The Wyoming Highway Patrol is warning drivers that if they attempt to haul a vehicle by putting it inside of a larger U-Haul truck like some kind of automotive nesting doll, they could end up with a ticket — or even charged with a crime.
A set of photos from Washington state shows a U-Haul truck, its rear door open, carrying a vehicle that extends past the end of the U-Haul. The vehicle being carried is held in place with a packing strap.
As the photos went viral this week on Twitter, WHP Sgt. Jeremy Beck tried to discourage springtime movers in Wyoming from trying anything similar.
“I don’t know the circumstances behind the photos, but I will say that just because you can fit a vehicle on a trailer or in the back of a truck doesn’t mean that you should,” Beck told Cowboy State Daily on Wednesday.
According to KKTV in Washington, the driver was pulled over this week in central Washington after several others reported a car hanging out of the back of a U-Haul moving truck.
The driver apparently had a suspended license and the U-Haul truck was “long” overdue for return, according to KKTV. The driver was given a $139 ticket for the unsafe load.
Beck noted that if a person was doing the same thing on Wyoming roads, they could also be charged for having an unsecured load.
“It becomes a hazard for you, because if the vehicle is not made to haul that much weight, it can cause you to lose control of the vehicle on interstates or highways,” he said. “Also, it could come loose and end up in the lanes of travel, which could cause a collision. You could be charged for that, as well.”
The sergeant added that Wyoming troopers see unsafe situations on the highway every day and if they see an unsecured load, they will make contact with the driver in order to ensure everyone’s safety.
“Just make sure before you head out and are towing a vehicle that the trailer or vehicle you’re using to tow something is equipped to do that and make sure it’s securely fastened so it doesn’t become a hazard for anyone else on the road,” Beck said.
U-Haul did not immediately return Cowboy State Daily’s request for comment on Wednesday.
