EcoModding Vehicle Laws

[diesel_john]

In Ohio
4501-43-04 Specifications.
(A) The horizontal bumper shall be at least 4.5 inches in vertical height, centered on the vehicle’s centerline, and extend no less than the width of the respective wheel track distances. Bumpers shall be horizontal load-bearing bumpers and attached to the vehicle frame to effectively transfer impact when engaged.
(B) Maximum bumper heights shall be determined by the type of vehicle at time of manufacture. If other than a passenger vehicle, the maximum bumper height shall be determined by the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) at the time of manufacture. The height shall be measured in terms of the vertical distance between the ground and the bottom of the bumper. MAXIUMUM bumper heights are as follows:
Bumper Height FRONT REAR
Passenger vehicles 22 inches 22 inches
All other vehicles
4,500 lbs. and under GVWR 24 inches 26 inches
4,501 lbs. to 7,500 lbs. GVWR 27 inches 29 inches
7,501 lbs. to 10,000 lbs. GVWR 28 inches 31 inches
(C) If the body and/or truck bed height is altered, the difference in height between the body floor and/or the truck bed floor to the top of the frame rail shall not exceed four inches.
(D) For any vehicle with bumpers or attaching components which have been modified or altered from the original manufacturer’s design in order to conform with the maximum bumper requirements of this rule, the bumper height shall be measured from a level surface to the bottom of the vehicle frame rail at the most forward and rearward points of the frame rail.
Frame Rail Height if bumper modified or altered Front Rear
Passenger vehicles 22 inches 22 inches
All other vehicles
4,500 lbs. and under GVWR 24 inches 26 inches
4,501 lbs. to 7,500 GVWR 27 inches 29 inches
7,501 lbs. to 10,000 lbs. GVWR 28 inches 31 inches
(E) The height restriction in this rule applies to the distance from the ground to the bottom of the frame rail under any one or more of the following conditions:
(1) A motor vehicle is not equipped with a front and rear bumper.
(2) The bumper height relative to the frame rails has been altered.
(3) A supplemental bumper has been installed or an addition to the original or replacement has been made.

And for having a boat tail on an aerorabbit the tax is $90.

[Joenavy85]

everything is based on state of registration as far as vehicle code. sometimes you can pull some quick ones if you are registered out of state (like me). i don't have a front license plate on my Jeep (required here in Illinois) but i'm registered in Virginia (also requires a front plate) but the Cops never doubt what i say. 3 times i've been pulled over for no front plate, all 3 times i've said "i'm in the military and registered in virginia" and they say "oh, ok. thank you for your service" and that's it.

[Sularus]

JoeNavy is correct. I too am in the military and the vehicle must abide by the laws of the state it is registered in. YOU have to abide by the laws of the road you are driving in. Tint, mirrors, etc...all are dependent on registered state, not the state your in (if they are not the same)

J

[vacationtime247]

Can't speak with certainty, but most motorized bikes have to be less than 49cc and be driven under 30mph to be rode on the street without a plate. Go over 30mph and no plate, they'll want to talk to you. But then, everyplace is different.
VT247

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

I'd suggest looking online for your state's statutes. I've been looking for info on building a motorized bicycle that's street legal. The licensing department didn't know what to suggest, so they sent me over to the police station. The cops didn't know what to suggest, so they sent me over to the highway patrol. The highway patrol didn't know either; they said they would call me back two days ago and I haven't heard from them. Well if nobody knows WTH is going on, maybe I'll just go ahead and use MY interpretation of the statutes.

[Backtobasics]

Originally Posted by vacationtime247

Can't speak with certainty, but most motorized bikes have to be less than 49cc and be driven under 30mph to be rode on the street without a plate. Go over 30mph and no plate, they'll want to talk to you. But then, everyplace is different.
VT247

I think you are correct.
Reference a Honda Ruckus.

[fjasper]

Montana Code Annotated is available online. Here's a link to the vehicle equipment requirements section.

Vehicle Equipment

[Vekke]

In europe cars that are manufactured after the year 1997 all parts must be E-approved. This basicly means that you cannot take parts out (safety and emission related) or add/change new parts to the car. Unless they have been tested and they have E-mark. Different parts have different E-codes...

Basicly you can change parts if they look that they wont hurt any people. They are strict laws for corner roundness radius etc...

[piers.singer]

In the UK, we have a yearly test (provided that the vehicle is over 3 years old) for road-worthiness called the MOT. It's pretty much a decent indication of what is or what is not legal, although the vehicle is appraised "as presented" and so you could potentially get away with removing slightly iffy mods before the test and replacing them afterwards. You could still get pulled though, as traffic police are notoriously trigger-happy and often badly informed.

Anyway, the tester's manual is all online: MOT Testers Manual