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Published: 03/19/2020
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Tuning is one of the most discussed topics from the point of view of automobile legislation, given that a large number of car owners resort to it. In this article we will talk about the possibility of installing a bumper bar (power bumper) on cars, discuss legal regulation, exceptions, as well as the possibility of its legal installation.
- What does the law say about installing a guardrail?
- Design changes or additional equipment?
- Is it possible to register a kengurin with the traffic police?
- When can you install a kangaroo cage? Old cars
- Imported cars
- Other sanctions
What does the law say about installing a guardrail?
The current legislation prohibits the installation of kenguryat guards on vehicles on the territory of the Russian Federation. However, as with any other rule, there are exceptions.
The main document establishing the requirements for the use of additional devices on vehicles is the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union, which came into force on January 1, 2015, and considers the issues of safe operation of wheeled vehicles (TR CU 018/2011).
This document states that if the technical documentation provides for the installation of a guardrail (power bumper), or the element is installed by the manufacturer, it is not required to dismantle it.
In this case, several requirements must be met: the longitudinal cross-country angle is at least 20 degrees, a distance of at least 18 cm is maintained between the lower point of the body and the road surface, the overhang angle is 25 degrees or more, and the departure angle is at least 20 degrees.
One of the clauses of these Technical Regulations establishes that if a vehicle belongs to categories M1, N1 (their main features, respectively: no more than 8 seats for passengers, weight less than 3.5 tons), then equipping them with structures protruding beyond the perpendicular extreme bumper line point is prohibited.
It is a common belief that SUVs (G category cars) are also an exception, but in fact this is not a separate category, but just a subcategory for each of the two above.
There are two exceptions that may be a consolation for car enthusiasts:
- If the kenguryatnik is planned to be installed as a decorative element. To do this, its weight should be no more than 500 grams, and the material for production should be anything other than steel or a material with similar strength indicators. Thus, on any car you can safely install a structure that can protect the registration plate and lighting devices.
- If you plan to install a certified factory design. This clause includes those car owners whose vehicles are equipped with a guard, but for some reason (for example, equipment) it was not installed earlier.
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Is it possible to install a dog guard on a car?
So is it possible to install a guardrail on a car? In accordance with traffic regulations, the installation of such devices on vehicles is currently prohibited. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, thanks to which a motorist can still install such a pipe on his vehicle.
If a car owner has installed a homemade guard on his vehicle, he should prepare for the fact that at the very first traffic police post he will be issued a fine, and on completely legal grounds. Therefore, the owner of the car will not be able to appeal the received document within 10 days.
The requirement of the regulation prohibiting the installation of metal structures does not apply to battens whose weight does not exceed 500 grams, provided that such devices are installed only to protect headlights, registration plates or fixing elements.
After the innovations of 2015, the requirements for installing dog guards remained identical, with the exception of the rule that a vehicle can be equipped with such metal structures if this is provided for by the standard design of the car.
Design changes or additional equipment?
A kenguryatnik is a frame made of metal pipes by welding. It acts as additional protection by preventing damage to the front of the car .
There is a lot of controversy surrounding the question of which category this element should be classified into: structural elements or additional equipment? According to the text of the Technical Regulations, making changes to the design of a vehicle means the procedure for eliminating those provided for by the design or installing components and pieces of equipment not provided for by the design of the vehicle in question. In this context, changes are considered that were made after the vehicle left the manufacturer and have or may have an impact on the safety of use of the vehicle.
Thus, in cars whose technical documentation does not provide for the presence of a bulge or yoke, it acts as additional equipment (additional body kit). For modifications of this type, it is necessary to go through the procedure for making changes to the documents for the car. You can legitimize the installation of this element by contacting the traffic police.
On which cars can a power bumper be installed?
Now you need to figure out whether all cars are allowed to install a kenguryatnik? No, there are restrictions. So, if the car belongs to category M 1 or N 1 (i.e. less than 3.5 tons), then installing a bumper is prohibited. However, there is an exception here. If mounting the bumper is provided for by the design, but it was not installed at the factory, then the law allows for independent installation. But if the car belongs to category G (real SUVs with a transfer case), then installing a bumper is allowed.
Car enthusiasts who prefer domestic vehicles are often interested in the question: is it possible to drive with a guard on a Niva? Yes, but with a number of reservations. Firstly, you can only drive a car with such a body kit on country roads. Secondly, a number of requirements are imposed on the quality of the kenguryatnik itself. So, in the center the bumper should be made of metal, and its sides should be made of plastic.
The cost of the kenguryatnik may be justified, but in some cases it can result in slightly higher costs if it is installed illegally. But in what cases does this happen and is it possible to install a guardrail on modern or old cars, in particular, SUVs, including Niva and Chevrolet Niva, crossovers, what is the fine for this and what other unpleasant bonus awaits us?
The answer lies in the traffic rules and technical regulations: in short, the first prohibits the owner of the car, and the second prohibits the installation of kenguryat guards on the car from the factory. Let's find out!
Is it possible to register a kengurin with the traffic police?
In accordance with current legislation, penalties for using kengurin can be avoided in two cases:
- The element is factory installed,
- The installation was agreed upon with the traffic police and properly documented.
To obtain a permit, the vehicle owner will need:
- Contact an appropriately authorized organization to conduct an examination. Specialists will evaluate the possibility of installing a guardrail, and if the decision is positive, the car owner will receive a protocol confirming this fact.
- Submit an application to the traffic police, attaching documents received from the expert organization. Traffic police specialists study the submitted conclusion; if the decision is positive, it is endorsed and returned to the car owner.
