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Unlawful Vehicle Modifications: State Laws

Whether it is dark window tinting, modifying your exhaust system so you can drag race, or altering your car's appearance by adding neon lights to the bottom, certain vehicle modifications are illegal. Each state across the U.S. has different laws and regulations, and fines vary from state-to-state. That's where FindLaw comes in. We've assembled a handy chart with links to all 50 state laws relating to illegal car modifications. For more information, see our Traffic Tickets section.

State Statute
Alabama Regulation of Operation of Motor Vehicles: Equipment
(AL Code Title 32, Ch. 5; scroll to Article 9)
Window Tinting
(AL Code Title 32, Ch. 5C)
Alaska Vehicle Equipment Standards
(AK Statutes section 28.05.081)
Arizona Equipment
(ARS Title 28; scroll to sections 28-921 to 28-966)
Arkansas Size and Load Regulations
(AR Code Title 27, Ch. 35)
Equipment Regulations
(AR Code Title 27, Ch. 37)
California Division 12 - Equipment of Vehicles
(California Vehicle Code, Division 12)
Colorado Regulation of Vehicles and Traffic: Equipment
(CRS Title 42, Article 4, Part 2)
Connecticut Motor Vehicles: Equipment
(GSC Ch. 246; scroll to sections 14-80 to 14-106)
Delaware Equipment Requirements
(DE Code Title 21, Ch. 43, Subchapter I)
Lights
(DE Code Title 21, Ch. 43, Subchapter II)
District of Columbia Motor and Non-Motor Vehicles and Traffic
(D.C. Code Title 50)
Florida State Uniform Traffic Control: Equipment
(FS Chapter 316; scroll to sections 316.217 to 316.455)
Georgia Equipment and Inspection of Motor Vehicles
(Georgia Code Title 40, Ch. 8)
Hawaii Special interest vehicles
(HRS section 286-26.5)
Idaho Vehicle Equipment
(ID Statutes Title 49, Ch. 9)
Illinois Equipment of Vehicles
(625 ILCS 5, Ch. 12)
Indiana Motor Vehicle Equipment
(Indiana Code Title 9, Article 19)
Iowa Vehicle Equipment
(IA Code Chapter 321, beginning with subdivision titled Lighting Equipment; scroll to sections 321.384 to 321.481)
Kansas Equipment of Vehicles
(KS Statutes Ch. 8, Article 17)
Kentucky Vehicle Equipment
(KRS Chapter 189; scroll to sections 189.020 to 189.205)
Louisiana Motor Vehicles and Traffic Regulation
(LRS Title 32; scroll to sections 32:301 to 32:369)
Low rider vehicles
(LRS section 32:297)
Proper equipment required on vehicles; display of plate
(LRS section 32:53)
Maine Equipment
(MRS Title 29-A, Ch. 17)
Maryland Equipment of Vehicles
(MD Transportation Code Title 22, section 22-101 et seq.)
Massachusetts Operation of unregistered or improperly equipped motor vehicles
(90 MGL section 9)
Michigan Equipment
(MI Vehicle Code sections 257.683 to 257.711)
Minnesota Traffic Regulations: Equipment
(MN Statutes Chapter 169; scroll to sections 169.47 to 169.75)
Mississippi Equipment and Identification
(MS Code Title 63, Ch. 7)
Missouri Vehicle Equipment Regulations
(MRS Chapter 307)
Montana Vehicle Equipment
(MCA Title 61, Ch. 9)
Nebraska Vehicle equipment and violations
(R.R.S. Nebr. section 60-6,220 et seq.)
Nevada Equipment of Vehicles
(NRS sections 484D.230 to 484D.545)
New Hampshire Equipment of Vehicles
(NH Statutes Chapter 266)
New Jersey Motor vehicle equipment
(NJ Statutes sections 39:3-46 to 39:3-84)
New Mexico Motor Vehicles: Equipment
(NMS Ch. 66, Article 3, Part 9)
New York Equipment of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles
(NY Vehicle & Traffic Code Article 9)
North Carolina Motor Vehicle Act: Equipment
(NCGS Ch. 20, Article 3; scroll to sections 20-122 to 20-137)
North Dakota Equipment of Vehicles
[PDF] (ND Code Chapter 39-21)
Size, Width, and Height Restrictions
[PDF] (ND Code Chapter 39-12)
Ohio Traffic Laws: Equipment
(ORC Chapter 4513)
Oklahoma Vehicle equipment
(OK Statutes Title 47; scroll to section 47-12-101)
Oregon Vehicle Equipment Generally
(OR Vehicle Code Chapter 815)
Vehicle Equipment Lights
(OR Vehicle Code Chapter 816)
Pennsylvania Equipment Standards
(PA Vehicle Code Chapter 41)
Lighting Equipment
(PA Vehicle Code Chapter 43)
Other Required Equipment
(PA Vehicle Code Chapter 45)
Rhode Island Equipment and Accessories Generally
(RI Code Chapter 31-23)
Lighting Equipment and Reflectors
(RI Code Chapter 31-24)
South Carolina Equipment and Identification
(SC Code Title 56, Ch. 5; scroll to Article 35)
South Dakota Vehicle and Accessory Specifications
(SD Codified Laws Chapter 32-15)
Wheels, Tires, and Special Vehicles
(SD Codified Laws Chapter 32-19)
Weight, Size, and Load Restrictions
(SD Codified Laws Chapter 32-22)
Tennessee Equipment--Lighting Regulations
(TN Code Title 55, Ch. 9)
Texas Vehicle Equipment
(TX Transportation Code Chapter 547)
Utah Vehicle Equipment and Modifications
(UT Code sections 41-6a-1603 to 41-6a-1641)
Vermont Operation of Vehicles: Equipment
(23 VSA Chapter 13; scroll to sections 1221 to 1391)
Virginia Motor Vehicle and Equipment Safety
(VA Code Title 46.2, Ch. 10)
Washington Vehicle lighting and other equipment
(RCW Chapter 46.37)
West Virginia Equipment
(WV Code sections 17C-15-1 to 17C-15-50)
Unsafe and improperly equipped vehicles
(WV Code section 17C-15-1)
Wisconsin Equipment of Vehicles
(WI Code Chapter 347)
Wyoming Equipment
(WY Statutes Title 31, Ch. 5, Article 9)

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