AllMotorITR

Does anybody know what DOT approved actually means? Is the JDM front end DOT Approved?

d8168055

DOT=department of transport

sgT

It is not approved and hence illegal for use on US public roads.

AllMotorITR

I highly doubt it, but has anybody ever been cited for having them?

sgT

Look man. It is ILLEGAL. Doesnt mean you cant get away with it.

You doubt too much.

AllMotorITR

No, I'm just careful.

sgT

And Im not gonna waste my time with your questions anymore.

AllMotorITR

What's with the attitude man?

TypeR 599

cops prob dont even know what a jdm front is. its not like they would recognize it and pull you over for it coz it's illegal. they prob dont even know it's illegal, so dont worry bro.

B2FiNiTY

iTrader: (2)

It's called illegal. Straight up. It's like having clear corners but on a larger scale. The bumpers/fenders/hood are all also illegal also.

AllMotorITR

Yeah, I don't think the cops will know either, but where I live all they do is pull import owners over and harass us, trying to find anything wrong with our cars... I just didn't want them to do that too.. But I guess it's worth the risk.

TypeR0149

well if you dont care, then why do you ask?

AllMotorITR

I should have rewritten the questions as "Attn: Bay Area R owners." That way I could get feedback from them rather than people from areas where police don't care.

TypeR0149

maybe you will get the reply's your looking for now

AllMotorITR

Thanks for doing that... I mostly got the answer I was looking for, I just didn't think that rude response from SgT was necessary... I don't understand why he got upset.

Austin

Talk to RBoosted717...he can tell you about the non-DOT approved headlight ticket he received from a cop that knew that it was a JDM conversion, and looked to see if he retained the front bumper support

ITR#132

Austin, beat me too it. Rboosted717 got pulled over for other things and the cop looked at his headlight housings for the DOT markings and there was none, so he got a ticket for them.

Thanks for all the early Altezza lights that werent DOT approved, got all the cops checking for DOT markings on headlight/tail light housings.

Austin

Technically he was given a ticket for not having reflective orange turn signals on the front of his car....I think that it ended up being a fine of around $285.
Austin

AllMotorITR

As long as you don't have to put the stock USDM front end back on, if you get a ticket for the JDM one being not DOT approved I don't care.. I just don't want to have to put the stock front back on b/c of a ticket.

Austin

In California they have **** emissions testing, but they don't do any safety inspections.

Ross

yet another reason why JDM fronts aren't such a hot idea...but I guess if the look is worth possibly getting a $300 ticket, go for it. Also, if you get in another accident (I know your insurance is great and they cover mods) you might have some legality issues on your hands...it seems logical to me that an insurance co. might balk a little at covering an item that's not street legal.

ITR0962

Nice point

Rboosted717

iTrader: (1)

Yeah I did get pulled over for it. The cop orginally pulled me over for being too loud, but he said the main reason was because of my modified headlights. I looked at him and said what! They are OEM Honda headlights. He said yeah maybe in Japan, but not here. Those are JDM headlights from a JDM type R, which did not come on you USDM type R. I was like ummmm, he said yeah also your C Westin eyelids are pushing it for coving the lights some, and also you don't have a front impact bar since JDM fronts don't have them! I was like WTF!!! How the hell did he know this. He then called 4 other cop cars over and they all inspected my car for anything (mostly NOS! lol). Anyway these cops knew their crap! I kept asking them how they know want C westin is, or jdm, or bumper supports, hondata's, etc.... They told me that CA cops have bi-yearly to yearly conferences that talk only about the new modified parts out on the road and to check for legal and illegal stuff!!!!
I was so shocked! They knew every make of part I had on my car (even the ugly kamakaze headers!). Anyway I ended up getting written for modified lighting/body, modified exhaust, and smog. Since I had a real bumper support made and approved by the US safety commisioner I didn't get busted for that.
I went to the smog ref and cleared the smog and exhaust ticket, but I had to pay the fine for the modified lighting! I believe it was around $150-300 for it. They said the main reason its illegal is because its not DOT approved and also it doesn't have a orange reflector on it. By law all cars have to have a reflector in from that emits orange. The JDM front are white as with most of Europe and Asia. He said even if I put orange tape on it, I would still get busted for the DOT problem.
Oh well, I just hope I don't stand out anymore with my car. I now have all orange bulbs in the car. The whole front and lighting is wired up like a BMW and not the JDM style. Also I try not to drive on roads with only me on it where I would stand out. For the most part cops just drive by and not think anything of it since at night it just looks like a new car. However some cops will stop and will bust you for it. Also don't play stupid like they don't know what they are talking about. They are tought whats legal and illegal, however some cops will enforce it where as some will not.

Also note I have the worse luck with cops then anyone here on H-T! And can back that up with court cases, tickets, harrasment changes, badge removal, etc....


[Modified by Rboosted717, 11:43 PM 1/29/2002]

FusionITR

holy facking $H|T!!!!!

OMG facking import super cops!!!!

that really really scares me, even tho ive been riding around for years in cars that dont have amber reflectors w/ hyperwhite lights for years and ive never been pulled over for it, i dont think the cops here are that educated

Saga

illegal = illegal. Police might not care but if they are to pick on you, good luck.

sorry I did not give you the answer that you want, but it's the truth.