- The next step is to contact a service center or install the body kit yourself. if work is planned without contacting a licensed service center, in the application submitted to the traffic police it is necessary to declare all the work that is planned to be carried out during the installation process.
- After the car is equipped with a kangaroo guard, the owner again undergoes an examination, the purpose of which is to confirm compliance with the requirements of legislation and regulatory documents. In case of a positive conclusion, a diagnostic card is issued confirming the suitability of the vehicle for operation.
- Contacting the traffic police to make notes on the installation of additional equipment in the documents.
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In practice, obtaining permits is almost impossible. Experts at the first stage conclude that the planned change has a direct impact on road safety, which is a direct basis for refusing to install a guardrail. Thus, it is impossible to register a kenguryatnik with the traffic police if the design of the vehicle does not provide for it.
Prohibited and permitted types of body kits
Until recently, car enthusiasts tuned cars at their own discretion. However, today some types of body kits are prohibited. In particular, we are talking about the following structures.
- Kenguryatnik installed on the car yourself.
- A body kit that was mounted directly in front of the bumper.
- A power bumper whose dimensions exceed a regular bumper. In this case, punishment for kangaroo is almost inevitable.
The power bumpers themselves can be divided into several types.
- Installed according to a certificate. There is no fine in this case.
- Provided as a standard design (installed on the vehicle at the factory). This type of kenguryatka is allowed.
- Homemade car elements. Such bumpers are clearly prohibited.
Therefore, if the owner of the car is interested in whether it is possible to drive with a guard in Russia, then he must understand that the answer depends on a number of nuances.
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Is it possible to drive with homemade models?
If a car enthusiast decides to install a guard on his vehicle, he must be prepared to meet a number of requirements. Considering that the new part does not belong to the standard type of the car, you will have to obtain permission from the traffic police to attach it. If the inspection staff give their consent, then information about the manipulations performed on the car must be entered into the vehicle title.
When can you install a kangaroo cage?
Old cars
SUVs (no matter foreign cars or domestic Nivas) produced more than 30 years ago are not subject to the provisions of the Technical Regulations. Therefore, the installed kenguryatnik will not be a reason for imposing a fine. However, even this will not allow its installation to be registered properly.
Imported cars
Imported cars can also be operated with an installed guard on the roads of the Russian Federation. They can be divided into two groups:
- Registered in other countries where the use of kengurin is legal. However, in this case there is a significant limitation: the car can only be imported for a period of up to 6 months.
- Models of SUVs with body kits installed by the manufacturer, imported into the country. There is also a pitfall here: most of them are quite old models, because the Technical Regulations prohibit the import of such cars into the Russian Federation from the moment they come into force.
A little about the kenguryatnik itself
Kengurin, or kenguryatnik, is a protective grille that is placed on. Most often it is installed on large cars. At the same time, the owners pursue the goal of simply giving their car even greater grandeur and power. But in reality everything is completely different.
American and Australian farmers used to install kenguryatniks to move cattle. Such protective grilles protected the front end of huge pickup trucks from being dented after collisions with large animals.
The video talks about the benefits of using car guards:
Soon after this, similar protection began to be used. That is why today this accessory is included in the design of jeeps and crossovers of some automobile companies.
It is worth noting that only a high-quality guard will protect your car from the mechanical effects of branches, stones and other debris scattered along country and forest roads.
Those who have never driven over rough terrain mistakenly believe that a fake kangurin will add pathos to their car and protect them from the road. What a surprise for them will be additional dents and damage to the insides of the car, caused by a poor-quality product on the bumper.
Fine for illegal installation
Owners of vehicles who operate them with an installed guard, but do not have the appropriate permitting marks in their documents, may be held accountable in accordance with Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offences. There is no special sanction for this violation.
The legislation provides for the following types of punishments applied by traffic police officers:
- Warning. Used upon initial detection of an offense. Most often, drivers who really do not know about the illegality of installing an additional body kit and intend to eliminate the violation: remove the guard, or contact the traffic police to obtain permission, get by with a warning. A warning can be dispensed with only once; a repeated stop by the inspector after a lapse of time, in case of evasion of eliminating the violation, will result in the imposition of a fine.
- The amount of the fine established by law for a first-time violation is 500 rubles.
- Ignoring the demands of traffic police representatives for the second time will cost the owner of a “reinforced” car already 5,000 rubles.
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Thus, a monetary penalty for lack of permission to install a power bumper can be a significant blow to the car owner’s budget. In the case of repeated prosecutions in the form of a fine, which have no result, other penalties may be brought against the owner.
Other sanctions
In addition to fines of up to 5,000 rubles, which were mentioned above, traffic police officers can deprive the owner of a vehicle equipped with a homemade yoke of the right to drive for up to three months. This penalty is applied in the case of repeated imposition of fines that have not brought results.
Inspectors may also cancel the registration of a vehicle, but in order to re-register, the violations will still have to be eliminated.
Another problem may be the expiration of the diagnostic sheet required for issuing an MTPL policy. Additional design elements not provided for by the design of the car or without permits are a clear obstacle to issuing a conclusion on the suitability of the vehicle for use.
Penalties
Fine for a towbar on a passenger car in 2018
For 2021, a fine has been established for owners of cars with installed power bumpers within 500 rubles. If a traffic inspector stops such a vehicle, he will definitely require the necessary documents and, in their absence, will draw up a report and fine you. You can avoid complications if you remove the illegally installed guardrail in the presence of an inspector. Car owners do the same when undergoing maintenance. This is due to the fact that it is impossible to undergo maintenance with an incorrectly installed power bumper.
Note! Instead of a fine, only a warning may follow, which serves as a mitigating measure. However, the warning is relevant only if there were no similar offenses on the part of the driver in the last year before the fine.
