Post by tom0 on Jul 23, 2010 22:38:41 GMT -5
Roadworthy, Street Legal, "Safe" are all things that anyone who has modded cars conscientiously have become familiar with. Many companies that sell products for car modification will print somewhere on their packaging "for offroad use only". What does that mean to us, and how can we avoid being hit by fines, repair orders, or even worse impound?
Before beginning I would like to disclaim that I am not a lawyer or vehicular standards professional. I do not hold a mechanical certification or any applicable certificate providing me with the capability to deliver legal advice. All modifications are to be done at your own risk and by considering any of these "technical recommendations" you will not hold me or any companies owned, operated or that employ me responsible for anything that happens to you....
That all said, here in the United States, the IS NO national standard for roadworthyness. If you have something that passes muster in the state your vehicle is licensed in you are GENERALLY good to go in another state. The only real "gotcha" are on sensible matters like obvious lack of safety. (If you are driving down the road with a nacelle strapped to your roof with duct tape and it is obviously over 20 pounds and obviously about to take flight, you will be stopped just about anywhere for unsafe cargo) So there is that.
A for instance of what I mean:
In Maryland it is illegal to have more then 35% tint on a non-commercial non-multipassenger vehicle. In South Carolina it is not. If you visit Maryland with your limo tinted ride you'll more likely then not get stopped if you are driving like an idiot or appear under the age of 30, but you will not get slapped with a safety violation.
I'm going to be using my home state of Maryland for many examples, and have found it to be a good "rule of thumb" for many nearby states as well.
I have a feeling most of the folks on this site want to turn heads, and get some smiles, but not the wrong kind of attention from Law Enforcement. From some quick research, and from past experience living up and down the east coast here are some general guidelines that should keep us all out of trouble:
Lighting up the galaxy:
Avoid flashing lights of any kind on the road/while driving. No matter what the color, they WILL get the wrong kind of attention. You can mount a blaster array, just don't fire it using a strobe light at an intersection or on the freeway.
Avoid Red, and Blue lights on the exterior. That should be self explanatory. Also avoid red and blue FLASHING on the interior. Impersonation of police and rescue personnel is an ugly charge to have.
Green lights have different meaning in different states. Some states use Green on"off duty" or "axillary" emergency personnel vehicles. Check local laws.
"Clear" and "bare" lights are usually touchy subjects. Something to bare in mind is that emergency vehicles will use "white" lights as well as red. Also bare/white lights are universal as "reverse" lights, or headlights. A turn signal with a clear lens and a white bulb can be very distracting to other drivers, if not blinding and will attract again the wrong kind of attention.
so what lights can you use? Well when you are parked and showing, whatever the heck you want. When you are driving, Amber, Red, and white on the exterior, and just about anything you want provided it isn't flashing on the interior.
Rolling big
Don't have tires wider then your fenders. This is is illegal in many states, and common sense in foul weather anyway.
Avoid too much rim for your tires, or too much tire for your rim.
Make sure any wheel modifications don't interfere with the operation of your speedometer, and odometer. (This is the only thing that gets CLOSE to national in that your wheels can lead to unintentional odometer fraud)
If you want to raise or lower your vehicle check local laws. I've seen it go both ways. A rule of thumb I use is a minimum 4" ground clearance. If you are over 18" I'd advise running boards.
Keep it tight:
Don't have anything over 10 lbs attached to your vehicle that flaps, flutters, or sways radially at highway speeds. This will most likely be considered "cargo" and is subject to all sorts of rules. If you want engine pods, blasters and the like make them aerodynamic, and secure them well. We're talking nuts and bolts and at least a little epoxy or a quick weld. "Droid parts" should be fine as long as they aren't too heavy. I would say that if you can lean on it with all of your weight and it doesn't go anywhere it "should be good". I'm willing to bet the first thing a state trooper will do when he pulls over an X-wing is lean on R2, or prop himself on a laser cannon. I would.
Check yourself before you wreck yourself:
Make sure your modifications do not interfere with the operation of the vehicle. If there is something that will obviously harass the brake lines, clog the exhaust, put holes in other cars, or obviously start a fire (say a really cool flame thrower, or sparkler effect), you will most likely get slapped with a violation.
Set your blaster to stun
If you make a really cool pneumatic tennis ball launcher, or anything that can launch a projectile, don't drive with it loaded or armed. Projectiles from cars are considered missiles, even a 7-11 big gulp out your window hitting another car is. This is usually a minimum of misdemeanor assault. You will probably also be pinged for littering.
Listen to Green Leader?
Emissions should still important even to the spacer. If you want a cool sound effect, get a different muffler, or a catback. Don't remove the catalyst. PLEASE. You'll state emissions tests and pollute more then your share. If you live in a state with emissions inspections, don't do anything that will make you fail. If your state has a benchmark for your car and you modify the engine, tell the inspector. They may adjust for you if you're lucky, or tell you what to remove before even beginning the test. I had a car that produced TOO LITTLE CO once and failed a computerized test, took it to the office and got a "pass" after the numbers were run.
