The car today is a means of transportation, and luxury, and property. Many drivers believe that they can do anything with their car. In particular, they make changes to the design of the vehicle in accordance with their needs and desires. Meanwhile, any car is a source of danger. In this regard, certain adjustments can increase the threat not only to other participants in the movement, but also to the driver. Therefore, there is a certain order of change. The design of the vehicle can be adjusted by strictly observing the established requirements. We will consider them in more detail below.
Normative base
What does the law on changes in vehicle design say? The key regulatory act for any driver is traffic rules. There are 2 applications in the Rules. One of them determines the cases in which the operation of the car in a faulty condition is not allowed. This appendix has clause 7.18. It states that the operation of the vehicle is prohibited if a change in the design of the vehicle is detected without the permission of the traffic police or other bodies authorized by the Government.
Explanations
Analyzing the rule, we can come to the following conclusions. Regulatory acts do not prohibit changes in the design of the vehicle. However, after their implementation, the vehicle should stand still and not be operated, or the driver should coordinate them with the authorized authorities. In other words, punishment is provided only in the case of driving a car that has undergone changes that are not registered in the traffic police or other competent structures. You can not operate the machine with HBO, kenguryatnik, replaced or cut down springs, etc., if the adjustments did not pass the examination. This procedure involves checking the compatibility of the proposed changes with the capabilities of the vehicle. After the examination, the driver receives a safety certificate.
Sanctions
It is worth noting that the norms establish administrative responsibility for violation of traffic rules. In particular, the rules provide for a driver who does not have the permission of the traffic police or other competent authority, but who has made a change in the design of the vehicle, a fine. In what cases can a sanction be applied to a citizen? First of all, you should find out what is a change in the design of the vehicle. It should be understood as re-equipment of the machine, in which some components, parts or assemblies are removed from it, added or replaced with the same, but having different parameters, as a result of which the technical characteristics of the vehicle become different from what was provided at the factory.
List of vehicle design changes
The manipulations that can significantly affect the technical characteristics of the vehicle should include:
- Correction of the type of engine or body.
- Installation of certain equipment not provided by the manufacturer.
- Changing the location and number of passenger seats, fuel tanks.
- Correction of weight and overall parameters.
- Replacement of the motor model, as a result of which its power and weight change.
- Reinstalling the steering part.
- Any operations with light signaling and lighting devices.
- Re-equipment of a running gear.
- Replacement of elements providing visibility provided by the manufacturer, certain conditions for emergency and passive safety, greater visibility.
- Replacing the brake or fuel system with another.
- Installing rims of a smaller / larger diameter. In this case, you need to find out what sizes are provided by the manufacturer. Often they are indicated on information plates located in the opening of the driver's door. If the diameter of the disks that are supposed to be installed are within the acceptable range, then it is not necessary to complete such a change in the design of the vehicle.
These are far from all the adjustments that a driver can make.
Modification of the vehicle design (2016)
Consider several cases of conversion of the vehicle. When installing the towing device, you should find out if it is officially included in the list of optional equipment. The towbar, designed for heavy loads, is connected by bolting or welding to the power elements of the machine. Such a change in vehicle design requires clearance. However, there are exceptions to this rule. They are provided for easily removable structures that are not attached to power elements. These, among other things, include removable luggage racks in the form of containers, mounts for skis, bicycles and so on.
Installing a larger tank
From a regulatory point of view, this manipulation will be considered as a change in the design of the vehicle. 2016 has not yet ended, but some practice has already taken shape on this subject. In particular, it shows that on the road the traffic police rarely pay attention to the tank capacity. If it was produced at the factory and has a certificate, installed in compliance with the requirements, then inspectors are unlikely to have any complaints. Problems are likely for those who often cross the border. Customs may charge the driver with fuel smuggling.
Tuned bumpers, spoilers, body kits, winch
All these elements must go through the standard design procedure. As an exception, body kits are installed on basic models in salons accredited by the manufacturer. Difficulties can arise for drivers who drive with classic bumpers with their bumpers removed, as this will be considered a violation. Design in most cases is provided for the winch. The exception applies to cases where it is provided in the list of optional equipment.
Preparatory stage
The rules, in accordance with which the change in the design of the vehicle is agreed (2016), provide for an examination. You can find out the list of authorized structures for its implementation in the Department of Technical Regulation. After receiving an opinion, you must contact the traffic police. This body issues permission to change the design of the vehicle. Application is submitted with:
- The conclusion of the technical examination.
- Identity document.
- Title
- Registration document TS.
The driver's representative must additionally present a power of attorney confirming his authority. Accordingly, the vehicle itself should also be provided for inspection. If a positive decision is made to make changes to the design of the vehicle, you can proceed, in fact, to manipulate the machine.
Nuances
The installation of elements can be carried out independently, on the basis of any organization that has an appropriate certificate that allows such work to be performed, or at the enterprise indicated in the examination report. In the last two cases, the contractor issues a declaration to the owner of the vehicle. It indicates the amount and quality of work performed. If the events were held independently, the document is drawn up, respectively, by the owner of the machine.
