(A) No owner shall knowingly operate or permit to be operated on a highway a motor vehicle upon which the brakes are defective.
(B) Every motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, when operated upon a highway shall be equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of and to stop and hold the vehicle. There shall be 2 separate means of applying the brakes, each of which means shall be effective to apply the brakes to at least 2 wheels. If the 2 separate means are connected in any way, they shall be so constructed that failure of any one part of the operating mechanism shall not leave the motor vehicle without brakes on at least 2 wheels.
(C) (1) Except for commercial vehicles with a declared gross weight of more than 10,000 pounds, the service brakes upon any motor vehicle or combination of vehicles shall be adequate to stop the vehicle when traveling 20 m.p.h. within a distance of 40 feet when upon dry asphalt or concrete pavement surface free from loose material where the grade does not exceed one percent.
(2) Under the conditions described in division (C) (1) the hand brake shall be adequate to stop the vehicle within a distance of 55 feet and the hand brake shall be adequate to hold the vehicle stationary on any grade upon which it is operated.
(3) Under the conditions described in division (C) (1) the service brakes upon a motor vehicle equipped with two-wheel brakes only shall be adequate to stop the vehicle within a distance of 40 feet and the hand brake adequate to stop the vehicle within a distance of 55 feet.
(4) All braking distances specified in this section shall apply whether or not the vehicles are loaded to the maximum capacity permitted by law.
(5) All brakes shall be maintained in good working order and shall be so adjusted as to operate equally practicable with respect to the wheels on opposite sides of the vehicle.
(D) A person shall not operate any commercial vehicle with a declared gross weight of over 10,000 pounds on any highway in this city unless it is equipped with efficient brakes that meet the federal motor carrier safety standards in 49 CFR Part 393 and may be operated by the operator of the vehicle.
(KRS 189.090) Penalty, see § 70.99 (A)