuum brakes, in operations other than drive-away
hall, in addition to
the above, be equipped with two means of activating the emergency
features of the trailer brakes as provided in 49 C.F.R., Section
393.43.
4. Every motor vehicle which is equipped with power brakes,
shall comply with 49 C.F.R., Section 393.49.
5. Every truck tractor and truck used for towing other vehicles
equipped with vacuum brakes, in operations other than drive-away
tow-away, on and after September 1, 1961, shall, in addition to
other requirements of state and federal law, comply with 49 C.F.R.,
Section 393.43.
G. Every bus, truck, and truck-tractor which is equipped with
an air or vacuum brake system, shall be equipped with a reservoir as
required by 49 C.F.R., Section 393.50, sufficient to insure a brake
application capable of stopping the vehicle within the stopping
distance requirements of Section 12-302 of this title in the event
the engine stops.
H. Every bus, truck and truck-tractor shall be equipped with
service brake warning devices and signals as required by 49 C.F.R.,
Part 393.51.
I. All brakes shall be maintained in good working order and
shall be so adjusted as to operate as equally as practicable with
respect to the wheels on opposite sides of the vehicle. The brakes
shall be capable of stopping the vehicle, or a combination of
vehicles, within the stopping distance requirements of Section 12-
302 of this title.
Oklahoma Statutes - Title 47. Motor Vehicles Page 623
when operated upon a highway shall be equipped with brakes adequate
to control the movement of and to stop and hold such vehicle,
including two separate means of applying the brakes, each of which
means shall be effective to apply the brakes to at least two wheels.
If these two separate means of applying the brakes are connected in
any way they shall be so constructed that failure of any one part of
the operating mechanism shall not leave the motor vehicle without
brakes on at least two wheels.
B. 1. Every motor vehicle manufactured on or after September
1, 1961, operated upon the highways shall be equipped with service
brakes upon all wheels.
2. A truck or truck-tractor having three or more axles need not
be equipped with brakes on the front axle if:
a. the vehicle was manufactured on or before July 24,
1980, or
b. the vehicle was manufactured on or after July 25,
1980, but no later than October 26, 1986, and the
brake components have not been removed. If the brake
components have been removed, the vehicle shall be
retrofitted to meet the requirements of this section.
C. 1. Every trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer of a gross
vehicle weight rating of three thousand (3,000) pounds or more when
operated upon a highway shall be equipped with brakes:
a. adequate to control the movement of and to stop and to
hold such vehicle,
b. so designated as to be applied by the driver of the
towing motor vehicle from its cab. Provided, braking
systems commonly known as “surge brakes” shall be
lawful when used on a trailer which is towing or
transporting a vessel or vessels, and
c. so designed and connected that in case of an
accidental breakaway of the towed vehicle the brakes
shall be automatically applied.
2. Every trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer required to be
equipped with brakes, except motor vehicles engaged in drive-away
tow-away operations as provided in 49 C.F.R., Part 393.42, shall be
equipped with brakes which are designed to be applied automatically
and promptly upon break-away from the towing vehicle, and means
shall be provided to maintain application of the brakes on the
trailer in such a case for at least fifteen (15) minutes.
Oklahoma Statutes - Title 47. Motor Vehicles Page 622
3. Any trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer having a gross
vehicle weight rating of less than three thousand (3,000) pounds
need not be equipped with brakes; provided, the trailer,
semitrailer, or pole trailer shall be equipped with brakes if the
weight of the towed vehicle exceeds forty percent (40%) of the gross
vehicle weight rating of the towing vehicle.
D. Every motor vehicle and every combination of vehicles shall
be equipped with a parking brake system adequate to hold the vehicle
or combination on any grade on which it is operated under all
conditions of loading, on a surface free from snow, ice, or loose
material.
E. The braking system on the rear axle of any motor vehicle may
be used for both service brake and parking brake operation.
F. 1. Air brake systems installed on towed vehicles
manufactured shall be designed as provided in 49 C.F.R., Section
393.43.
2. Every truck or truck-tractor, if used to tow a trailer
equipped with brakes, shall be equipped with service brakes as
provided in 49 C.F.R., Section 393.43.
3. Every truck or truck tractor equipped with air brakes, when
used to tow another vehicle equipped with full air brakes, in
operations other than drive-away or tow-away, shall, in addition to
the above, be equipped with two means of activating the emergency
features of the trailer brakes as provided in 49 C.F.R., Section
393.43.
4. Every motor vehicle which is equipped with power brakes,
shall comply with 49 C.F.R., Section 393.49.
5. Every truck tractor and truck used for towing other vehicles
equipped with vacuum brakes, in operations other than drive-away
hall, in addition to
the above, be equipped with two means of activating the emergency
features of the trailer brakes as provided in 49 C.F.R., Section
393.43.
4. Every motor vehicle which is equipped with power brakes,
shall comply with 49 C.F.R., Section 393.49.
5. Every truck tractor and truck used for towing other vehicles
equipped with vacuum brakes, in operations other than drive-away
tow-away, on and after September 1, 1961, shall, in addition to
other requirements of state and federal law, comply with 49 C.F.R.,
Section 393.43.
G. Every bus, truck, and truck-tractor which is equipped with
an air or vacuum brake system, shall be equipped with a reservoir as
required by 49 C.F.R., Section 393.50, sufficient to insure a brake
application capable of stopping the vehicle within the stopping
distance requirements of Section 12-302 of this title in the event
the engine stops.
H. Every bus, truck and truck-tractor shall be equipped with
service brake warning devices and signals as required by 49 C.F.R.,
Part 393.51.
I. All brakes shall be maintained in good working order and
shall be so adjusted as to operate as equally as practicable with
respect to the wheels on opposite sides of the vehicle. The brakes
shall be capable of stopping the vehicle, or a combination of
vehicles, within the stopping distance requirements of Section 12-
302 of this title.
Oklahoma Statutes - Title 47. Motor Vehicles Page 623
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
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