DOT pulled my Japanese import over today. Need some help (1 Viewer)

[brownbear]

why do you say this?

In BC the DOT guys pull you over if your fogs or offroad lights are not covered. They are not DOT approved lights for on roads. Now some fogs are and can be not covered.

But in Northern BC they are sticklers for driving with the offroad lights uncovered., Althou tonnes of trucks still have them uncovered all over town. I guess it depends on the DOT guy cruising around at the time.

 

[nickw]

Actually, my Hella's are DOT and SAE approved.
It was a suprise to me. I have covers on order and get them tomorrow.

When I was down talking to the guys about my truck, he looked at the lights.
I mentioned right away I have covers on order. He was not worried about them. He looked for interest sake, and they are DOT and SAE approved lights. They have the code on them for road use. He was kinda supprised, but did not seem to care. I live in a redneck town where every second truck has aftermarket lights installed. Most don't have covers.

Cheers,
Nick

 

[nickw]

I like the mag wheels. What brand are they? Truck looks good also.cheers

Actually not sure of the brand. I looked and there was no brand I recognized.
The rims do say "VIA" on them.
They came with the truck, and I really really like them.
I think they look good and fit well.

Cheers,
Nick

 

[cruiser_guy]

Nick, you are too nice! I'm sure Marta has told you of our DOT experience, not exactly the shining example of decency when they pulled us over.

 

[Stone]

Charles:

I would imagine that just like in any job out there...you have your winners and you have your losers. Could well be that Nick encountered a couple of the better ones.

 

[crushers]

Here are the regulations in the BC governments own words, this might help:

Guidelines for the importation of vehicles from the US per Transport Canada’s Regulations

Transport Canada requirements

Transport Canada’s standards apply to vehicles that are less than 15 years old, and to buses manufactured on or after January 1, 1971. Vehicles originally manufactured to meet the safety standards of countries other than the United States or Canada are not allowed into Canada, unless they are 15 years or older or are buses manufactured before January 1, 1971, or are entering Canada temporarily.

Vehicles manufactured to meet United States safety standards do not comply with Canadian safety standards. As the importer, you are responsible for determining whether your vehicle complies with Canadian standards, or whether it can be modified to meet these standards after you import it. You cannot import vehicles that cannot be modified to meet Canadian standards. Find out whether your vehicle qualifies for importation under Transport Canada’s Registrar of Imported Vehicle (RIV) Program. The RIV Program ensures that qualifying vehicles imported into Canada are modified, inspected, and certified to meet Canadian safety standards. You can contact the RIV at:

Registrar of Imported Vehicles
Suite 400
405 The West Mall
Toronto ON M9C 5K7
Web site: http://www.riv.ca/

VEHICLES PURCHASED OUTSIDE CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES

The Motor Vehicle Safety Act and Regulations require that all vehicles imported into Canada comply, at the time of importation, with the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards in effect on the date the vehicle was manufactured. Vehicles manufactured for sale in countries other than Canada and the United States do not comply with the requirements of the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Act, CANNOT be altered to comply and CANNOT be imported into Canada. The only exceptions to this rule are vehicles fifteen (15) years old or older as determined by the month and year in which the vehicle was manufactured and buses manufactured before January 1, 1971.

http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/importation/impxus_e.htm

Transport Canada CL9203(E)

SECTION 1 - THE REGISTRAR OF IMPORTED VEHICLES (RIV)
On April 12, 1995, a new Motor Vehicle Safety Act and revised Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations were proclaimed. The new Act allows vehicles originally manufactured in compliance with US laws for the United States market to be imported into Canada provided they comply at the time of main assembly with mandatory Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS) such as CMVSS 210 (seat belt anchorage). The new legislation makes it possible for the vehicle to be modified in certain areas (bumpers, child restraint tether anchorages, daytime running lights and some labeling requirements). To carry out the task of monitoring the importation of vehicles from the United States, purchased at the retail level, Transport Canada has contracted a company called the Registrar of Imported Vehicles to establish and operate a system of inspection and compliance confirmation of imported vehicles. The program is a tightly controlled process of Federal registration, inspection and verification that a US specification vehicle is confirmed compliant to all Canadian Federal safety standards prior to Provincial/Territorial licensing and registration of that vehicle in Canada.
Some of the benefits of this program to Canadians are:

