NHTSA DECLARES HIDs Illegal

**umnitza** · 07-22-2003, 02:12 PM

IMPORTANT:

A little bit of background. NHSTA/DOT has been trying to introduce new laws to regulate the sale of HID... well.. they just decided to BAN ALL HID KITS. They do not have a set regulation because HID does not use a filament.. therefore, no matter how accurate the HID kit is, it fails because of that ONE requirement. Well, DUH, HID has no filament, so it automatically fails.

After 8/15/2003, HID kits as you know it will never be sold again unless new laws are made. I'm sure there are all types of legal issues here,for one, this has all been done without anyone knowing. After 8/15/03, there will be a $5,000 fine PER DAY for vendors selling HID kits.

All HID kits are now on sale on our website. Parts will still be available and warranties will still be honored after the above date. After 8/15, only parts sold for warranty purposes will be allowed.

You will begin seeing a LOT of HID vendors out there selling kits to move inventory, but we still stress the importance of going with Umnitza/Catz. I am not sure of the future of Umnitza in HID, but Catz will always be there for your warranty and replacement needs.

http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...hreadid=116014

**NiTE** · 07-22-2003, 02:15 PM

Thats BULLSH*T! Luckily I bought my HIDs already...

**Iron Chef** · 07-22-2003, 02:17 PM

Oh man, I better stock up for my future cars without HIDs.

**///Arman** · 07-22-2003, 02:18 PM

OMG, thats craaaaaaaaaazy!

**b0rf** · 07-22-2003, 02:19 PM

Oh shit, looks like i'm getting HID's within the month.

**DSK M3/4** · 07-22-2003, 02:21 PM

anyone have a link to the news story?

**umnitza** · 07-22-2003, 02:27 PM

it's private eyes only.

**shragon** · 07-22-2003, 02:31 PM

BOOOOOOOOOOOO! why does the NHTSA have to ruin every thing??? i'm glad i already got my kit. fockers.

bet this is gonna create a real black market for these kits.

**99bmw740il** · 07-22-2003, 02:31 PM

Yeah sure... just propaganda by the lighting industry so everyone "hurries" to buy hids before there illegal

**Preppy** · 07-22-2003, 02:32 PM

Good marketing ploy

kidding Matt.

Damn, that really sucks! Really really sucks.

:

**DSK M3/4** · 07-22-2003, 02:33 PM

Originally posted by umnitza
it's private eyes only.

why?

**umnitza** · 07-22-2003, 02:34 PM

Not marketing.
All the vendors already know about this.
It's been in the works since November.

I can't reveal the internal memo, but here's a link (maybe two) that make some sense.

http://www.enjoythedrive.com/content/?id=25377

http://www.enjoythedrive.com/content/?ID=25405

**Euro77** · 07-22-2003, 02:35 PM

How about titling HID products as "off-road use only" ?

**duugg2** · 07-22-2003, 02:43 PM

...if i read the info from the links correctly, this means that not only will aftermarket HID lighs be harder to purchase, but im going to get hassled even more about my STOCK foglights being on by the highway patrol...great

:

**MGregski** · 07-22-2003, 02:52 PM

So do you get fined for having HID's? WTF!!!!!!!!!!

**Preppy** · 07-22-2003, 02:54 PM

NHTSA has acknowledged that there are a myriad of issues associated with glare. For example, it cited a possibility that many drivers look directly at HIDs because they are unfamiliar with the light, and thus experience glare.

Great, so it's the deer and headlight syndrome that is ruining it for us...

:

Don't these people understand that halogens suck...I would like to find out how many of the people who are pushing to ban HID actually have cars that came with HID on them from the factory.

**alexd** · 07-22-2003, 02:55 PM

no the vendor gets fined for selling them.

**MGregski** · 07-22-2003, 02:56 PM

Originally posted by Preppy
Great, so it's the deer and headlight syndrome that is ruining it for us...:

Don't these people understand that halogens suck...I would like to find out how many of the people who are pushing to ban HID actually have cars that came with HID on them from the factory.

TRUE. So what does happen to the factory HID equipped cars?

**Zoso** · 07-22-2003, 02:59 PM

I can understand giving out tickets for cars that have HIDs in headlights that scatter the light everywhere and blind everyone on the road. I can see giving out tickets for lights that are mal-adjusted. .. but I can't see banning all HID sales. What's next? Can you imagine what will be banned when Hillary becomes president?

**TerryY** · 07-22-2003, 03:00 PM

The factory lites are DOT approved so you have to buy a new car to get HID's Who wins?

Terry

**99bmw740il** · 07-22-2003, 03:16 PM

03 Range Rovers hids are fuking ghey! They spread the light everywhere and it looks like their high's are always on!!! They need to make a new lense for those

**umnitza** · 07-22-2003, 03:22 PM

Originally posted by Euro77
How about titling HID products as "off-road use only" ?

already are.

**jmargo** · 07-22-2003, 03:35 PM

Can we still sell them between private parties ?

**KaOTiKM3** · 07-22-2003, 03:36 PM

other vendors don't seem to know about this, I've e-mailed a few and they seem in the dark about it, maybe they should get in the know before they get burnt...

**umnitza** · 07-22-2003, 03:37 PM

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd...2003/Perel.pdf

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