Non M/C question, doorless, legal?

[NorCalAthlete]

I respectfully disagree.

Working 25 year LEO here, all ready to go and about to start a motor officer assignment, Barf LEO Forum Moderator. But by no means do I claim to be the expert in all things traffic law related.

We are specifically talking about the Ford Bronco, which doors are designed to be easily removed. With vehicles designed without doors, or with easily removable doors, they are exempt from the 214 FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for side impact protection).

https://www.nhtsa.gov/fmvss/side-impact-protection

If you download the final rule document on the NHTSA web site linked above, and scroll down to page 105, that is where the side impact test exemptions begin. Page 112 and 113 covers the exemptions for vehicles without doors and those with easily removable doors.

If those vehicles are exempt from requirements under 214 FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for side impact protection), and given that there are no specific CVC requirements for doors, I don't see how 24002 CVC (Unsafe Vehicle) can apply to those types of vehicles any more than it can apply to something like a motorcycle when it comes to operating them without doors.

I agree it would apply to most other vehicles, but vehicles like the new Bronco or Jeep Wranglers would be exempt from side impact testing requirements just like motorcycles.

Just food for thought, but if we're "unsafe" to drive a Ford Bronco around with no doors, that's a very slippery slope to outlawing motorcycles. Be careful what you wish for. We just might legislate all fun things away.

This is the kind of post I wish we had an "appreciate" / upvote button for.

 

[Rel]

Hi All, not sure if there were any actual cops or ex on the thread but wanted to chime in on this. For the record yes, 12 years as a CHP motor, 11 as a field training officer and instructor for street racing conferences.

The door thing has really come up again with the re-introduction of the four door Jeeps and Broncos.

While there were some older jeeps back in the 70's and maybe 80's that actually were manufactured and tested without doors that would escape the need for doors.

Unfortunately anything after 1992 falls under 24002 CVC (Unsafe Vehicle) per 214 FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for side impact protection). Basically in 1992 the government required manufacturers to incorporate structural members into the doors of vehicles to help minimize injuries from side impacts. The standards have been updated to now incorporate seat bolster and curtain airbags etc but in short all vehicles are tested and certified to meet FMVSS requirements by the manufacturers before they can be sold in the US. By removing the doors you are no longer in compliance with the saftey standards. It is a decent ticket which incidentally places the vehicle out of service allowing it to be driven home or to a shop for repairs only from the place of citation (i.e. you can't keep driving it for the weekend at the lake if your doors are at home). Probably the scariest part of it comes to injury liability however. Since you have actively eliminated a federally required safety component you could be determined to be liable for injuries sustained and denied any claims by insurance companies or courts.

Sorry to burst anyone's bubble but wanted to put the info out there and as adults everyone can make their own risk assessment. Take care.

Yes and no.....

214 FMVSS requires the the government required manufacturers to incorporate structural members into the doors of vehicles to help minimize injuries from side impacts.

The end user has the choice to remove the doors.

Can't cite 24002 VC for doors being taken off of a Jeep.

For the record, same agency 18 years.

 

[B-Cuz]

Big City cop (not a flex), our larger concern are the constant sideshows with rifle and pistol rounds being discharged, with an occasional homicide at said events, than a door less jeep. 8 years.

 

[MSHax]

I like the feeling of no doors. I pulled them off my suburban and mounted some ugly tow mirrors on it, looked like crap, but fun to drive. :laughing

 

[Rel]

It would be interesting to see the courts position on this. In theory if you did cite someone for an unsafe vehicle, you have to tow it, or have it parked at the scene.

 

[B-Cuz]

Personally, I prefer my helicopter rides with no doors/doors open. But that was also a long time ago, when I was much younger, and in 120* air temp.

 

[CarbonDave]

I'd be more worried about my arms flailing around in a rollover without doors. I knew someone who lost their hand in a rollover. I got smashed between the rollbar and the ground.

 

[Rel]

I met a woman yesterday who lost three fingers in a Razor rollover.

I took the doors off my Jeep, and my wife was not comfortable with that, so I put on half doors.