Interpretation ID: 18237.ztv

Mr. Guy Wilkins, P.E.
Owner
Wilkins Golf Specialties
1719 Binford Street
Ogden, UT 84401

Dear Mr. Wilkins:

Thank you for your letter of June 17, 1998, and accompanying video, telling us of your product, a hitch that allows passenger cars or pickup trucks to haul golf cars on the public roads.

As you note, your hitch affords an alternative to either driving a golf car on the public roads or hauling it on a trailer. The proposed regulation to which you refer was made final on June 17, and is called Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 500 Low-Speed Vehicles. Standard No. 500 applies to vehicles with a maximum speed of more than 20 miles per hour and not more than 25 miles per hour.

The final rule preserves the right of the individual states to regulate the use of golf cars on their public streets. It would appear that your hitch affords a viable alternative to trailering a golf car in those states that do not permit golf cars on the public roads, even for the limited purpose of going to and from the golf course, and to those owners who may not want to drive on the public roads even if they are permitted to do so.

We consider your hitch to be motor vehicle equipment under the laws that we administer. This means that if either you or we determine that a safety related defect exists in your hitch, you must notify and remedy according to statutory requirements. I enclose some information on our laws and programs that apply to manufacturers of motor vehicle equipment.

We are returning your video, and appreciate your writing us.

Sincerely,
Frank Seales, Jr.
Chief Counsel
Enclosures
ref:500
d.7/24/98