°Ø°Ø it helps ensure the safety of vehicles on Canadian roads,

°Ø°Ø it allows vehicles which do not meet Canadian safety standards in such areas as bumpers, day time
running lights, child restraint tether anchorages and some labeling requirements to be modified after they enter Canada,

°Ø°Ø it assists importers through a support system including a bilingual public response service
(1-888-848-8240)

°Ø°Ø it assists the Government of Canada by developing and maintaining an accurate and comprehensive data base on such importations,

°Ø°Ø it assists Transport Canada in its enforcement efforts,

°Ø°Ø it assists the provinces and territories by enabling checks of vehicles prior to licensing and
registration in Canada to ensure compliance with Canadian safety standards. Upon arrival at the border you will require the vehicle’s title, documents related to its purchase and a valid driver’s license or passport. There must be evidence - Compliance label or manufacturer’s letter - that the vehicle was built and complied to US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards at the time of main assembly. You must have some means of paying the Registrar’s fees, customs charges and taxes - Visa, MasterCard, a certified cheque or money order are all acceptable. Upon arrival at the Registrar’s inspection station you must have proof that your vehicle is not subject to a US recall or that the recall work has already been completed in the US. The Registrar’s fee is $209.00 Cdn (including GST) at Designated Ports and at Non-Designated Ports, in all provinces except Quebec, where the fee is $224.00 Cdn (including GST and QST). A list of Designated Ports follows this section. The importer is responsible for the actual costs of modifying the vehicle. There are also fees and charges resulting from failure to pass the initial inspection within 45 days.

SECTION 2 - GENERAL
VEHICLE TYPES ADMISSIBLE INADMISSIBLE NOTES

All vehicles (except buses) FIFTEEN YEARS OLD OR OLDER. All are admissible,
Notes.
Importer must be able to prove vehicle is fifteen (15) years old
or older determined by month and year of manufacture.

Excerpts from Canada Border Services Agency document “Importing A Vehicle Into Canada”

Importing a Vehicle
Into Canada
RC4140(E) Rev. 05
The information in this publication was accurate when we at the Canada Border Services Agency published it. However, legislative provisions and requirements can change at any time. We make every effort to provide timely updates.

Introduction
If you plan to import a vehicle into Canada, it has to comply with all Canadian import laws. The
vehicle must meet the requirements of the CBSA, Transport Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection
Agency before it can be imported.
Note
Transport Canada defines a vehicle as any vehicle that is capable of being driven or drawn on roads,
by any means other than muscular power exclusively, but does not run exclusively on rails. Trailers, such as recreational, camping, boat, horse, and stock trailers, are considered vehicles, as are wood chippers, generators, or any other equipment mounted on rims and tires.

RIV program exemptions
You can import a vehicle from the United States without registering it into the RIV program if the vehicle is:
°Ω fifteen years or older (excludes buses). You determine the age of a vehicle by the month and year it was manufactured.

Importing vehicles from countries other than the United States
You cannot import a vehicle that was manufactured to meet the safety standards of a country other than the United States or Canada, unless the vehicle is: °Ω fifteen years or older (excludes buses);

Registration for vehicles entering Canada from other countries per RIV

The Registrar of Imported Vehicles has contracted Canadian Tire to perform the required vehicle inspections. A list of inspection centres and their locations can be obtained by using the store search function for Canadian Tire.













Registration for vehicles entering BC from other Provinces per MOT

ICBC

Registering a used Canadian vehicle from another province

In order to register the vehicle, the following is required:
• The Vehicle Registration document
• A "passed" Vehicle Inspection Report from a Designated Inspection Facility in B.C. (To locate an inspection facility near you, please visit the Ministry of Transportation website for a list of inspection facilities, or look in the Yellow Pages under “Vehicle Inspection Service”.)
• If the vehicle is from Nova Scotia, also the Certificate of Title.

