Many motorists use this equipment on their car without knowing that they risk a large fine.
Caravans, boats, quads, jet-skis, bicycles…it is possible to transport a lot of things with just one car. But unlike suitcases that you put in the trunk, or on the roof in case of overflow when going on vacation, certain very heavy and bulky loads need to be towed behind the vehicle. To succeed, nothing very complicated, the motorist must obtain a trailer hitch which he attaches to the rear of his car to be able to attach the object to be towed thanks in particular to the tow ball. This equipment is obviously authorized by law provided that certain rules of use are followed, such as respecting a certain weight for the object to be pulled depending on the weight of the towing vehicle.
However, whether you are an expert or a novice when it comes to towing, there is one thing you should never forget to do or risk paying a high price. You may be thinking about removing the hitch ball after using it. If it can sometimes cause serious damage during maneuvers (“oops, I forgot it was there…”), nothing in fact obliges a driver to detach it after having used it to tow a caravan or trailer. The problem is that the presence of the tow ball at the rear of the vehicle can still lead to an offense, an offense that few motorists think about…
Placed where it is, the towing ball can actually get in the way when trying to decipher the license plate. However, it is obligatory that the latter always be clearly readable, in particular so that the police and radars can correctly identify a vehicle in the event of bad behavior on the road. It is therefore essential to always check the position of the tow ball before getting behind the wheel. If it obscures part of the license plate attached to the rear of the car, then you risk a fine that you probably didn’t see coming.
And the law is strict regarding license plates. If the authorities consider that an element hides one of its parts and that it is therefore illegible, this can be seen as an attempt to escape speed radars for example. The penalty is heavy: a fine of 135 euros which can be increased to 750 euros if you are late in paying. Think about it this summer if you ever plan to bring part of your garage to your vacation home.