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NHTSA Cracks Down on Aftermarket HID Conversion Kits
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is targeting high-intensity discharge (HID) conversion kits for enforcement actions. NHTSA has concluded that it is impossible to produce HID conversion kits (converting a halogen system to HID) that would be compliant with the federal lighting standard, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108. The noncompliant kits frequently include a HID bulb, a ballast, an igniter, a relay and wiring harness adapters. The NHTSA believes this equipment presents a safety risk to the public since the kits can be expected to produce excessive glare to oncoming motorists. In one investigation, the NHTSA found that an HID conversion headlamp exceeded the maximum allowable candlepower by over 800%.
Under FMVSS No. 108 Section S7.7 (replaceable light sources), each replaceable light source for headlamps must be designed to conform to the dimensions and electrical specifications for the headlamp source it is intended to replace. For example, if an HID kit is marketed as replacing an H1 light source, then it must match the H1's wire coil filament size and location, the electrical connector size and location and the ballast design for use with an H1 light source (which is impossible since there is no ballast). Consequently, companies that are manufacturing HID light sources (e.g., D1S, D1R, D2S, D2R, 9500, etc�) with incandescent light source bases (e.g., H1, H3, H7, H8, H9, H11, H13, HB1, HB2, HB3, HB4, HB5, etc�) should be aware that this light source design would not be one that conforms to FMVSS No. 108, and could not be imported and sold in the United States without violating Federal law. (The importer is treated as the manufacturer and subject to the same fines and penalties that apply to a domestic manufacturer.)
NHTSA has also determined that a commonly used disclaimer "for off-road use only" has no legal meaning and is not recognized by the agency as the manufacturer, importer and retailer are not in a position to control use once a product has been sold. Any equipment offered for sale which is covered by FMVSS No. 108 (headlamps, taillamps, side markers, etc.) must comply with the standard.
That being said - did anyone actually get a ticket for that particular violation?
I'm guilty of putting them in reflector and projector housings in the past.
I got high beamed a lot when they were installed in reflector housing (young and dumb). When installed in projector housing it was very nice. No unintended glare. Nice cutoff line.
I put HIDs in my car with reflector housings. But I went the responsible route by retrofitting projectors into the housing.
It is very easy to have very bright headlights but how you control that light is the hard part. Control helps you put more light down the road without blinding on coming traffic.
Even people who put HID bulbs into halogen projectors are most likely going to burn their bowls.
These are federal regulations. The aim here is to regulate manufacture and sale of the kits to eliminate them before they make it to market. US DOT could act on already-installed kits but most of their resources are used on heavy transportation, hazmat, etc.
At least in my state, we have our own set of specifications for legal lighting and that is what I expect to be mainly enforced.
It's ironic, how you ask a question - Did you get a ticket? and end up with 6 responses saying "I had them installed".
NHTSA actually forced a TX manufacturer of HIDs to recall its product and substitute with legal lights. But that's TX manufacturer. What is made out else in the world and sold online is beyond their grasp.
And please, spare me rhetoric "I took care of this and aimed lights lower" or did something else. When you are going over a curve, your lights are pointing straight into oncoming traffic drivers eyes.
So what's the point in federal regulation if it's basically ignored by police? Don't tell me they do not have proper tools. They sure do have one for window tint.
I had no idea that the NHTSA was out ticketing drivers for this.
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