Clearance process
Changes to the design of a registered vehicle are checked by an expert. According to its results, the owner of the car receives a protocol. After this, it is necessary to undergo inspection. Upon completion, registration of changes to the vehicle design is carried out. The traffic police must provide:
- The conclusion of the first examination establishing the possibility of making adjustments to the vehicle.
- Statement.
- A document that certifies the identity of the driver, and a copy of it.
- Title
- Registration document of the machine.
- Protocol of the second technical examination.
- Diagnostic inspection card.
- A receipt confirming payment of state duty.
- Copies of certificates for objects and parts used in the conversion, spare parts, accessories in the absence of markings, certified according to the established rules.
The vehicle itself is also provided for inspection.
Responsibility Features
As indicated above, punishment is imposed for uncoordinated changes in the design of the vehicle. The fine is set at 500 p. for regional roads. For some drivers, this amount does not seem huge. In this regard, there are citizens who agree to be punished each time for changing the design of the vehicle. The fine is set in Art. 12.5 Administrative Code. At the same time, as practice shows, traffic police officers often use a more effective way to combat violations. In particular, if the driver repeatedly comes across inspectors with uncoordinated design changes, registration of the car may be terminated (canceled). Using this method, employees refer to paragraphs 51 and 3 of the Vehicle Registration Rules.
Grounds for refusal of registration
They are provided for in paragraph 3 of the above Rules. In accordance with the provisions, a vehicle whose design or amendments to it does not comply with the requirements of regulatory enactments regulating traffic safety is not subject to registration. A similar rule applies to cars whose technical condition differs from the information specified in the submitted documents.
Additional Provisions
Paragraph 51 of the Registration Rules states that registration, de-registration and change of data is not carried out until the completion of checks carried out by law enforcement agencies, as well as in case of non-compliance with the Administrative Regulations. This provision is also valid in other cases established by the norms. If the circumstances described in paragraph 3 are identified, the registration of the car is canceled (terminated) by the appropriate unit at the place of registration of the vehicle. Documents, title deeds, signs are handed over and utilized by the traffic police. If they were not presented, then they are put on the wanted list. Cancellation (termination) of registration does not apply to the TS, more than 5 years have passed from the date of registration of which, in accordance with documents subsequently recognized as fake / invalid. When the driver eliminates the circumstances that caused the application of the above rules, the restoration of accounting is carried out at the place of its termination. In this case, new documents and signs are issued, as well as TCP.
Lighting system
It should be said separately. Quite often, drivers replace halogen lamps with xenon ones. This is expressly prohibited by the rules, as they blind motorists in oncoming lanes and often cause accidents. The legislation provides, in addition to administrative, criminal liability for this violation. The driver may face up to a year in prison with the confiscation of lighting devices and other similar devices.
Driver Memo
Summarizing all of the above, you can give basic recommendations for drivers who want to change the design of their car. It is advisable to re-equip the vehicle with a specialized service station that has the appropriate authorization documents. A car with structural changes is provided for inspection at the traffic police. It is first necessary to prepare the entire package of documents, including the conclusion of an examination on the compatibility of adjustments with the technical capabilities of the vehicle. The lack of permission from the inspection may serve as the basis not only for imposing an administrative fine, but also for refusing registration. This means, in particular, that no transactions with the vehicle will be possible. Moreover, when detecting violations, the inspection may generally cancel the registration, seize documents and signs. When removing the rear seats, which is carried out to increase the usable space in the cabin, revealed for the first time, the driver faces a fine. These elements can only be removed if they are not mounted on bolts, but on latches that are provided by the manufacturer.
Once again about the exceptions
Not in all cases of conversion of the machine registration of changes is required. In particular, it is not needed if the installation of units and parts provided as additional by the vehicle manufacturer is carried out. You can also do without contacting the traffic police if the car is re-equipped as standard. In this case, the design documentation is the basis . It must be drawn up and agreed upon in accordance with established rules. In all other cases, a mark is required in the document by which the vehicle is identified. It indicates the number of the certificate confirming the compliance of the vehicle with the amendments made to it, as well as the safety of the conversion. This mark allows you to operate the car.
Conclusion
Before re-equipping a car, it is necessary to evaluate its capabilities and, in fact, the feasibility of measures. Undoubtedly, in many cases the “improved” design of the vehicle provides a number of advantages to the owner. However, one should not forget about road safety. Some constructive changes pose a potential threat to the participants in the movement. These include, in particular, the reinstallation of lighting fixtures, the adjustment of the steering and running gears. In addition, it is worth remembering that the coordination and execution of changes will take some time. Without appropriate permits, the use of a converted machine is not permitted. An administrative fine for someone may seem insignificant. However, do not forget that the traffic police inspectors also have other tools to combat violations. In order to avoid their use, the established requirements must be observed. Otherwise, the administrative penalty may be followed by cancellation of registration or even criminal liability.