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Now that the disclaimer is over, I have selected the interesting Motor vehicle laws in ND as pertain to people interested in customizing vehicles. I do not include (at this time) the subsections pertaining to Street rods (pre 1950 cars) so these laws do not pertain to those vehicles. Have Indexed the laws to make them easier to find, and do provide commentary about the interesting aspects of each law. My Commentary the text colored blue. Be aware that my commentary means nothing as I have no legal experience. I also have colored the text gray where I felt that it was less interesting.

Other Motor Vehicle Laws-

• Ohio
• Wisconsin

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39-21-02. Visibility  distance and mounted height of lamps.

1. Whenever requirement is hereafter declared as to distance from which certain lamps and devices must render objects visible or within such lamps or devices must be visible, said provisions apply during the times stated in section 39-21-01 in respect to a vehicle without load when upon a straight, level, unlighted highway under normal atmospheric conditions unless a different time or condition is expressly stated.

2. Whenever requirement is hereinafter declared as to the mounted height of lamps or devices it means from the center  of such lam or device to the level ground upon which the vehicle stands when such vehicle is without load. +

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39-21-03.  Headlamps on a Motor Vehicle

This law states that every vehicle must have 2 headlamps on each side of the car.  The important part is that they must be between 24" and 54" from the ground. Some of the higher lifted trucks may have a problem with that (although 54" is 4 1/2 feet).

1. Every motor vehicle must be equipped with at least two headlamps with at least one on each side of the front of the motor vehicle, which headlamps must comply with the requirements and limitations set forth in this chapter.

2. Every headlamp upon every motor vehicle must be located at a height measured from the center of the headlamp of not more than fifty-four inches nor less than twenty-four inches to be measured as set forth in subsection 2 of section 39-21-02.

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39-21-17 Spot lamps and auxiliary lamps.

This is pretty interesting. They state that you can have no more than two of each kind of light on a vehicle. They also don't specifically (at least in this section) define each type of light. But here is the simple breakdown of each-

-2 Spot lights, Mount them anywhere, don't point them at anyone.
-2 Fog lamps, 12" - 30" high, aimed down. May be used with low beams, but not high.
-2 Aux. passing lamps, 24" - 42" high, can be used with both high and low beams.
-2 Aux. driving lamps, 16" - 42" high, They Can be mounted higher, but then they can't be used on roads.

1. Spot lamps. Any motor vehicle  may be equipped with not to exceed two spot lamps and every lighted spot lamp must be so aimed and used so that no part of the high intensity portion will strike the windshield, or any windows, mirror, or occupant of another vehicle in use.

2. Fog lamps. Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed two fog lamps mounted on the front  at the height  not less than twelve inches nor more than thirty inches above the level surface upon which the vehicle stands and so aimed that when the vehicle is not loaded none of the high intensity portion of the light to the left of the center of the vehicle shall at a distance of twenty-five feet ahead project higher than a level of four inches below the level of the center of the lamp of which it comes. Lighted fog lamps meeting the above requirements may be used with lower headlamp beams as specified  in subsection 2 of section 39-21-20.

3. Auxiliary passing lamps. Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed two auxiliary passing lamps mounted on the front at a height not less than twenty-four inches nor more than forty-two inches above the level surface upon which the vehicle stands. The provisions of section 39-21-20 apply to any combination of headlamps and auxiliary passing lamps.

4. Auxiliary driving lamps. Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed two auxiliary driving lamps. Any Auxiliary driving lamps mounted at a height of less than sixteen inches or more than forty-two inches above the level surface upon which the vehicle stands may not be lighted when the vehicle is used on the highway. The provisions of section 39-21-20 apply to any combination of headlamps and auxiliary driving lamps.

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39-21-37. Muffler - Prevention of noise and smoke.

This one is good. It basically says that you must have a muffler on you car, and can't bypass it.
The funny part is in the end of the first section. They state that you must have a muffler to prevent annoying smoke. Somehow, I don't think the muffler is going to stop any annoying smoke. Also, the second section contains the only thing resembling emission laws in ND. Sounds pretty reasonable to me.

1. Every motor vehicle must at all times be equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise and annoying smoke, and no person my use a muffler cutout, bypass, or similar device upon a motor vehicle on a highway.

2. The engine and power mechanism of every motor vehicle must be so equipped and adjusted as to prevent the escape of excessive fumes or smoke.

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39-21-38 Mirror.

This is pretty straight forward. You must have 1 working mirror, be it inside or outside.

On or after January 1, 1964, ever motor vehicle, operated singly or when towing any other vehicle, must be equipped with a mirror so located as to reflect the driver a view of the highway for a distance of at least two hundred feet to the rear of such motor vehicle.

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39-21-39. Windshield - Must be unobstructed and equipped with wipers- Tinted windows.

This one is interesting. It contains the only tint laws that I was able to find. You can't have any signs in your windows (better remove those for sale signs). You also can't have anything hanging from your rear view mirror.

