Question: If you install a white LED strip into the headlights, an authorized service dealer servicing the car will work with the side lights. Violation of which article of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation inspector of traffic police can incriminate me 12.5 h1 or 12.5 h3 and explain why it is not other of these articles of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation.
Answer:
According to the requirements of paragraph 4.3.2.3 of the State standard of the Russian Federation GOST R 51709-2001 "Automobiles. Safety requirements for the technical condition and inspection methods" when using a vehicle, it is allowed to install a spotlight or searchlight-seeker, if it is provided by the manufacturer of the vehicle, additional brake signal over the main, two fog lamps and no more than two fog lamps. Installation of other light sources and retroreflectors not provided by the manufacturer in the operational documentation of the vehicle is not allowed. Therefore, the installation of the LED strip indicated by you will relate to the list of malfunctions in which the operation of the vehicle is prohibited. Driving the specified vehicle should be qualified by the traffic police as an administrative offense, provided for in paragraph 1 of Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation.
Question: I wanted to install on my car (Kia Spectra - discontinued) Daytime running lights by adding additional white LEDs to the headlights and connecting them according to the existing GOST. Will this be a traffic violation?
Answer:
We inform you that, in accordance with the amendments made to Chapter 19 “Use of external light devices and sound signals” of the Rules of the Road of the Russian Federation, Decree of the Russian Federation dated 10.05.2010 No. 316 during daylight hours should improve the visibility of a moving vehicle in front white daytime running lights are on. According to the requirements of GOST R 51709 on vehicles (except trailers), it is recommended to install white daytime running lights in front. Prior to equipping the vehicles manufactured by the manufacturers with such lights, in accordance with the Type Approval of the Vehicle, dipped headlights or fog lamps may be used instead.
In the case of driving a car with LEDs installed in the headlights, not provided by the manufacturer for a particular vehicle model, the traffic police will qualify as an administrative offense under Part 3 of Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (driving a vehicle with light devices with lights mounted on its front red or retroreflective devices of red color, as well as light devices, the color of lights and the mode of operation of which are not meets the requirements of the Basic Provisions for the admission of vehicles to operation and the obligations of officials to ensure road safety), which entails the deprivation of the right to drive vehicles for a period of six months to one year with the confiscation of these devices and appliances.
Complemented for fans to install collective farm xenon!
Question: If you install a headlight auto-corrector, headlight washer on a car, and replace the halogen lamp with a bi-xenon lens in which the xenon lamp is installed in the standard headlight, will it be possible to drive with such xenon or not? bi-xenon lens has a certificate of conformity. Thanks in advance for your reply.
Answer:
In accordance with the requirements of the Technical Regulation on the Safety of Wheeled Vehicles, approved by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of September 10, 2009 No. 720 and Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation of December 7, 2000 No. 1240 “On the Approval of Normative Legal Acts Regulating the Activities of the State Safety Inspection of traffic of the Ministry of the Interior of the Russian Federation for technical supervision "installation of auto-corrector on a vehicle , a headlight washer and gas-discharge light sources (xenon lamps) is possible only if the equipment is equipped with the manufacturer in accordance with the type approval of the vehicle.
In the case of driving a vehicle with the above equipment and light sources that are not provided by the manufacturer for a specific vehicle model, the traffic police will qualify as an administrative offense under Part 3 of Article 12.5 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation (driving a vehicle on the front of which light devices with red lights or retroreflective devices of red color, as well as light devices, the color of the lights and the mode of operation of which e does not comply with the requirements of the Basic Provisions for the admission of vehicles to operation and the duties of officials to ensure road safety), which entails the deprivation of the right to drive vehicles for a period of six months to one year with the confiscation of these devices and appliances.
Lighthouse H4 12-60/55 P43t SUPER WHITE was installed on my car. On May 22, he was stopped by the inspector of the traffic police indicating an offense about the inconsistency of the near / far lighting. A driver’s license was seized from me and the case was brought to court for the deprivation of the right to drive a car on the grounds that the bulb of these lamps is colored blue. Help defend my rights in court.
The common color for automotive and general lighting is selectively yellow “warm white” (range 2800 - 3200 Kelvin). It would be correct to attribute the WHITE color to the value of 5000 Kelvin (the light of the midday sun), i.e. Lighthouse SUPER WHITE (Super White) where the coating of the bulb providing a higher level of visibility has a bluish tint. This fact is most often the argument of claims from the traffic police inspectors.
