Here's the breakdown from the State of Maryland, straight out of the Traffic Articles.

1. HID Lights.
The state of Maryland disallows any vehicle "emmiting a blinding and dazzling light", thus, it is left to the individual Officer's discretion as to what constitutes such a violation. Usually HID's are ok, as long as your lights are aimed properly after installation!

2. Removing or altering the catalytic converts is a federal offense actually. However, here in MD the only inspection is upon sale or transfer of a vehicle, thus, the only way you would get a citation for the state violation is if you were pulled over for something (like an extremely loud exhaust) and the Officer decided to look underneath of your vehicle.

3. MD has an emissions testing law, every two years, however, vehicles after 1996 I believe are checked via the OBD port only, and I am not sure what if any mods would cause the OBD check to fail the vehicle. I was told it only checks for CEL's related to the emissions system so as long as you don't have any, you should pass.

4. Tint in MD is 35% and above is legal. Although a citation is rare, usually Officers issue a SERO (Safety Equipment Repair Order) which requires that the violation be repaired within 10 days, and the vehicle be inspected within 30 days, if not, the State Police/MVA will suspend your registration. This is easy to defeat, by simply returning the equipment in question to stock, passing the inspection, and then re-installing your equipment.

5. Lowering a vehicle or "altering the suspension in any way" is illegal in Maryland, but carries a small fine if cited $90, or the same SERO process outlined above.

6. Speaking from experience, you have to either run across an Officer who is new, having a bad day, or works for a State Agency such as MSP/MDTA, etc. to recieve these violations, other than tint, which Officers occasionally use as a "pretext" violation to get a closer look at you and your vehicle (Isn't the Supreme Court Great, the "pretext" stop is totally legal!!).

Anyways, happy modding and be safe and remember, be nice to the Officer, he might drive a GT too!!

 

Good info! I’m surprised that cities, counties and states haven’t been more aggressive with their enforcement of the equipment modification laws to help their cash strapped bank accounts. It would be a super great revenue generator aimed at a group of people that have no excuse for breaking the law and would have no success fighting illegal equipment tickets. I wonder if they will ever figure out this revenue stream like they have with aggressive speed enforcement. They could even add more revenue by impounding the cars, etc. Illegal equipment citations could be like found money for them!

FYI, the Mustang HID lights have an electrically operated shied around the bulb that moves back and forth to shape the low and high beam. On low beam the light is mostly cut off on the upper side of the beam. The fog lights illuminate rather than the HIDs when the car is unlocked. From what I can tell they work very well.

 

We have not had State Inspection Stations
since bout 1990 round these parts.
Its a sort of police yourself kinda thing.

 

anytime someone mentions the US of A i feel proud to be canadian.

 

Be careful... a lot of proud Americans over here. We love Canajun beer, humor and the comraderie.

 

What are the best legal bulbs that match across (silver stars don't come in fog size). Thinking about swaping out my hid kits

 

They don't? What about these?
http://www.americanmuscle.com/sylvan...rstar-h10.html

 

Woops I always mess that up, keep thinking they gt fogs are h11s, made that mistake in the past as well.

thanks

edit:

also fount my old Luminics titanium white blubs. They should be legal right?

 

The HIDs were only $525 extra on the 09.

 

i'm just glad i don't have to live in a police state...yet