Steering Wheels, Airbags, and The Law?

Greetings from the People's Republic of California...

Per the title, what laws/regs/whatever pertain to steering wheels and airbags?

Federal or State

I've searched through forums / CA DMV / NHTSA / DOT and I can't find a clear answer.

Some people suggest that you can disable them for yourself but not someone else.

Some people say never.

NHTSA says that you can get an on/off switch for medical reasons.

BAH!!!

Rally rules say turn them off. (Strikes me as a duh)

Cage + seats + harnesses (harnessi?) == probably more danger with the airbags on (even on the streets).

So, opinions are always entertaining, but if possible I'd like to see a law that says one way or another.

One suggestion said that you can't disable them, but there is no law that says a deployed unit has to be replaced. (So "Deploy" and then replace the wheel)



Side Topic for discussion -- What steering wheel is in your car?


Dan

It's only illegal if you get caught.

Cut the yellow wires!

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Ted Mendham
www.rensport.net

POP!

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Andrew Steere
Lyndeborough, NH
KB1PJY

shit, I didn't know we had steering wheel laws. goddammit. lame.

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Jon Burke - KI6LSW
Blog: http://psgrallywrx.blogspot.com/

The make inoperative prohibition (and so the exemptions) do not apply to individuals modifying their own vehicles, as long as they do not intend to make the changes for the purpose of resale. If you are making a modification to your own vehicle, Federal law does not apply, so you can do whatever you want (subject to any restrictions your state may impose). However, NHTSA urges individuals making such modifications to avoid unnecessary elimination of safety features.

http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/adaptive/Inoper/Fre_ask_Ques.htm


It is not a Federal NHTSA "National Law", but check your local laws as I know there are a few states that have adopted more strict standards.

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-Tom
DemonRallyTeam | Fine Tuning | CTS Turbo & RP Turbos | RalleyTuned | JRM | Meister Autowerks
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back in 06 when I had issues bringing in my car from Michigan to CA I found THE vehicle code for CA on the dmv website. Let me see if I can dig it up, I'd read that for the final word on the req'ts outlined by the CA DMV.

-e

Exactly so.

It's illegal for me to disable your airbags.

It's illegal for you to disable your airbags and then sell the car without re-enabling them.

It's perfectly fine for you to remove them from your own car.

I have no idea what happens if you remove them, and then get into an accident where someone else is driving, or someone else is in the passenger seat.

Quite frankly, I don't like the things, but what can ya do.

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Pete Remner
Cleveland, Ohio

1984 RX-7 (rallycross thing)
1978
Silence is golden, but duct tape is silver.

is that the same for emissions equipment? I've been told repeatedly that technically, touching normal, working emissions equipment (cats, 02 sensors, etc) is a federal penalty.

but maybe that's under the same 'but its ok for YOU to do it.' I'm sure CA has their own version of that law though.

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Jon Burke - KI6LSW
Blog: http://psgrallywrx.blogspot.com/

Emissions is different. That's a federal offense no matter who does it.

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Pete Remner
Cleveland, Ohio

1984 RX-7 (rallycross thing)
1978
Silence is golden, but duct tape is silver.

You know those tags on pillows that says not to remove under penalty of law? I tear those off all the time. I live on the edge, baby! Just try and catch me, copper!!!