Seeing a car without a bumper on the road is not that uncommon. The reasons why drivers of such cars are forced to drive without it (and sometimes without both bumpers) are different. However, not all motorists clearly know whether this is a violation from the point of view of domestic traffic rules or not. But it is very important to find out whether you can drive without a bumper. This information will be useful to many in real life and can save you from troubles.
Is it possible to drive without bumpers?
Automotive lawyers are still arguing about this problem. The question is that the Traffic Rules in paragraph 7.18 clearly interpret that you cannot drive a car if design changes are not registered with the traffic police.
For example, if you decide to paint your bumper, or it comes off as a result of a road accident. This element of the car is included in its design. Of course, you will not register this design change, especially since you will be refused. After all, this violates traffic rules regarding road safety. The law provides for a fine for this.
If we approach it from the other side, then auto lawyers and lawyers make references to the Technical Regulations. This is the only legal document that establishes a change in design.
In its text you can find some relevant points, the meaning of which is as follows:
- It is prohibited to remove the “rear safety device”.
- The bumper must not have any damage that could result in metal curves with a radius of up to 5 mm.
It is not entirely clear what kind of rear device is meant. Surely this is not a rear bumper, but a special protection that is installed on large trucks. Damage to the bumper with sharp edges can occur due to dents and tears in the metal. Only the first point is relevant to our question, since there is no bumper on the car after removal.
Therefore, if according to the Technical Regulations it is not prohibited to dismantle the bumper for repair, then there is no change in design. However, the bumper is included in the list of parts for cars and other vehicles. Therefore, its removal can be considered a change in design features.
How to place a license plate if the bumper is removed
Such situations, unfortunately, often happen in practice. However, some drivers do not attach much importance to this, considering the issue trivial and not worthy of serious attention, for which they later get into trouble. A “trifle” turns into unpleasant explanations with strict traffic police officers and other undesirable consequences, including large fines and deprivation of the right to drive a car.
To prevent this from happening, every driver should try to strictly adhere to the requirements of the state standard on vehicle registration marks. And this standard clearly states that the front numbers should be installed on the axis of symmetry of the car. However, it is also possible to mount the front registration plate in a different format - to the left of the axis of this symmetry, directly along the vector of movement of the car. In other words, on the left (if viewed from the cockpit through the eyes of the driver), anywhere on the front bumper from its center to the edge.
If there is no bumper, you must try to attach the number at the required height and at the desired angle - attach it to the structure that is exposed. In this case, at a minimum, there should be no quibbles with the state sign. In passing, we note that other options for its fastening, which are quite often found on domestic roads (for example, on the roof of a car, its windshield, etc.) are violations and are punishable by fines.
How you are allowed to act
The simplest and most obvious way to avoid punishment for driving a car without a bumper and license plate is to install the warning light approximately in the place where it stood on the bumper. However, there are some nuances.
It is necessary to ensure compliance with the requirements of GOST R50577-93:
- If there is no bumper, then the number must be installed on a vertical surface (radiator, bumper amplifier, if equipped, or other similar elements).
- The license plate must not be obscured by other parts.
- The registration plate itself should not block lighting fixtures and lanterns.
- If you drive without a front bumper, then the registration plate can be mounted exactly in the center or on the left side of the front of the car. It cannot be installed on the right.
- The rear license plate should also be centered or to the left, but should not be tilted more than 3 degrees to the side.
- The front and rear numbers should not tilt forward or backward more than 5 degrees.
- The rear license plate must be located from the road at a height of more than 30 cm to the bottom edge.
- The rear license plate must be visible at 15 degree angles when looking up and down, and 30 degrees left and right.
- It is prohibited to cover the registration plate with coatings, glass or films (even transparent ones).
The main requirement: if there is no rear bumper, then the installation of the rear number plate must ensure its visibility and distinction of numbers and letters from a distance of 20 meters in the dark. However, without a bumper there will be no backlighting of the license plate, so it will be impossible to read it normally. As a result, we can conclude that you cannot drive without a rear license plate. The only exception would be the installation of a separate backlight.
Fine for driving without a bumper
Drivers are also interested in how much the fine will cost. The answer is that driving without a bumper will cost you 500 rubles. Regardless of whether there is a front bumper or a rear one. True, the driver can get away with a simple warning if he can seriously explain the reasons for such driving. In addition, in such cases, traffic police inspectors often have complaints about an incorrectly installed license plate, and such driving is punishable by a fine of 5 thousand rubles, or, as an alternative punishment, deprivation of a driver’s license for a period of up to three months.
What about technical inspection?
Here theory often differs from practice, but not always. The problem is that inspection center specialists often allow cars without bumpers to pass through. However, according to the law, this would be a violation.
The Federal Law on Technical Inspection specifies that the main purpose of this inspection is to monitor whether the vehicle meets road safety requirements. There is no bumper, which means the design has been changed. Therefore, according to the law, you must be denied a diagnostic card. But sometimes they still give it away.
Is it possible to avoid a fine for driving without a bumper?
This is only possible in rare cases. For example, if a car is involved in an accident and the driver of such a car without a bumper is armed with an official certificate of the incident. However, after a few days, this argument may not be enough. As a saving clue, it is worth remembering that a fine can be avoided if the traffic police inspector considers it sufficient to get by with a warning.
Nevertheless, experienced drivers strongly recommend that motorists treat this issue very carefully. And the point here is not so much about possible fines and other punishments, but about the safety of the car. After all, the bumper is actually its reliable and proven protector. If we are talking about people's health and lives, there is no need to take risks.
#Bumper#Tips
What about the number?
It is during the period of repair of his bumper that the motorist has the right to use his vehicle without violating traffic rules. But one more factor should be taken into account. This is a license plate mount. If on a car model they are to be installed on the bumper, then during its absence, they should be attached to the right side of the car in the direction of its movement.
