I read in another post today (now closed) the following from irish:

I've tried to read everything on this site I can find on suspension before I do mine, but I've never read anything about suspension mods being illegal. What is considered illegal?

 

Some areas have an ordinance in place that must meet certain ground clearance and/or headlight distance from the gorund. But not where I live.

 

just like tint laws, this is different from state to state. some states require you to be X inches above the ground. ive seen videos of cops measuring peoples headlights from the ground during a traffic stop. ive NEVER been asked anything about my suspension before, but if you are concerned, check your local laws.

 

Here's a good link from SEMA.

 

regardless of if it is or not.. most suspension mods for maximas arent even that noticible to cops..
but in general as long as your bumper doesnt go lower than the bottom of your rim you're coo

 

In VA its 14" from the bottom edge of the bumper to the ground... anything less than that is illegal. And btw, I've seen it once out here and heard of another, where a cop pulled out a tape measure on an Integra and a Civic.... and yes, they both got tickets (the driver of the Integra is a friend of mine )

 

just raise the bumper, like your uppercut!

 

14"? Are you sure? Stock with a bunch a junk in my trunk the rear bumper can sit below 14" Are you sure it isn't 4"?

 

Yes in some places and some states it is illegal , but it has to clear to the eye that your drop is way to low for a cop to stop you for that...

 

Have you actually measured the height with a bunch of junk in your trunk? 14" is pretty low for a rear bumper...

Anyways.... here it is:

What are the bumper height laws in the state of Virginia?

Section 46.2-1063 states:

Alteration of suspension system; bumper height limits; raising body above frame rail. -- No person shall drive on a public highway any motor vehicle registered as a passenger motor vehicle if it has been modified by alteration of its altitude from the ground to the extent that its bumpers, measured to any point on the lower edge of the main horizontal bumper bar, exclusive of any bumper guards, are not within the range of fourteen inches to twenty-two inches above the ground. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, the range of bumper heights for motor vehicles bearing street rod license plates issued pursuant to § 46.2-747 shall be nine to twenty-two inches.

 

You must be talking about Hawaii! We have to get a reconstruction permit anytime something is altered on your vehicle. Suspension, exhaust, rims etc...When I went down to get mine, they measured the bumper and headlight clearance. I was actually .5" too low with my S-Tech drop, but the guy was cool and let me go. I also had my 350Z's on when I got the recon, and I told him I was going to change rims soon. He told me that if anything changes ( As far as what's listed on the original recon permit) then it's voided, and you need to get a new one. From what I know, Hawaii is the only state that requires a recon permit to LEGALLY alter your vehicle.......at all.

 

Man, that's communism.

 

Another example of "The price you pay to live in Paradise!"

 

The 14" is the BUMPER BAR, not the bumper itself.....the bumper bar is the metal piece behind the part that you see (the "bumper guard", which is the whole outer bumper assembly. You can't actually see the bumper bar, so it would be tough to measure.

I just went out and measured mine...with Maxspeeds (a small drop) the bottom of my front "bumper guard" is only 9" in the front at 12" in the rear....

so if a cop busts out a tape measure, that's bogus. He can't actually measure where the bumper itself is unless he takes off the entire bumper guard assembly (the entire front of the car).

That said....the only people who get in trouble for this are those who are slammed to the ground (3+ inches IMO)...

 

Thanks for the clarification Josh... I should go up to that cop and tell him the next time I see him... he's always sitting out by the Apple Credit Union...

As for the Integra I was talking about... yeah, it was pretty obvious he was slammed...

 

Any maxima on springs would not need to worry. If you were on coilovers slammed then yeah then you could get a ticket, but you could raise it up and probably get off and then lower it again.

 

I don't know if it was this site or a different one but I thought I read something about insurance companies not covering cars if there lowered. Anybody remeber this?

 

i know in cali that one of the rules is the lowest part of the car cannot be lower than the lowest part of the rim. I know most cops dont look for that though out here.

 

that seems like a really general, arbitrary law. if your car is lower than your rim on 40 series tires, that would make it nearly impossible to drive, wouldnt it?

 

Thanks for all the good info guys - (including the SEMA link) - the only thing I could find here in Missouri code is a maximum bumper height...