Methods for checking the parameters of faults are regulated by GOST R 51709-2001, clause 4.3.1. in which "... the number and color of external lighting devices installed on the telephone exchange must comply with GOST 8769-75."
GOST 8769-75 ST SEV 4122-83 EXTERNAL LIGHT INSTRUMENTS - CARS, BUSES, TROLLEYBUSES, TRACTORS, TRAILERS AND SEMITRAILERS
Paragraph 2.1.5 .: The main beam headlamps shall emit white light.
Paragraph 2.2.3 .: The dipped-beam headlamps shall emit white light.
Paragraph 2.3.4 .: The fog lamps shall emit white or selective yellow light.
Paragraph 2.4.4 .: The reversing lamps shall emit white light.
Paragraph 2.5.6 .: The color of the front position lamps should be white, the rear - red ...
In order not to go into the complexity of regulatory documentation, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the explanation of the representative of a law firm in an interview with Auto.Vesti.Ru:
Avto.Vesti.Ru: From the point of view of the law, can the traffic police inspector do this “by eye”? In this case, is the driver entitled to require special expertise? What is the general procedure?
Lawyer: in paragraph 5.3.3. GOST R 51709-2001 established that compliance "Requirements 4.3.4 - 4.3.11 is checked at a special station equipped with a working platform, a flat screen with a white matte finish and a device orienting the relative position of the telephone exchange and the screen, and a light intensity measuring device."
It is unlikely that traffic police will have an equipped work site. Of course, you can check "by eye", but this fact must be reflected in the protocol.
Avto.Vesti.Ru: Let's imagine such a situation. The traffic police inspector determined the type of lamp and headlights and began to write out a protocol. What to write in it to the driver? Is it legitimate to use Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation “Driving a vehicle in the presence of malfunctions or conditions under which the operation of vehicles is prohibited”, where clause 3 stipulates that "Driving a vehicle on the front of which light devices with red lights colors or retroreflective devices of red color, as well as lighting devices, the color of the lights and the mode of operation of which do not meet the requirements of the Basic Provisions for the admission of vehicles stv. " The color of the lights is regulated by GOST R 51709-2001 ("white" is required), and the operating mode is generally not precisely specified.
Lawyer: If a traffic police officer compiles a protocol on an administrative offense with qualifications in accordance with paragraph 3 of Article 12.5., The driver must indicate in the column "Explanations of the person in respect of whom the administrative offense case has been instituted", - I do not agree with the contents of the protocol, the provisions of the law providing responsibility for part 3 of article 12.5., did not violate.
So, in accordance with Art. 2.1. Administrative Code of the Russian Federation “An administrative offense is recognized as an unlawful, guilty action (inaction) of an individual or legal entity for which administrative code is established by this Code or laws of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation on administrative offenses”.
At the same time, part 3 of article 1.5. The Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation stipulates that "A person who is held administratively liable is not required to prove his innocence, except as otherwise provided in the note to this article."
According to clause 4.3.1. GOST R 51709-2001 "Safety requirements for the technical condition and verification methods" "... the number, type, location, mode of operation and color of the lights of external lighting devices on the automatic telephone exchange must comply with the requirements of the design of a vehicle". Table 6a (Requirements of the UNECE Regulation for the presence of external lighting devices on motor vehicles) GOST R 51709-2001 establishes the following: High beam headlight - emission color White - quantity 2 or 4;
Low beam headlight - emission color White - quantity 2.
Accordingly, with the visual inspection method, the headlights will correspond to the specified GOST.
In any case, the obligation to prove an administrative offense lies with the administrative authority - the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. In addition, in court, representatives of the administrative authority will need to prove which specific points of the Appendix to the Basic Provisions for Vehicle Access ... were violated.
Drivers quite often began to independently install LED lighting on their cars. However, it is extremely important to remember that LEDs differ significantly in their technical characteristics from conventional halogen lamps.
Experts say that LED headlights, cheap Chinese products, give worse lighting, reduce visibility.
In this regard, a serious question arises: is it possible to put LED lamps in headlights according to the law in 2017, is there a corresponding fine for this.
Let's find out everything in order. The information will help to understand the nuances of using LEDs in the lighting of the machine, as well as to avoid penalties.
There are cases in which additional LED low and high beam headlights are allowed, comply with all the rules:
Thus, if the question arose of whether diode lamps are allowed in the headlights, the answer is as follows: with a 100% guarantee, you can not worry about this when the diodes are installed initially.
Video: Is the installation of LED lamps legal?
