NHTSA To Outlaw HID Kits! (credit to rominl)

[Austin519]

It seems because of the complaints of a lot of drivers, NHTSA has passed laws to outlaw the sale of HID kits by Aug 15 2003! That's two weeks from today. So far that means aftermarket HID kits (conversion kits for people without HID headlights, as well as foglight conversion kits like that in our For Sale forum: http://www.acuraworld.com/forums/sho...threadid=21551) will not be allowed for sale by that date. This is already a broad ruling from what I have read, so they may go as broad as not allowing 6000K bulbs...but no specific word yet. But if you were thinking of getting an HID kit or 6000K bulbs, now's probably the time. A lot of companies have quit selling them and/or recalled them.

http://www.enjoythedrive.com/content/?ID=25405 (halfway down)

http://hidforum.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=596

Austin519

[Matt Whelan]

They can't ban the sale of these items. People use these for off road purposes, of which is 100% legal. Its always been this way(aftermarket HID for off road purposes only). I think they will continue to be sold, we will continue to see them on eBay, autolamps,etc.

[sjlee]

If you read the articles, there are no laws currently in effect from the NHTSA that prohibit the sale of HID headlight kits...

NHTSA’s current estimated timetable for action:

· Publish proposed rule to regulate certain front-mounted auxiliary lamps (ex: fog lamps) in late 2003

· Publish proposed rule for headlamp mounting height in early 2004

· Reach a decision on how to address HIDs and other advanced lighting sources in early 2004 (and probably issue a proposed rule)

· Issue a proposed rule to regulate HID-knock-offs in early 2004

· Reach a decision on how to address headlamp aiming issues in mid 2004

[Austin519]

sjlee:
Correct...except that article is an old one that hasn't been updated, and all of the HID manufacturers were listing August 15 (including Yu Chun, of the HID groupbuy here) as the date that it would be put through...I may be wrong, but go check online yourself.

Austin519

[sjlee]

Originally posted by Austin519
sjlee:
Correct...except that article is an old one that hasn't been updated, and all of the HID manufacturers were listing August 15 (including Yu Chun, of the HID groupbuy here) as the date that it would be put through...I may be wrong, but go check online yourself.

Austin519

As long as the headlight meets NHTSA standards, it is fine, HID or not. There have been many aftermarket HID kits which did not meet these standards, thus they were recalled and are no longer being sold. This does not mean, however, that all HID headlights and kits are banned.

The rumor of the NHTSA/DOT banning all HID kits has been going around for a little while, but there is nothing to substantiate it on their website www.nhtsa.dot.gov.

http://www.detnews.com/2003/autosins...b01-221695.htm

[mfnlaw]

Unfortunately, sjlee, it is not a rumor. Aftermarket HID kits do not comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108 and cannot be sold or imported in the U.S. any more. It is a $5000 fine per occurence (i.e. kit sold/imported). APC paid a $650K civil penalty for not meeting safety standards. To read the press release, visit http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/nhtsa/annou...e=pr21-03.html.

Matt, "off-road" is a term coined by marketers to sell product. Basically, "off-road" and "off-road vehicle" are not terms defined by NHTSA in any regulation or law that they administer and have no legal meaning. If it doesn't comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108, then it can't be sold. It doesn't matter if the package or description states the kit is for off-road use only.

The following is from a letter written by NHTSA's Chief Counsel. It is a legal document and carries the weight of official interpretation.

As noted above, if the headlamps are capable of being installed and used in motor vehicles subject to the Federal motor vehicle safety standards (i.e., "conventional 'on-road' vehicles"), they are motor vehicle headlamps that must comply with Standard No. 108 in order to be imported or sold regardless of the "intent" of the importer or seller. Even if we assume the best of intentions, we recognize that a seller has no control over the use of a product after it is sold.

If anyone has any questions, please feel free to let me know.

-Maria

[mfnlaw]

Originally posted by sjlee
As long as the headlight meets NHTSA standards, it is fine, HID or not. There have been many aftermarket HID kits which did not meet these standards, thus they were recalled and are no longer being sold. This does not mean, however, that all HID headlights and kits are banned.

The rumor of the NHTSA/DOT banning all HID kits has been going around for a little while, but there is nothing to substantiate it on their website www.nhtsa.dot.gov.

http://www.detnews.com/2003/autosins...b01-221695.htm

The problem with that Detroit News article is that it only addresses OEM HIDs. Currently, cars that are equipped from the factory with HIDs are not affected by this interpretation of the rules. Aftermarket kits are no longer permitted to be sold or imported as of 8/15/03. See my previous post for more information.

-M

[sjlee]

Originally posted by mfnlaw
Unfortunately, sjlee, it is not a rumor. Aftermarket HID kits do not comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108 and cannot be sold or imported in the U.S. any more. It is a $5000 fine per occurence (i.e. kit sold/imported). APC paid a $650K civil penalty for not meeting safety standards. To read the press release, visit http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/nhtsa/annou...e=pr21-03.html.
-Maria

The aftermarket HID kits that APC sold did not comply with their standards, but there is no regulation saying that ALL HID kits are illegal.

[mfnlaw]

Originally posted by sjlee
The aftermarket HID kits that APC sold did not comply with their standards, but there is no regulation saying that ALL HID kits are illegal.

There are numerous letters and rulings issued by NHTSA's Chief Counsel that contradict this. ALL HID conversion kits are illegal. Replacement kits for headlights must be identical to the original headlamps, i.e. if the originals were halogen, then the replacement must be halogen.

Currently, there are no plans to target OEM HIDs. The following is NHTSA's stand:

These enforcement actions are not now, and are not planned to be aimed at HID headlamps designed from the start as HID headlamps. That doesn't mean European-specification HID headlamps will be legal, but it does mean that a company is free to market a headlamp system incorporating HID low and/or high beams to replace a headlamp system incorporating halogen low and/or high beams, as long as the headlamp system complies with all applicable requirements of all applicable Federal regulations.

Kits are usually sold to convert a headlamp system from halogen to HID. In comparison, the market for HID to HID conversions is tiny.

Again, if you have any questions please feel free to let me know.

-M

[gotypes]

this is ridiculous. i mean there's tons of "ILLEGAL" stuff in the market, why just put hid kits into law? is that they can't issue tickets & get money fm those like illegal % of tinted windows. if hid kit is prohibited, why not also blue-coated bulbs, coilovers, tinted licence plate cover, etc.

[ibeesam]

I would not get too hot and bothered with this topic unless you're driving around with police attracting stuff on your car, ie a riced out civic. If I had non oem hids, i would consider reaiming them as to not attract cops in the first place though. If the laws do change, it will be on the manufacturers to pay for the fix with oem hids. I think the only people who should worry are the ones who attract cops in the first place. If you get a bad mood cop that's aware of the new law, he might write you up. Either way, it's a slim chance for classy rides like ours and other high end cars.

[spyder5786]

retrofitting halogen projectors into HIDs were never legal from the start.