If the vehicle is not registered in your name, a signed and dated bill of sale is also required. However, in some cases, a vehicle registration document (or the Certificate of Title, if the vehicle is from Nova Scotia) which is signed by the registered owner of the vehicle and names you as the new owner, is acceptable instead of a bill of sale.

Once the vehicle is registered in B.C., it can then be licensed and insured here. Any Autoplan broker in B.C. can register, licence, and insure the vehicle for you.

Excerpts from BC “Motor Vehicle Act Regulations”

Hours prescribed for lighted lamps

4.01 A person who drives or operates a vehicle on a highway must illuminate the lamps required by this Division

(a) from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise, and

(b) at any other time when, due to insufficient light or unfavourable atmospheric conditions, objects on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of 150 m.

[en. B.C. Reg. 476/98, s. 2.]

General lighting requirements

4.02 (1) A vehicle on a highway must only be equipped with and use lamps, reflectors or other illuminating devices authorized by this Division or authorized in writing by the director.

(2) A vehicle on a highway must be equipped with lamps equivalent to those provided by the original manufacturer in accordance with the requirements that applied under the *Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Canada), or a predecessor to that Act, at the time of vehicle manufacture.

(3) All lamps, lamp bulbs and reflectors required or permitted by this Division must comply with

(a) the approved standards established by the *Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Canada) and the applicable SAE standards,

(b) the conditions of use described in this Division, and

(c) the requirements of Table 1 of the Schedule to this Division.

(4) The function of 2 or more lamps or reflectors may be combined if each function meets the following requirements:

(a) no turn signal lamp may be combined optically with a stop lamp unless the stop lamp is extinguished when the turn signal is flashing;

(b) a clearance lamp must not be combined optically with a tail-lamp or identification lamp.

(5)The director may exempt vehicles or classes of vehicles from the requirements of this section.

[en. B.C. Reg. 476/98, s. 2; am. B.C. Reg. 135/2003, s. 1.]

Headlamps

4.05 (1) A motor vehicle must be equipped with either one or 2 headlamps mounted on each side of the front of the vehicle and capable of displaying white light.

[en. B.C. Reg. 476/98, s. 2.]

Daytime running lamps

4.08 A motor vehicle may be equipped with daytime running lamps, mounted on the front of the vehicle at a height of not less than 30 cm and not more than 2.11 m, that comply with the requirements of the *Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Canada).

[en. B.C. Reg. 476/98, s. 2.]

Turn signal devices

4.13 (2) A lamp type turn signal system must

(a) have 2 lamps, mounted on the front of the vehicle, that are capable of displaying flashes of white or amber light which are visible to the front,

(b) have 2 lamps, mounted on the rear of the vehicle, that are capable of displaying flashes of red or amber light which are visible to the rear,

(c) be visible on each side of the vehicle at a distance of 100 m in normal sunlight at an angle of 45° from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and

(d) include a tell-tale lamp which gives a clear indication that the system is activated.

(3) During the time specified in section 4.01, a semaphore turn signal device must be capable of illumination by light or reflection visible from a distance of 100 m.

[en. B.C. Reg. 476/98, s. 2; am. B.C. Reg. 135/2003, s.1.]

Tail lamps

4.15 (1) A motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer must be equipped with 2 tail lamps, mounted on the rear of the motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer, that are capable of displaying only red light visible from a distance of 150 m to the rear on both sides of the motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer at an angle of 45° from the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer.

[en. B.C. Reg. 476/98, s. 2.]

Stop lamps

4.17 (1) A motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer on a highway must be equipped with 2 stop lamps, mounted on the rear of the motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer, that are visible to the rear on both sides of the motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer at an angle of 45° from the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer.

(3) A stop lamp must be

(a) capable of displaying only red light visible from a distance of 100 m to the rear of the vehicle in normal sunlight,

(b) illuminated exclusively upon application of the service brake, and

(c) mounted on the vehicle at a height not less than 38 cm and not more than 1.83 m.

(5) A vehicle may be equipped with one additional centre-mounted stop lamp that is capable of displaying only red light visible to the rear.

[en. B.C. Reg. 476/98, s. 2.]