It is important to know whether it is possible to drive with LED headlights instead of halogen ones, whether such reinstallations are prohibited.
Drivers with pleasure themselves insert into the headlights LED bulbs suitable on the base. It seems that the light is brighter and more aesthetic.
However, in this case, there is a violation of traffic rules, and specifically paragraph 3.1:
- if external lighting devices do not correspond to the design features of a particular vehicle at the location, color and type, quantity, sanctions are provided for in accordance with Part 3 of Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses;
- it is strictly forbidden to install red light devices for retroreflection, as well as any lighting devices for which the operating mode and color of the light do not meet the requirements (in case of violation of the driver they can be deprived of their rights for a period of 6-12 months).
Consequently, not only the penalty for LEDs in the headlights is provided, but also the deprivation of a driver’s license for a long time.
This is a necessary measure because the LED lamps do not match the headlight reflectors. As a result, such violations may well provoke serious accidents.
Many private questions may arise regarding diodes.. For example, can I use them in the cabin. Here, of course, no problems will arise.
It is allowed to put them in the salon, in the role of decorative lighting. Also, do not doubt whether it is possible to install LED lamps in dimensions.
It is extremely important to know if the LED headlights are legal. The fact that diodes are prohibited in the head light is not accidental: with them, the vehicle’s performance characteristics really decrease, and the risk of an accident increases.
In a conventional LED matrix, the angle of the light beam is significantly smaller than that of halogen lamps. As a result, a standard reflector cannot provide the necessary focusing of the light flux.
And there are two risk factors: the light blinds the drivers of oncoming cars, but it illuminates the roadway much worse. Obviously, this is unacceptable on the road.
Now, as a standard, head LED headlights are used extremely rarely: they are put on hybrid cars, electric cars.
It is important to remember: you should make sure that the LEDs are allowed on the model in the headlights before putting them on. It is advisable to keep the original standard equipment.
Have you noticed how LEDs have smoothly and quietly entered our lives? They are everywhere. They are everywhere. But a few years ago, LED optics seemed fantastic. Especially in the auto industry. But now every year more and more car manufacturers instead of the standard halogen or xenon optics install LED headlights on their cars. This became possible due to the fact that the cost of LED lamps has dropped significantly. As a result, the ubiquitous fashion for LEDs came into the world. Naturally, in the auto world there was a demand for LED optics. But not everyone can afford to buy a new car with LED headlights. Therefore, many companies realized that it was time to produce LED bulbs for dipped and main beam, which can replace conventional halogen and xenon bulbs in the headlights. Naturally, many motorists decided to buy similar lamps for themselves by installing them on their car. But is it legal? And is there any responsibility for installing non-factory LED optics? Let's get it right.
21st century technology is increasingly taking over our world. Every year, more and more incredible innovative ideas appear, as well as yesterday’s fantastic technologies today become a reality. The progress of the digital age and the automotive industry have not bypassed. Especially the lighting fixtures of cars that have undergone significant changes in recent decades. Moreover, the progress in automotive lighting over the past few years has become more significant than over the past 50 years. As a result, we saw how xenon optics first appeared in the automotive industry. Then the LED. Now the world is on the verge of a new era - laser lighting.
But today it’s not about that. As we have already said all over the world (including in our country) at the moment there is an overpopularity of LED lamps that are installed in car headlights.
In recent years, more and more drivers are starting to think about replacing halogen and xenon headlights with LED ones. How effective is it, etc. You can find out from our review article here.
But there is one main question that worries many. Is it possible to install new-fangled LED lamps in ordinary headlights designed for halogen or xenon lamps? Is there any responsibility in Russia for the installation of LED lamps in the front optics?
Unfortunately, many car owners think that responsibility does not exist. After all, these are not xenon lamps, which are forbidden to be installed in halogen lamps. But this is not so. Responsibility actually exists and is very strict. For example, for the illegal installation of LED low or high beam lamps in the front optics, the driver may lose his driver’s license. Surprised? Here are the details.
Why do many drivers believe that there is no responsibility for installing LED lamps?
Indeed, an interesting paradox has developed in our country. For example, most drivers know that for installing xenon lamps in halogen headlights in Russia, liability is foreseen in the form of deprivation of a driver’s license. That is why we no longer see a lot of cars on the road with "collective farm" xenon. After all, accept the responsibility for the illegal installation of xenon lamps is very severe.
But why, then, every year on the roads of Russia there are more and more cars with LED lamps, which are usually installed by vehicle owners on their own?
