You can use them to charge your phone. Some portable fans operate with them. We’ve even seen razors use USB cables to charge. But don’t try and use a USB cable to fix a tire chain issue. In Washington state it can cost you, as one driver just found out.
USB cord “remedy”
Last week when snow filled Interstate 90, it forced the “Chains Required” signs up. A state trooper patrolling Snoqualmie Pass somehow spotted a man traveling through in a pickup truck. The truck was equipped with chains, but something didn’t seem right.
Turns out, the chains were too small for the tires, so on at least one, the driver made an “adjustment.” He used a USB charge cable to cinch up the errant chain. The trooper was not amused. Evidently it’s not enough to just have chains on your tires when the law requires it—they have to fit, too.
“This driver had chains that were too small and used a USB cord to ‘remedy’ the issue,” Trooper Rick Johnson posted on X. “Not acceptable.” And “not acceptable” came with a hefty price tag. A $500 ticket was issued to the negligent, if not creative-thinking, driver.
If he takes it to court, one wonders if the judge would appreciate this line of argument. “Your honor. I can buy USB-powered tail lights. After all, they’re for safely backing up your computer!”
##RVT1135b
Thank you, Russ and Tina! Interesting application. I don’t think that the tensile strength of a standard USB cable is particularly great. Even though they are called “cables,” they are more closely akin to “wires.” 🙂
Hopefully was “Yankee Ingenuity” where he used MacGyver skills vice something planned.
If the picture you have attached is the actual one for this story ? It can’t be the attached picture is a semi tractor which attached to a trailer & loaded would be 80,000 lbs very deadly disaster just waiting to happen with that setup.
It’s very rare, in any RV blog, article or story, that the picture is the actual one from the story.
Hi, Will. I believe the image used in this story is the actual one which was posted by the Washington State Patrol. Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Hi, Paul. It looks like the picture in this story is the actual one from the Washington State Patrol. Have a great day! 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Forty years ago the LEO would have smiled and said ‘drive carefully, check it often and don’t do it again’… today not so much because of Courts, Lawsuits, Lawyers, Judges, incessant Laws, etc…🎅🥳🎊🎉💥