Sec. 101.2. Insert bodies

(a) Nonarticulated insert camper bodies.

A camper body which is inserted upon, and is integrally attached to a truck in a nonarticulating manner whether or not the body is partially supported by an attached additional axle shall be deemed to be a part of the truck, and shall not be deemed to be a separate vehicle.

(1) Registration. Such a camper body shall not be separately registered. The motor vehicle may be registered as an auto truck, under the provisions of section 401(7)(B)(1) of the Vehicle and Traffic Law, or as a house coach under the provisions of section 401(6) of the Vehicle and Traffic Law. If registered as an auto truck, the maximum gross weight shall include the weight of the camper body and such registration shall be valid for operation of the motor vehicle with or without the camper body attached. If registered as a house coach, the registration shall be valid only for operation with the camper body attached.

(2) Display of rear number plate. The rear number plate shall be attached to the vehicle or camper body so that such plate is plainly visible from the rear while the vehicle is being operated.

(3) Lighting equipment. A vehicle with such a camper body attached shall be equipped in accordance with the lighting requirements of section 376 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law.

(b) Articulated insert bodies.

An insert body which rests partially upon its own axle or axles and partially upon the chassis or frame of a truck, and which is attached to such truck in an articulating manner by means of a fifth wheel or similar device attached to the carrying compartment of the truck shall be deemed to be a full trailer and not a semi-trailer for registration and licensing purposes, and the truck to which such body is attached shall not be deemed to be a tractor solely because of its use with such body.

(1) Registration. Such an articulated body shall be registered in the same manner as a house coach trailer if such body is used for camping or as a living abode, and shall be registered in the same manner as a full trailer, if used for any other purpose. The motor vehicle used in conjunction with such body shall be registered in its ordinary classification, disregarding its use with the insert body. The weight of insert body shall not be considered a part of the maximum gross weight of the hauling vehicle.

(2) Riding in articulated insert camper bodies. Because of the different and more substantial method of attachment between the hauling vehicle and the articulated camper body, such camper body, pursuant to the authority contained in section 218 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law, shall not be classified as a house coach trailer for the purposes of section 1228 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law, and such camper bodies, therefore, may be occupied while being hauled on the public highways.