Top 5 Motor Vehicle Trends That Have Been Made Illegal by State and Federal Officials

There is a very large and vocal subset of the automotive community that takes great pride in modifying their cars in a variety of ways; some enjoy enhancing the appearance of their vehicle, while others are really into beefing up its performance. And while many of these practices are considered on the up-and-up, there were also numerous ones that are now finding themselves on the wrong side of the law. This article covers the top five motor vehicle trends that have been made illegal by authorities, both on the state and federal level.

1.    “Coal Rolling”

Coal rolling is when the owner of a diesel fuel-powered truck modifies their engine to not fully combust the fuel it burns, resulting in the vehicle emitting large amounts of black or gray sooty exhaust fumes, a practice that is banned by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. A tell-tale sign of this modification are vertical smoke stacks located at the front of the truck’s bed, mounted against the vehicle’s rear windows. This can be a costly modification to make, and diesel owners who carry it out reportedly often do so as a means to protest what they perceive to be “excessive environmentalism,” with videos on YouTube depicting these vehicles purposely covering roadside protestors and electric vehicles with thick smoke.

2.       Automatic License Plate Covers

As a means to fight back against red light and speed cameras that have been installed in many cities and municipalities throughout the nation, some motorists have taken to installing various types of automatic license plate covers to conceal their tags from prying lenses. These range from devices that actually flip the license plate around to shutters that close, rendering the plate unreadable. However, these devices are illegal in most parts of the country, and depending where you’re at, use of one can cost you fines ranging anywhere from $50 to $300 or more.

3.       Radar Detectors and Laser Jammers

In an effort to get out of potential speeding tickets, car owners have resorted to devices such as radar detectors and laser jammers. Radar detectors are typically mounted on the vehicle’s dashboard and, as the name implies, can detect if the speed of their vehicle is currently being monitored by a law enforcement radar speed gun. These devices give a driver the chance to slow down as they pass the officer in question, potentially avoiding a costly ticket. Laser jammers, on the other hand, can basically disrupt the use of a radar, returning a cosine error or “no response” to the gun. Needless to say by their inclusion in this list, both devices are illegal in many states across the country, with fines averaging in the hundreds of dollars depending on where you are.

4.       Catalytic Converter Removal

Some motorists like to remove their vehicle’s catalytic converter for a number of reasons; doing so allows the engine to breathe more freely and results in increased horsepower, improved sound, reduced fuel consumption, and lower engine temperature. However, this also results in more harmful emissions from the vehicle, and if you’re caught, it can result in fines up to $10,000 and the car’s possible impoundment as well.

5.       California Bans Cold Air Intakes

Despite not being considered completely illegal in the state, California has essentially banned cold air intakes except in cases that the vehicle is registered with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and receives a CARB Executive Order (EO). A cold air intake system brings cooler air into the engine and combustion chamber, resulting in a boost to engine power and efficiency, but unfortunately also results in a boost in emission levels as well, which is why California has all but banned its use.