-You must have functional wipers.
-You're window must be maintained (no cracks).
- If you read it closely, it appears that you can tint your rear windows to your hearts content, It also doesn't explicitly say that you can't tint the front window, as long as it transmits 70% light....

1. Every motor vehicle must be equipped with a windshield. No person may drive any motor vehicle with any sign, poster, or other non transparent material upon the front windshield, side wings, or side or rear windows which obstruct the driver's clear view of the highway or any intersecting highways.

2. The windshield on every motor vehicle must be equipped with a device for cleaning rain, snow, or other moisture from the windshield, which must be so constructed as to be controlled or operated by the driver of the vehicle.

3. Every windshield wiper upon a motor vehicle must be maintained and in good working order.

4. A person may not operate a motor vehicle with any object, material, or tinting displayed, affixed, or applied on the front of the windshield  or any window unless the object, material, or tinting in conjunction with the window or windshield upon which it is displayed, affixed or applied has a light transmittance of at least seventy percent. This subsection does not apply to windows behind the operator if the vehicle is equipped with outside mirrors on both sides that meet the requirements of section 39-21-38, nor to the front side windows displaying transparent sun screening material as authorized by a competent medical authority.

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39-21-40. Restrictions as to tire equipment.

This doesn't have anything too interesting, except it states that you must have DOT tires, and can run "reasonable" tire chains, and can use studs from mid October to mid April. If you were looking for tire size limits, look here.

1. Every solid rubber tire on a vehicle must have rubber on its entire traction surface at least one inch thick above the edge of the flange of the entire periphery.

2. No person may operate or move on any highway any motor vehicle, trailer or semi trailer having any metal tire in contact with the roadway.

3. No tire on a vehicle moved on a highway may have on its periphery any block, stud, flange, cleat, or spike or any other protuberance of any material other than rubber which projects beyond the tread of the traction surface of the tire, except that it is acceptable for farm machinery with tires having protuberances which will not injure the highway, and except also that it is permissible to use tire chains of reasonable proportions. It is also permissible to use, from October fifteenth to April fifteenth, pneumatic tires which have metal studs which do not project more than one-sixteenth of an inch beyond the tread of the traction surface of the tire, except that it is permissible to use such tires on schoolbuses at any time during the year.

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39-21-41.1. Safety Belts.

This states that every car made in 65 or later, and every truck made in 68 or later must have seat belts. This confirms my theory that my 67 bronco doesn't legally need belts, not to say I don't want them.

1. Every passenger car manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1965, must be equipped with lapbelt assemblies for use in the driver's and one other front seating position.

2. All Motor vehicles manufactured after Jan 1, 1968, must be equipped with any lapbelt or shoulder belt required at the time the vehicle was manufactured by standards of the United States Department of transportation. Nothing in this subsection affects the requirement in subsection 1 for lapbelt in the drivers seating position.

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39-21-45.1 Modification of motor vehicle.

This is the good one. It has the lift laws, bumper laws and tire sizes in it. I will summarize them here. (Some of these laws don't apply to pre 1950 street rods)

- Must have front and rear bumpers.
- Max of 42" from ground to truck bed.
- Max bumper height is 27" to the Highest point of the bottom of the bumper.
- Max tire Diameter of 44"
- You can use a full width horizontal drop bumper, as long as it is 3" tall and mounted securely to the frame.
- Max Suspension lift is 4"   (that could get a lot of guys)
- You must prove that you are in compliance with these laws if you are charged with violating them.
 

Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person may not operate upon a public highway a motor vehicle of a type required to be registered under the laws of this state with a weight of seven thousand pounds or less with the alterations or changes form the manufacturer's original design of the suspension, steering, or braking system of the motor vehicle. The weight must be computed on the basis of the unmodified and unloaded weight of the motor vehicle and without regard to any ballast that may be placed in the vehicle. As to bumpers, motor vehicle height, and permitted modifications, the following requirements also apply:
 1. The motor vehicle must be equipped with front and rear bumpers.

 2. The maximum body height permitted for the motor vehicle is forty-two inches. Measurement of the body height is made from a level ground surface to the floor of the cargo area.

 3. The maximum bumper height permitted is twenty seven inches. Measurement of bumper height is made from a level ground surface to the highest point on the bottom of the bumper.

 4. The vehicle may be modified in accordance with the following.
     a. Any modifying equipment must meet specialty equipment market association standards.
     b. If tires placed on a motor vehicle have a diameter greater than that of the tires on the motor vehicle as manufactured, those tires must comply with the department of transportation requirements.
     c. The maximum outside diameter permitted for tires is fortifier inches.
     d. A horizontal drop bumper may be used to comply with the bumper height requirement of subsection 3. The horizontal bumper must:
         (1) Be at least three inches in vertical width.
         (2) Extend the entire horizon of the body width; and
         (3) Be horizontal, load bearing, and attached to the vehicle frame to effectively transfer impact when engaged.
     e. The maximum lift permitted in the suspension system is four inches.

 5. A person charged with violating this section has the burden of proceeding to show that the modifications are permitted under this section.

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