Approval of Unusual Vehicle Designs/Configurations
WHEREAS, police have encountered unusual vehicle types operating on the highways; and
WHEREAS, the design/configuration of these vehicles appears to be contrary to existing federal regulations; and
WHEREAS, the design of some of the vehicles are not conducive to safety; and
WHEREAS, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) contended both vehicle types were in compliance with these federal regulations; and
WHEREAS, in one instance, the FHWA issued an interpretation to the manufacturer approving the vehicle configuration, but never published the interpretation, or communicated it to enforcement; now therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the IACP encourages the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to regard safety as the primary consideration and seek input from enforcement when determining whether unusual vehicle designs/configurations comply with existing federal regulations, and to ensure decisions are communicated to enforcement.