The fact is that a very large number of motorists believe that LED lamps can be installed in front optics. Especially when you consider that many sellers of LED dipped and main beam lamps provide a large number of different certificates and permits, assuring buyers that LED lamps in halogen or xenon optics available for sale are allowed in our country for use and sale.
But in fact, it turns out that most of the certificates for such lamps at the time of sale are either no longer valid or are suspended.
Also, do not forget that if the sale of LED lamps is allowed and there are valid permissions and certificates, this does not mean that every car owner has the right to install them in the headlights of his car.
Therefore, the certification of LED lamps in Russia does not mean that you have the right to install them in your car. Yes, you can buy. But nothing more, if your headlights are strictly designed to work only with xenon or halogen lamps.
That is, the situation is exactly the same as with xenon lamps, the installation of which is strictly forbidden in cars equipped with front optics designed for halogen incandescent lamps.
Accordingly, by installing in your halogen or xenon headlights LED lamina dipped and main beam, you will grossly violate the current Russian legislation, namely:
article 12.5 of Part 3 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation:
3. Driving a vehicle on the front of which light devices with red lights or retro-reflective devices of red color are installed, as well lighting devices, the color of the lights and the mode of operation of which do not meet the requirements of the Basic Provisions on admission of vehicles to operation and duties of officials to ensure road safety, -
entails deprivation of the right to drive vehicles for a period of six months to one year with confiscation of the specified devices and devices.
What is the responsibility of installing LED lamps in halogen or xenon headlights?
Installation in the front halogen or xenon lamps of LED low or high beam sources is equivalent to equipping the car with red special signals. Accordingly, in accordance with the applicable traffic regulations and the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, if the driver does not legally arbitrarily install LED lamps in the headlights intended for halogen or xenon lamps, he will be liable for depriving the driver’s license for up to 1 year. Agree that this is a very strict measure. Also do not forget that ignorance of the laws does not relieve you of responsibility. Therefore, in no case do not install LED lamps on the machine in headlights that are not designed for this according to the factory specification.
Who would think that in the above link to Article 12.5 Part 3 there is no direct prohibition on the installation of LED lamps in halogen or xenon headlights. But this is not so.
Article 12.5, part 3 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation refers us to the provision on the basic requirements for the admission of vehicles to operation and the duties of officials to ensure road safety, for violations of which the driver may be held administratively liable.
So, in particular, according to paragraph 3 of the provision on the basic requirements for the admission of vehicles to operation and the duties of officials to ensure road safety technical condition and equipment of vehicles involved in road traffic as far as road safety and environmental protection are concerned, must meet the requirements of relevant standards, rules and guidelines for their technical operation.
Accordingly, if the car does not meet the relevant standards, its operation on public roads is prohibited.
According to the list of malfunctions, operation of vehicles with the type, color, location and mode of operation of external lighting devices that do not meet the requirements of the vehicle design is prohibited.
Here is an excerpt from the law:
List of faults and conditions
in which the operation of vehicles is prohibited
3. External lighting
3.1. The number, type, color, location and mode of operation of external lighting devices do not meet the requirements of the vehicle design.
Note: On vehicles discontinued, the installation of external lighting devices from vehicles of other brands and models is allowed.
3.2. Headlight adjustment does not comply with GOST R 51709-2001.
3.3. They do not work in the established mode or external light devices and retroreflectors are dirty.
3.4. On light devices there are no diffusers or diffusers and lamps are used that do not correspond to the type of this light device.
3.5. Installation of flashing beacons, methods of their fastening and visibility of the light signal do not meet the established requirements.
3.6. On the front of the vehicle, light devices with red lights or red reflectors are installed, and white in the back, except for reversing lights and registration plate lighting, retroreflective registration, distinctive and identification signs.
Also here is another important document that directly prohibits the installation of LED lamps in headlights that are not intended for LED lighting:
We are talking about the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, which was adopted by the decision of the Commission of the Customs Union on December 9, 2011 (No. 877):
3. Requirements for lighting devicesand light alarm
- 3.1. The number, location, purpose, mode of operation, color of the lights of external light devices and light signaling on the vehicle must comply with the vehicle manufacturer's documentation specified by the manufacturer, while the dipped-beam headlamps must comply with the conditions of right-hand traffic.
The class of the light source installed in the lighting and light-signaling devices of the vehicle must correspond to that specified by the manufacturer in the operational documentation, taking into account the factory equipment of this vehicle or, in case of making changes to the vehicle design, indicated in the documentation for lighting devices installed instead of those provided for by the design .