Reflective devices

4.21 (1) A vehicle must be equipped with at least one red reflector at the rear of the vehicle, either separate or incorporated into a tail lamp, that is mounted at a height of not less than 38 cm and not more than 1.83 m.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a vehicle manufactured before January 1, 1958.

(3) Only amber reflectors may be mounted on the front or side of a vehicle.

(4) Only red reflectors may be mounted on the rear of a vehicle or on the side of the vehicle at or toward the rear of the vehicle.

[en. B.C. Reg. 476/98, s. 2; am. B.C. Reg. 413/99.]



note the differences between "must" and "may"...
still checking on the rear 3 brake light...

 

[light_duty]

So, is this mostly a BC thing? Has anyone in Alberta or any other province had any run-ins with the DOT people over their RHD cruisers?

I'll have to get over to my Dad's garage and have a look at the glass and lights on my LJ78.

Robin

 

[harveya]

why do you say this?

Interesting that on yours the inner lamps are fog lamps wheras on my UK spec one they are Auxiliary high beam lights.

 

[crushers]

i use these for the daytime running lights...

 

[nickw]

i use these for the daytime running lights...

Sorry Wayne, do you mean you use the inner fog lights as daytime running lights?
Which means I am guessing you wire the fog lights into the ignition?

Cheers,
Nick

 

[mot]

Interesting that on yours the inner lamps are fog lamps wheras on my UK spec one they are Auxiliary high beam lights.

IIRC, your outer lights are H4 high/low beams as well (as in Japan), whereas in N. America they just get the fixed HB4 (or 3) low beam.

Nick, I think Wayne was referring to the inner fogs.

Mot

 

[crushers]

yes, that is right, the fog lamps...

 

[Chang-kuao-lo]

Glad they were nice to you, they were always knobs to me, sometimes got hassled by them three times in the same day at different locations. Sounds like the mods you have to deal with are pretty minor, at least.

 

[Greg_B]

Might as well link the two threads together Nick, as there are different comments on both from all sorts of people?

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=80180

gb

 

[Behemoth60]

Just a few thoughts.

First of all, I am curious as to who ACTUALLY is inspecting your vehicle. We keep using 'DOT' to refer to 'the man' that's trying to bust us, but there is no DOT - Department of Transport, here in Canada. That's a US body.

In Canada, there's Transport Canada, who make laws and regulations similar to the US DOT. These are laws specific to the commercially manufactured vehicles in Canada. These laws do not apply to imported or 'home-made' vehicles. They do rely heavily on standards established by DOT, and accept a wide number of DOT stamped products as compliant with Transport Canada standards... hence the wide mis-conception and use of 'DOT' by us Canadians.

Transport Canada also governs RIV - The Registrar of Imported Vehicles. This is a set of rules for importing vehicles to Canada. The vast majority of the rules don't apply if the vehicles is older than 15 years. The JDM trucks don't qualify under RIV, but magically they do once they're 15.

Now, most laws that REALLY matter to us are Provincial. Here in Alberta, it's the Traffic Safety act. I am familiar with this one. I suspect that the law that Nick was busted under was a similar law to the Alberta Traffic Safety act.

Here's the frustrating irony of these local provincial laws. In Alberta, the Traffic Safety act has nothing to say about steering. As near as I can tell, you don't need any steering on a vehicle for it to comply with our local laws. Silly. No bumper height, max tire size or anything like that. Fender flares, lights and stop from 30kmph in side of 10 meters, and you're good to go. As long as it's in a straight line, I suppose. However, the rumour is that a provincial inspectors are required to fail your vehicle if it has, in his opinion, unsafe steering. Yet standards for safe steering are not defined for the public in the law like lights and fender flares are, and the opinion of individual inspectors is hardly a fair standard for a democratic society. I would love to challenge this in court one day, but that would precipitate new laws that do define steering safety, and I probably won't like what they have to say. GRRR...

Peter Straub

 

[nickw]

Just a few thoughts.

First of all, I am curious as to who ACTUALLY is inspecting your vehicle. We keep using 'DOT' to refer to 'the man' that's trying to bust us, but there is no DOT - Department of Transport, here in Canada. That's a US body.

