2006 Code of Virginia § 46.2-1063 - Alteration of suspension system; bumper height limits; raising body above frame rail

46.2-1063. Alteration of suspension system; bumper height limits; raisingbody above frame rail.

No person shall drive on a public highway any motor vehicle registered as apassenger motor vehicle if it has been modified by alteration of its altitudefrom the ground to the extent that its bumpers, measured to any point on thelower 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 theground. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, the rangeof bumper heights for motor vehicles bearing street rod license plates issuedpursuant to 46.2-747 shall be nine to twenty-two inches.

No vehicle shall be modified to cause the vehicle body or chassis to come incontact with the ground, expose the fuel tank to damage from collision, orcause the wheels to come in contact with the body under normal operation. Nopart of the original suspension system of a motor vehicle shall bedisconnected to defeat the safe operation of its suspension system. However,nothing contained in this section shall prevent the installation of heavyduty equipment, including shock absorbers and overload springs. Nothingcontained in this section shall prohibit the driving on a public highway of amotor vehicle with normal wear to the suspension system if such normal weardoes not adversely affect the control of the vehicle.

No person shall drive on a public highway any motor vehicle registered as atruck if it has been modified by alteration of its altitude from the groundto the extent that its bumpers, measured to any point on the lower edge ofthe main horizontal bumper bar, exclusive of any bumper guards, do not fallwithin the limits specified herein for its gross vehicle weight ratingcategory. The front bumper height of trucks whose gross vehicle weightratings are 4,500 pounds or less shall be no less than 14 inches and no morethan 28 inches, and their rear bumper height shall be no less than 14 inchesand no more than 28 inches. The front bumper height of trucks whose grossvehicle weight ratings are 4,501 pounds to 7,500 pounds shall be no less than14 inches and no more than 29 inches, and their rear bumper height shall beno less than 14 inches and no more than 30 inches. The front bumper height oftrucks whose gross vehicle weight ratings are 7,501 pounds to 15,000 poundsshall be no less than 14 inches and no more than 30 inches, and their rearbumper height shall be no less than 14 inches and no more than 31 inches.Bumper height limitations contained in this section shall not apply to truckswith gross vehicle weight ratings in excess of 15,000 pounds. For the purposeof this section, "truck" includes pickup and panel trucks, and "grossvehicle weight ratings" means manufacturer's gross vehicle weight ratingsestablished for that vehicle as indicated by a number, plate, sticker, decal,or other device affixed to the vehicle by its manufacturer.

In the absence of bumpers, and in cases where bumper heights have beenlowered, height measurements under the foregoing provisions of this sectionshall be made to the bottom of the frame rail. However, if bumper heightshave been raised, height measurements under the foregoing provisions of thissection shall be made to the bottom of the main horizontal bumper bar.

No vehicle shall be operated on a public highway if it has been modified byany means so as to raise its body more than three inches, in addition to anymanufacturer's spacers and bushings, above the vehicle's frame rail ormanufacturer's attachment points on the frame rail.

This section shall not apply to specially designed or modified motor vehicleswhen driven off the public highways in races and similar events. Such motorvehicles may be lawfully towed on the highways of the Commonwealth.

(1973, c. 498, 46.1-282.1; 1978, c. 605; 1980, c. 342; 1986, c. 570; 1989,c. 727; 1991, c. 688; 1992, c. 864; 1993, c. 73.)