EcoModding Vehicle Laws

[swoody]

Yeah, I'm guessing you'd need side mirrors if you can't see through you're rear window. I used to work with a painter who had a large work van without any rear windows, and his van had the side mirrors, but no rearview mirror inside it. (obviously )

Thanks for the help Frank Lee, I'm checking out that link right now

[swoody]

Awesome, for those in IL, it is true, this is what it says about mirrors:

(625 ILCS 5/12‑502) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12‑502)
Sec. 12‑502. Mirrors. Every motor vehicle, operated singly or when towing another vehicle, shall be equipped with a mirror so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway for a distance of at least 200 feet to the rear of such motor vehicle.
(Source: P.A. 82‑122.)

and basically if you do have anything covering your rear windows, you do need a side mirror on that side:

(b) Nothing contained in this Section shall prohibit the use of nonreflective, smoked or tinted glass, nonreflective film, perforated window screen or other decorative window application on windows to the rear of the driver's seat, except that any motor vehicle with a window to the rear of the driver's seat treated in this manner shall be equipped with a side mirror on each side of the motor vehicle which are in conformance with Section 12‑502.

...A vehicle equipped with a side mirror on each side of the vehicle which are in conformance with Section 12‑502 will be deemed to be in compliance in the event the rear window of the vehicle is materially obscured.

So as long as you don't have your rear windows tinted, or have anything blocking your view, it's ok to remove the side mirrors

[BlackDeuceCoupe]

I dunno...

Maybe I'm just used to it, but I've been running 'limo tint' (dyed in front, metallic in back) on my CiViCs for years.

My Ride - EcoModder.com

I do a LOT of night driving, and I can see out of them just fine!

I *think* these tint laws are on the books 'cause the cops can't see in...

[BlackDeuceCoupe]

Originally Posted by klrv6

In KY, you need both side mirrors if you can't see out your back window. I know this because I once had a wall of 8 15 inch subs in my car.

Bwahahahaha!

Besides that, I figure...

If you see out your rear view mirrors, the music isn't loud enough!!!

[azraelswrd]

Yup, when in doubt check your state vehicle codes either at your DMV or online or in your library (and hopefully they have the updated legal lit).

[bgd73]

I'll try giving info on maine, I pushed many boundaries of common sense. googling gets public record, and most easily is the inspection pdf files.

Things they do not mention,
EGR.Exhaust gas recirculation valves. It has had to get chucked into the secret pile of anything-but-nuclear-and-too-close-to-deny-the-strangeness on every auto I have had. I am still into older ones with real downdraft, and Satanic EGR helped do away with gas mileage and the greatest invention of the auto history of the world: a carburator. As we all know, if japanese gets glorified to best seller, someone closer to Eurpeans real auto inventions was a real dummy. EGR might have been one of them. I still blame the Gook of the flunking auto century...Anyway, no problems getting rid of it, and recommended. Ya don't like it, go back to seattle and claim its a fuel saver in all that rain.

Exhaust. Ricer fart cans will get you a personable bad attitude in return by much of the law working streets.Don't kid yourself mr.acura. You are a bad ass. Capiche? Welcome To Maine. And if the law don't get it. A 5 year old chevy fan might launch the potato from his homemade launcher evangelistically and break your pedibear cutey petutey car in half. Wow. even the little guys know what a guys car is...A full chambered muffler and catalyst convertor a must do.Unless your a pedobear on a harley, and that needs federal laws for the big kiddy lovin apes to possibly understand after telling them harley has been a failure since the wobbly drunken day it started up for the idiot who slapped it together. Legend it is not.Loud exhaust is somehow freakishly allowed louder than a gun. I wish I could use a gun on a harley more times than not...

Body welding . I have seen unbelievable major work done, even unibodies mounted on truck frames, and passing a real inspection. Common sense is very good here about the welding and custom work that may be considered outrageous elsewhere.It is either stronger, meeting standards or isn't. (A big "duh" for the dumb inspectors out there).Of course no car /truck gets away with a strong opinion, welding is done on 150% of all automobiles here and doubted at all times. Else we be dead at any given moment.

That is about it. Bigger wheels, tires, etc etc..all good within reason..

[BlackDeuceCoupe]

Originally Posted by bgd73

That is about it. Bigger wheels, tires, etc etc..all good within reason...

I was with you, until that last comment!

If you'll look at the link to my ride (above) you'll see that I'm running the fabled, lightweight, 14-inch alloy Honda CiViC HX factory wheels (24 lbs mounted).

In the corner of my garage, gathering dust, you will see the much ballyhooed, 15-inch alloy Honda CiViC Si wheels (34 lbs mounted).

I run the smaller, lighter wheels because, IMHO, smaller wheels, tires, etc. etc... all good within reason - better handling, acceleration, and FE!

[RacerX]

If anyone has questions about Pennsylvania State Inspection Laws, Emissions etc Let me know

[Sulfuric]

State law regarding mirrors in Florida. Looks like only a rearview mirror is required.

Clicky

[theunchosen]

TN did a few things that were clever and somehwat obnoxious.

My aforementioned light citation is the perfect example. I have aux lights right beside my front headlights. My low-beam on the left side was out but everything else weas funcioning and on and I would have gotten a ticket if I had not had the bulb replacements and an autozone receipt that said I had just come from there. The law is( I asked at the courthouse) all exterior OEM lights on your car have to be functioning. So if you have an LED brake light mounted on the trunk/roof(in my case) and its dead you can get a ticket.

Mirrors. Just one. Been driving for months without either. Someone broke one of mine in a parking lot and I took it off to avoid it breaking on the highway. To avoid asymetry I took the other off in anticipation of cheaper aftermarket parts(which have not happened over the last year).

Also, if there is any form of emergency vehicle on the shoulder you HAVE to get over. PERIOD. One of my friends, my father and myself have gotten tickets over the months since that law has passed. The judge nor the officer care if there was a solid stream of tractor trailers, you have to get over. You might get lucky and get away with it, but pretty much every time I've seen it happen the officer pulls them over even if it means dropping someone else's speeding ticket. I pull off to the side if I have to and wait to merge. 150$ is alot to pay.