In Canada, there's Transport Canada, who make laws and regulations similar to the US DOT. These are laws specific to the commercially manufactured vehicles in Canada. These laws do not apply to imported or 'home-made' vehicles. They do rely heavily on standards established by DOT, and accept a wide number of DOT stamped products as compliant with Transport Canada standards... hence the wide mis-conception and use of 'DOT' by us Canadians.

Transport Canada also governs RIV - The Registrar of Imported Vehicles. This is a set of rules for importing vehicles to Canada. The vast majority of the rules don't apply if the vehicles is older than 15 years. The JDM trucks don't qualify under RIV, but magically they do once they're 15.

Now, most laws that REALLY matter to us are Provincial. Here in Alberta, it's the Traffic Safety act. I am familiar with this one. I suspect that the law that Nick was busted under was a similar law to the Alberta Traffic Safety act.

Here's the frustrating irony of these local provincial laws. In Alberta, the Traffic Safety act has nothing to say about steering. As near as I can tell, you don't need any steering on a vehicle for it to comply with our local laws. Silly. No bumper height, max tire size or anything like that. Fender flares, lights and stop from 30kmph in side of 10 meters, and you're good to go. As long as it's in a straight line, I suppose. However, the rumour is that a provincial inspectors are required to fail your vehicle if it has, in his opinion, unsafe steering. Yet standards for safe steering are not defined for the public in the law like lights and fender flares are, and the opinion of individual inspectors is hardly a fair standard for a democratic society. I would love to challenge this in court one day, but that would precipitate new laws that do define steering safety, and I probably won't like what they have to say. GRRR...

Peter Straub

Hello Peter,

When I refer to DOT, I really mean CVSE. Just most people would probably have no idea what I was talking about when I say CVSE, so I said DOT instead.

Here in BC, we have to follow both federal regulations (Transport Canada) and provincial regulations. According to my new friends at the CVSE, when there is a discrepancy between the two regulations (Provincial and Federal), the regulation that is stricter is the one to be follow.

The regulations that I am having problems with are federal (from Transport Canada TSD 108 ). So technically speaking you folks over in Alberta are subject to them as well. However, it seems in Alberta they are less keen on enforcing Transport Canada regulation.

From what I can tell all the agurments are based on the interprtation of the following paragraph on the following page.
http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/importation/impxus_e.htm

The Motor Vehicle Safety Act and Regulations require that all vehicles imported into Canada comply, at the time of importation, with the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards in effect on the date the vehicle was manufactured. Vehicles manufactured for sale in countries other than Canada and the United States do not comply with the requirements of the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Act, CANNOT be altered to comply and CANNOT be imported into Canada. The only exceptions to this rule are vehicles fifteen (15) years old or older as determined by the month and year in which the vehicle was manufactured and buses manufactured before January 1, 1971.

Basically you can read it two ways:
1. Once a vehicle is 15 years old you can import it but it DOES still have to conform to the laws in the year manufactured.
or
2. Once the vehicle is 15 years old you can import it and it DOESN'T you to conform the the laws in the year manufactured.

From my interpretation of the law, I personally think we do have to adhere to the regualtions for the year our vehicle was manufactured. Which for the most part only means DRL and proper glass and lights. Most of the cruisers have everything but the approved headlight units and DRL (DRL only on vehicles 1990 and later). As far as the high mounted stop lamps being mentioned, I found a hole in the regulations which I presented to the CVSE. He is looking into it for me. Hopefully that clause will be wiped.

Cheers,
Nick

 

[Chang-kuao-lo]

Whatever they are, the Mounties use them to "go fishing" all the time, I had nothing to hide, just found it annoying.

 

[nickw]

Also, in regards to my above post (#56).

From what I understand there is some people in Victoria this week determining how the law is to be read and enforced in BC. Whether we do have to conform or don't.

Cheers,
Nick

 

[crushers]

keep us informed Nick, and best of luck to yah

 

[M John Galt]

"When I refer to DOT, I really mean CVSE"

If you're going to use acronyms please have the courtesy to define them at first use. So who is CVSE?

"who ACTUALLY is inspecting your vehicle?"

Please be specific this time, OK?