OOSC, Part II, Item 9.b.(4) - Unplugged Pigtail

Currently the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria Section 9. Lighting devices paragraph b. at anytime - day or night, sub paragraph (4) all electrical lighting systems on towed vehicle(s) inoperative due to no electrical connection (unplugged or loose pigtail) (393.23), Note: after electrical connection is re-established all towed vehicle electrical lighting shall be inspected and if applicable recorded as per Operational Policy 14 - Enhancing Roadside Inspection and Enforcement Data Uniformity, apparently this does not apply to a faulty power cord that may be the reason why trailer lights inoperative.

It is also possible that trailer lights being inoperative can be caused by a faulty power cord that is shorting out, wires disconnected. If the trailer is placed out of service for inoperative turn signals, both brake lights and or both tail lights and the repair requires a new or replacement power cord and all lights are now operative upon re-inspection provided there is an opportunity for re-inspection by the officer, obviously the lights are now working and were never the origin. Operational Policy 14 is worded this way: Lighting Devices: NOTE: When all required lights on the towed vehicle are inoperative due to no electrical connection, one violation of 393.23PT will be recorded on the rearmost unit, when applicable, currently at this time the Out of Service Criteria only applies to loose or unplugged, so unless the pigtail is loose or unplugged and the power cord is faulty for other reasons the motor carrier can still be written up for multiple light violations when the problem is not the lights.

Add faulty power cord to the out of service criteria paragraph 9.b. (4), if there is not an opportunity for the officer to re-inspect after power cord has been replaced the allow the motor carrier to submit documentation through the Data Q process to verify that the power cord was replaced and all lights are now operative so the correct violation can be recorded as 393.23 and not all of the multiple individual light violations.