Their absence will become a serious offense, and then the owner of the car will pay monetary compensation in the amount of 5,000 rubles, or may lose the right to drive a car for up to three months.
If, nevertheless, it was not possible to avoid responsibility, and the driver was issued a fine, then you can take advantage of a discount when paying for it if you are well aware of the traffic rules and current legislation, namely Art. 32.2, according to which discounts are determined for certain offenses. If you pay the fine and register it in the database no later than 20 days from the moment the decision was made, then you can pay only 50% of the fine amount, that is, 250 rubles.
Does the absence of a rear bumper affect the safety and handling of the car?
Still, the rear bumper was invented for a reason. Thanks to it, the aerodynamic characteristics of the vehicle are improved, which, in turn, helps in faster acceleration at the right time and helps to save fuel.
In addition, in a collision, if a car is rear-ended, the damage to both cars will be much more serious than if a bumper was installed on them. If the owner of a car without a rear bumper, when backing up, runs into a person or animal, this will result in minor bruises for the unlucky victim.
Sometimes there are cases when parts such as the “rear bumper” are missing and you have to wait for them for several weeks. Here everyone makes their own choice. Either continue to drive along the city streets, risking running into the unlucky Schumacher and spending money not just on bumper repairs, but also repairing other parts of the car, or park the car and start using public transport or a taxi while waiting for the package to arrive. But if you have a fairly popular car, then bumpers will be available in any specialized store. If you prefer to save money, you can pick up a car repair tool and screw this bumper on yourself. In most cases, you need to screw in 6-8 bolts, but often these bolts cannot be easily accessed, but if you have good tools, it will not be difficult to do.
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Is it possible to drive a car without a front bumper?
Today, there is only one reason for traffic police officers to impose a fine for operating a vehicle without a bumper. This is the absence of license plates in the place provided by the design. This provision is determined by Article 12.2 of the Administrative Code, part two. Among other provisions, it is stated that the driver does not have the right to operate a car “without state registration plates installed in the places provided for this purpose.”
That is, you can remove the front bumper without consequences in the following cases:
- if the license plate in your car is initially located not on this body element, but on the radiator grill, for example;
- if the headlight washer is not provided in the design of your car or is not located on the bumper;
- if when removing a plastic body part there is no change in the design of the car or dismantling of other elements;
- if this dismantling is temporary (for example, removal for repair, painting or replacement in the future).
If at least one of the conditions is violated, you will have to bear responsibility for violating traffic rules. Paragraph 7.18 of the traffic rules provides for a violation in the event that “Changes are made to the design of the vehicle without the permission of the State Automobile Inspectorate.” But this article cannot be applied if the changes occurred temporarily and are not permanent.
About the roof rails and crossbars
Yes, many cars have roof rails and cross members from the factory. An interesting question is, if you put crossbars and load a load on them, will it be considered a trunk? Because people carry a lot of things on these crossbars: refrigerators, gas stoves, and sofas with armchairs. I'm not even talking about building materials and other exotic things.
Probably, a fine is possible here not for the trunk, since there is none, there are only crossbars, but for the cargo due to its large weight, dimensions or poor fastening. These crossbars are also very suitable for installing a homemade trunk. The only question is how to get a certificate for it.
Will the punishment change in 2021?
There is currently no information about upcoming bills that will regulate noise levels and penalties for it.
Of course, people suffering from the actions of disturbing motorists would like tougher measures. Moreover, this concerns not only the noise from the exhaust system of cars, but also from listening to music and renovations being carried out in apartments.
However, so far this problem does not seem serious enough to legislators to introduce new sanctions.
Off-road tuning: how to legalize modifications
Adding fuel to the fire was the fact that no one explained to tuning fans exactly how to proceed. The whole of 2021 for ordinary motorists and various car clubs was marked by the struggle for their rights - as a result of the active actions of the traffic police, businessmen who installed gas equipment on Gazelle, and street racers, and jeepers became “violators”... It is possible to legalize modifications to your car, but those Those who have undergone this procedure often describe it in expressions like “seven circles of hell.”
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The Internet was once again flooded with videos about communicating with the traffic police: this time their main topic was the “hunt” for tuning fans - and comments like this: “This law has two goals. The first is to get a whole network of bureaucratic and business feeders through the legalization of tuning and customization.
Second, and this is vitally important, modern cars are built to last two to three years, after which they completely fall apart.
What to pay attention to if you are planning to install a trunk
All cars sold receive a special document called OTTS (stands for “Vehicle Type Approval”). This document clearly states what technical characteristics the machine has, lists all the options, as well as various options for installing additional equipment.
Please pay attention to this document, since not all car models can be equipped with a roof rack. If you intend to install a trunk on a car in the future, then when purchasing, be sure to pay attention to the mark of compliance with the requirements of UNECE 26-02.
By the way, this is the first time I’ve heard these things. But let’s pay attention, without a roof rack it’s somehow not cozy.
Cost of OSAGO
Of course, this figure is not fixed and depends on several factors. These include, for example, the following:
- Vehicle type - truck, passenger car, etc.;
- Driver experience;
- Vehicle power;
- Driver’s area of residence, etc.
However, you can still determine on average the cost of an MTPL insurance policy: 3432-4118 rubles.
In the Russian Federation, a motor vehicle license is a mandatory document. Previously, a car owner could drive with expired insurance. Now the rules for using contracts have become stricter.
A motorist cannot drive a vehicle without a valid insurance policy, except in certain circumstances.
How long can you drive with an expired policy? What penalties are provided by law? What consequences can there be for driving a car without a valid insurance contract? So, let's move on to consider all the above issues.
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