I that's about all I can think of relevant to the Road Squadron. If folks have questions about the legality of extreme performance related upgrades/modifications, or "street rod"/"historic" waivers (Maryland anyway) please let me know. I've had some fun with those too.
Before beginning I would like to disclaim that I am not a lawyer or vehicular standards professional. I do not hold a mechanical certification or any applicable certificate providing me with the capability to deliver legal advice. All modifications are to be done at your own risk and by considering any of these "technical recommendations" you will not hold me or any companies owned, operated or that employ me responsible for anything that happens to you....
That all said, here in the United States, the IS NO national standard for roadworthyness. If you have something that passes muster in the state your vehicle is licensed in you are GENERALLY good to go in another state. The only real "gotcha" are on sensible matters like obvious lack of safety. (If you are driving down the road with a nacelle strapped to your roof with duct tape and it is obviously over 20 pounds and obviously about to take flight, you will be stopped just about anywhere for unsafe cargo) So there is that.
A for instance of what I mean:
In Maryland it is illegal to have more then 35% tint on a non-commercial non-multipassenger vehicle. In South Carolina it is not. If you visit Maryland with your limo tinted ride you'll more likely then not get stopped if you are driving like an idiot or appear under the age of 30, but you will not get slapped with a safety violation.
I'm going to be using my home state of Maryland for many examples, and have found it to be a good "rule of thumb" for many nearby states as well.
I have a feeling most of the folks on this site want to turn heads, and get some smiles, but not the wrong kind of attention from Law Enforcement. From some quick research, and from past experience living up and down the east coast here are some general guidelines that should keep us all out of trouble:
Lighting up the galaxy:
Avoid flashing lights of any kind on the road/while driving. No matter what the color, they WILL get the wrong kind of attention. You can mount a blaster array, just don't fire it using a strobe light at an intersection or on the freeway.
Avoid Red, and Blue lights on the exterior. That should be self explanatory. Also avoid red and blue FLASHING on the interior. Impersonation of police and rescue personnel is an ugly charge to have.
Green lights have different meaning in different states. Some states use Green on"off duty" or "axillary" emergency personnel vehicles. Check local laws.
"Clear" and "bare" lights are usually touchy subjects. Something to bare in mind is that emergency vehicles will use "white" lights as well as red. Also bare/white lights are universal as "reverse" lights, or headlights. A turn signal with a clear lens and a white bulb can be very distracting to other drivers, if not blinding and will attract again the wrong kind of attention.
so what lights can you use? Well when you are parked and showing, whatever the heck you want. When you are driving, Amber, Red, and white on the exterior, and just about anything you want provided it isn't flashing on the interior.
Rolling big
Don't have tires wider then your fenders. This is is illegal in many states, and common sense in foul weather anyway.
Avoid too much rim for your tires, or too much tire for your rim.
Make sure any wheel modifications don't interfere with the operation of your speedometer, and odometer. (This is the only thing that gets CLOSE to national in that your wheels can lead to unintentional odometer fraud)
If you want to raise or lower your vehicle check local laws. I've seen it go both ways. A rule of thumb I use is a minimum 4" ground clearance. If you are over 18" I'd advise running boards.
Keep it tight:
Don't have anything over 10 lbs attached to your vehicle that flaps, flutters, or sways radially at highway speeds. This will most likely be considered "cargo" and is subject to all sorts of rules. If you want engine pods, blasters and the like make them aerodynamic, and secure them well. We're talking nuts and bolts and at least a little epoxy or a quick weld. "Droid parts" should be fine as long as they aren't too heavy. I would say that if you can lean on it with all of your weight and it doesn't go anywhere it "should be good". I'm willing to bet the first thing a state trooper will do when he pulls over an X-wing is lean on R2, or prop himself on a laser cannon. I would.
Check yourself before you wreck yourself:
Make sure your modifications do not interfere with the operation of the vehicle. If there is something that will obviously harass the brake lines, clog the exhaust, put holes in other cars, or obviously start a fire (say a really cool flame thrower, or sparkler effect), you will most likely get slapped with a violation.
Set your blaster to stun
If you make a really cool pneumatic tennis ball launcher, or anything that can launch a projectile, don't drive with it loaded or armed. Projectiles from cars are considered missiles, even a 7-11 big gulp out your window hitting another car is. This is usually a minimum of misdemeanor assault. You will probably also be pinged for littering.
Listen to Green Leader?
Emissions should still important even to the spacer. If you want a cool sound effect, get a different muffler, or a catback. Don't remove the catalyst. PLEASE. You'll state emissions tests and pollute more then your share. If you live in a state with emissions inspections, don't do anything that will make you fail. If your state has a benchmark for your car and you modify the engine, tell the inspector. They may adjust for you if you're lucky, or tell you what to remove before even beginning the test. I had a car that produced TOO LITTLE CO once and failed a computerized test, took it to the office and got a "pass" after the numbers were run.
I that's about all I can think of relevant to the Road Squadron. If folks have questions about the legality of extreme performance related upgrades/modifications, or "street rod"/"historic" waivers (Maryland anyway) please let me know. I've had some fun with those too.
