US Laws, Codes, Statutes & Cases

     32-15-29.   Excess lash or free play in steering system--Test standards--Violation as petty offense. No person may operate a motor vehicle required to be registered in this state which has an unloaded weight of six thousand pounds or less, other than a motorcycle, on a public highway, unless the motor vehicle shall be capable of complying with the following test for excess lash or free play in the steering system: with the engine on and the wheels in the straight ahead position, the steering wheel shall be turned in one direction until there is a perceptible movement of a front road wheel; if a point on the steering wheel rim moves more than the value shown in the following table before perceptible return movement of the road wheel under observation, there is excessive lash or free play in the steering system:

Steering Wheel Diameter	Lash
16 inches or less	2 inches
18 inches	2-1/4 inches
20 inches	2-1/2 inches
22 inches	2-3/4 inches