| RTD: Aftermarket 'white lights' on cars illegal
KUCHING: It is illegal to install aftermarket high intensity discharge (HID) lights or just "white lights" on cars in Malaysia. Sarawak Contingent Traffic and Public Order police chief DSP Chung Aik Peng said the police and RTD were working hand in hand to curb illegal modifications to street vehicles. Aftermarket HID conversion kits in accessory shops usually cost around RM100 to RM200 depending on the quality and model as well as the colour and intensity of the bulbs like 2,500 Kelvin (K), 3,000K, 4,300K, 6,000K, 8,000K, 10,000K, 12,000K, 15,000K and 30,000K. "There is no reason to illegally install the white lights and annoy or endanger other road users," he said. DSP Chung said if caught by the police, the owner of a vehicle with aftermarket HID lights installed would be summonsed up to RM200. A car accessory shop operator selling the third party HID kits said it was up to clients to install or not as the accessories were not contraband. "For example, the new Proton Waja CPS projector HID lights are legal but a Proton Wira with normal reflector lamps with aftermarket HIDs are not, and it is obviously wrong for a non-projector lamp vehicle to be fitted with HID," he said. "We are not responsible for what clients do with what they buy from us," he said. DSP Chung said when taking driving lessons learners were taught what was wrong and illegal, and so ignorance of the law was not an excuse. Otherwise, the vehicle owner would be fined up to RM200. Owners of vehicles fitted with aftermarket HID lights think that it was all right if the HIDs were put in place as spotlights or bumper lights. Apparently the aftermarket HID lights were also illegal in the streets of other developed countries such as the United States and United Kingdom. It is not possible to force car accessories shops to remove the aftermarket HID lights from their shelves as the items are not contraband along with their sales are not prohibited by law. That is also illegal, according to the RTD technical unit. If a vehicle with aftermarket HID was to be stopped on a routine RTD patrol or roadblock, the vehicle owner would be given a stern warning to replace it with normal lights and for coming to RTD office to be evaluated. "They are designed and put in place properly so as not to have dangerous glares. Usually a package includes two xenon or halogen bulbs and two water-proofed ballasts. |
Tuesday, 3 April 2012
RTD: Aftermarket 'white lights' on cars illegal
