7 Mods You Probably Didn't Know Are Illegal
Modifications make our cars better, faster, and uniquely ours in some way, but many can land you in trouble with the law. Here are 7 mods that you may not realize are actually illegal in many states.
1. License Plate Frames
License plate frames are a common add on item on many cars, and they seem like a fairly harmless item, in fact, pretty much every new vehicle comes with one advertising the dealership installed. But if the frame covers any of the numbers, the registration sticker, or the state name in any way, you can actually be pulled over and ticketed. So be sure and check yours, and toss that tinted or reflective license plate cover as well - they're illegal in quite a few states because they interfere with speed and red light cameras.
2. Exhaust
Almost every city, county, and state has some sort of regulation or outright ban on exhaust noise. These rules are often worded vaguely, so you can receive a ticket in many cases just by annoying a cop with sensitive ears, even if you didn't technically exceed a certain decibel level. While you may enjoy a loud exhaust, your neighbors and local law enforcement may not share your sentiments. In many states, the smog laws may make it illegal to modify the catalytic converter or any of the plumbing, so be sure and check local laws before you start hacking away.
3. Lift Kits
Lifted trucks are a common sight these days, but many states have restrictions on how high you can go. Typically these limits are based on maximum headlight and taillight height, not suspension height. So while your monster truck that requires a ladder to enter may look cool, it's likely illegal. Get a lifted truck behind you on a dark night, with their headlights burning a hole in your retinas, and you'll understand the reason. Of course, you probably not going to lift your Camaro, GTO or Firebird, but the LS makes a kickass truck motor too.
4. Underbody lighting
The laws on underbody lighting are usually pretty vague, meaning that it's pretty easy to receive a ticket. In some states, the lighting itself is illegal no matter what. In others, it may be illegal if it interferes with the car's normal lighting. And in still other states, certain colors may be legal but flashing blue and red lighting is banned for obvious reasons. While not as popular as it used to be, make sure and check your local laws before installing any sort of extra lighting.
5. Headlight and Taillight Mods
Lighting upgrades are all the rage these days, but be careful when you get ready to take the plunge. HID retrofit headlights, for example, are illegal in many states unless they were a factory option. Many other clear, chrome, and tinted headlights and taillights don't meet DOT regulations, and cheap build quality can lead to fogging, leaking, and a failed safety inspection. Of course, just sticking a bulb with twice the wattage in the fog/driving lights, or headlights, is illegal too, but unless it is extremely bright no one is likely to notice.
6. Dark Tint
The laws on tinting are extremely confusing and vary greatly in each jurisdiction. Every state (and some cities and counties) have laws regarding the percentage of tint, which dictates how much light must transmit through. Other states restrict where you can place the tint, with the windshield often being off limits. And while law enforcement tends to ignore these violations for the most part, installing an illegal tint can easily lead to an extra ticket if you get pulled over for some other reason. At least this is one mod that can be reversed in practically no time.
7. Nitrous
Just because they do it in one certain famous movie franchise doesn't mean you can spray your car on the street, but many cars that run nitrous oxide are street legal and get driven on the streets. This can be a safety problem, because in the event of an accident, you've got a high pressure bottle sitting in your car, full of a gas that will accelerate any fire that starts. Depending on the laws, if your NOS system is not armed, you won't get a ticket just for having it installed, but check with your local laws.
For help with your mods, legal or otherwise, click on over to the how to section of LS1Tech.com, we won't tell if you don't.