Can someone elaborate on state laws (WA State in particular) regarding after-market accessories? Lifts, wheels/tires and fender flares (or lack there of) and other modifications that you can be pulled over for? I don't want to go into detail but I have been pulled over before by an officer who probably was looking for an excuse (which we know there are an immeasurable number) to stop my rig late at night just to see what was going on. Believe me, I have the utmost respect and appreciation for law enforcement as I have family who put there lives at stake to serve this cause but after being pulled over, questioned about sobriety and embarrassed in front of someone (no I did not break the law) for a 5” lift , 35” tires and no mud flaps I feel compelled to educate myself regarding WA State law and mods on a vehicle. Once again, I have no quarrel with someone doing his or her job but feel intimidated not knowing the law enough to provide an educated response when questioned about my truck. Does someone know a link where I can go? Most times when you go to Central 4WD or other places for that “upgrade” they don’t tell you if you are in violation of a code…..not too good for sales.

Anybody else a responsible driver who has been warned/harassed about some frivolous law regarding your rig?

THANKS!

 

I believe you can get the info your looking for from your state dept. of motor vehicle/transportation. Every state is different. I've been nailed here in Ca. for tires to wide (no mudflaps), front side windows tinted, to much noise, and out-of-state registraion (don't ask a long story). I hope that helps.

 

I know I've seen a website that had the lift laws for various states,
as I was in violation till I got my mudflaps.

Searching. . .

Heck, do a search for "lift laws" on Yahoo,
pages and pages of reading.





phox

 

Thanx Phox, will do. I guess my gripe is that I can understand laws that are based on a fundamental safety concern for someone or a nuisance to other fellow drivers, but laws that seem frivolous such as that occasional “puff” of black smoke or tire that sticks out beyond the fender seem a waste of my time and tax dollar. I can go to Dodge in the morning and buy these tiny Mopar flaps which are essentially non-functional yet legal.

 

One of the 4WD magazines just did an article on lift laws, state by state. I threw the mag away or I'd go look it up for you. I think it was 4Wheel & Off Road. Maybe a search of their site would help.

Sorry I can't give you a better answer.

chaikwa.

 

I can understand some of them.

Mudflaps for instance.
Bigger tires tend to pick up bigger stones,
then throw them onto the windshield of the vehicle following you,
perhaps causing an accident and injury to innocent bystanders.

Utah's take on the mudflaps fer instance:
They must cover 50% of the tire in the rear.
Lugs or tread may not extend beyond the OEM fenders, if so, they must be covered by aftermarket flares.

No body lifts, but the body may be up to 3 inches above the frame?

Height laws however, I don't see how that is endangering anyone but yourself,
and if you have a truck that high, you know how to drive it (hopefully).

Here's a copy of Utah's
http://www.utahtrooper.com/files/TrkLiftLaw1a.rtf


phox

 

It was Four Wheeler, I think I have the issue somewhere


phox

 

Oh, I should add, Utah's laws were just recently reworked.
It used to be a complicated formula:

If your vehicle's wheelbase is 100 inches or less, the most you can lift can be determined by:

Maximum Lift = Wheelbase x Wheel Track divided by 2200

Now it's much simpler and defined.

Oh, I have a copy of the new laws in my truck,
as I've heard of a few people getting harrassed with the same lift I have.

I have yet to get pulled over for it.


phox

 

HERE'S a link to state lift laws.

Brad

 

Phox, thanks again for the replies as you are always very helpfull. I see guys around here drive with 13" + lifts, 40" Swampers and all kinds of goodies. Do they get pulled over sometimes? Probably. Do they get cited? Probably. Are they still in school? Maybe...

I guess the point is that safety is ultimately about the driver and laws are fundamentaly based on safety for everyone. You could be driving a BMW M3 where I live and still get pulled over due to all the crime in some parts of town. That's just the way it is so it's a fact that you have to deal with. The important thing is to not break any "real" laws like driving drunk or on drugs etc. I think that some day I will retire my CTD as a primary vehicle (heck, with the cost of diesel it is cheaper to fly to Seattle to see my fiancee than drive) buy a car and go totally over board with my truck and really make it an ORV (13" FabTech lift/39.5"Swampers) Then maybe hand it down to my fiancee's son when he turns 17 as a first car........no wait, I forgot about the INSURANCE rates! NEVERMIND!!!

Hey...I have not seen many future projects for your rig


Are you done?

Take care,

Tom

 

For any other Ontario boys in here, any information can be found on the HTA (Highway Traffic Act) http://192.75.156.68/DBLaws/Statutes...08_e.htm#BK261
also to find any other Laws for Ontario go to www.e-laws.gov.on.ca

For everybody else, just do a search, your state, province, or territory should have a website for public viewing of your laws, if not, go to your local police station and ask them and they would be more than happy to point you in the direction where you can find this information, and it is very good to know your provincial and federal laws as IGNORANCE OF THE LAW IS NOT AN EXCUSE! And that is exactly what they will tell you in court.

 

Gotta love texas. No fender flares or mud flaps on mine. Tires stick out almost 2" from the side of the truck. Only law is that the headlights can be no higher than x amount of inches.

 

The reason for it is: you are stopped at a red light behind other traffic and blocking a side street. A person driving a ricer that is so close to the ground that he can ignite a book of matches, by simply driving over it, doesnt see you or the stop sign. He plows under your truck at 70 mph, and comes out the other side as a convertable. Does this mean trucks should not be lifted? NO, but the reflective tape on the rocker panels would help. Then you have done your part to maintain safety.

 

I'd have to look specifically, but here, for example, it's not just bumper height and headlight height/angles. Your allowed to raise so many inches (or fractions of) based on GVWR, from ground to lowest point on the frame. But you may never put blocks larger than 4 inches on the back. No blocks on the front allowed. It also states that none of the integrety at stock specs can be compramized, but you may improve.

 

I'm out of WA state and there is a law on the books that says all vehicles must stay stock this is a old law that is not enforced however check washinton state partols website their might be info there. From what I understand they go off of bumper heights and the amount of exposed tire in your case you do need mudflaps if your tires stick out beyond side of truck you need fender flares to be legal fair weather act since it rains so much here. I have friends with 12 inch lifts and 40 inch tires on their super duty's and they just pretty much avoid the hwy 512 for their is a patrol officer for wsp who likes to write fix it tickets they just put their stock wheels back on and go to the inspection stations looking goofy get it cleared up and put the meats back on