External lighting devices must be in working condition.
- 3.2. Changing the color of lights, operating mode, locations, destinations, replacing, installing additional ones and dismantling external lighting devices provided by the manufacturer in the operational documentation is allowed only in accordance with section 1.3 of Appendix N 4 to this technical regulation and table 3.1 of this appendix, as well as when the requirements of section 9 of Appendix N 9 to these technical regulations.
On vehicles discontinued, it is allowed to replace lighting devices with those used on vehicles of other types.
Accordingly, depending on the type of your headlights in the car, you have the right to use in them only those light sources that are designed for this type of optics.
How will the traffic police check which type of headlights your optics applies to?
Each headlight in the car should be marked at the car factory with the corresponding generally accepted marking, which indicates not only the type of optics, but also the type of lamps used in it.
Accordingly, according to the marking, technical supervision employees can determine that halogen headlights are installed in your car, in which you, for example, installed xenon or LED lamps. Naturally halogen optics with reflectors cannot provide safe lighting on the road when using LED lamps. That is why according to the legislation for the illegal installation of LED or xenon lamps in halogen optics, the driver can be held administratively liable (forfeiture).
The same applies to the installation of LED lamps in xenon lined optics. That is, even though there are lenses in the front optics that are designed for xenon light sources, the use of LED lamps in such headlights is dangerous and accordingly prohibited by applicable law.
How to legally install LED lamps in headlights?
According to the law, if you make changes to the design of the car, then you have the right to operate the car on public roads only after passing a certain procedure in the legalization of installed equipment in the traffic police and in specialized organizations.
We examined in more detail how to formalize a re-equipment of a car in the article “ Fine for gas equipment in a car". Recall that in this article we examined the process of legalizing the installation of gas equipment on a vehicle.
When installing LED lamps in a car, you will first need to convert the headlights into a specialized organization that will install the appropriate lenses and other equipment in them that will provide the LED beam with the optimal beam of light projected onto the road.
Also, for the legal design of LED optics, you need to get permission to convert the car.
Including after installation / alteration of the headlights in a specialized organization, you must arrange for the car to be re-equipped with the traffic police and get a certificate of conformity of the vehicle with changes to its safety requirements.
What is the responsibility for installing LED headlights on a vehicle equipped with halogen or xenon headlights?
In principle, no. Yes, of course, there is also responsibility for this. But proving your guilt is very difficult.
Formally, if instead of halogen headlights you install LED optics on the car from a more expensive configuration of your model, then the maximum that you are facing is 500 rubles.
But according to the law, even if, instead of xenon or halogen headlights, you install LED optics from your own model, but with a richer set of equipment, on your car, you are still obligated to make changes to the design of your car. True, holding you accountable for this is unlikely. After all, the traffic police officer will check the markings of the headlights and make sure that the lighting lamps installed in them correspond to the type of use of optics. And the fact that you use the headlights from another version of the car, the traffic police officer is unlikely to know.
Information publication: News of traffic police, traffic accidents, traffic fines, traffic police, exam SDA online. Inspection
Is it possible to install LED lamps in ordinary headlights?
Have you noticed how LEDs have smoothly and quietly entered our lives? They are everywhere. They are everywhere. But a few years ago, LED optics seemed fantastic. Especially in the auto industry. True now, every year more and more car manufacturers instead of the standard halogen or xenon optics install LED headlights on their cars. This became possible due to the fact that the cost of LED lamps has dropped significantly.
As a result, the ubiquitous fashion for LEDs came into the world and immediately in the auto world there was a demand for LED optics. But not everyone can afford to buy a new car with LED headlights. Therefore, many companies realized that it was time to produce LED bulbs for dipped and main beam, which can replace conventional halogen and xenon bulbs in the headlights. Naturally, many motorists decided to buy similar lamps for themselves by installing them on their car. But is it legal? And is there any responsibility for installing non-factory LED optics? Let's get it right.
21st century technology is increasingly taking over our world. Every year, more and more incredible innovative ideas appear, as well as yesterday’s fantastic technologies today become a reality. The progress of the digital age and the automotive industry have not bypassed. Especially the lighting fixtures of cars that have undergone significant changes in recent decades.
Moreover, progress in auto lighting over the past few years has become more significant than over the past 50 years. As a result, we saw how xenon optics first appeared in the automotive industry. Then, the LED. Now - laser light lighting.
But today it’s not about that. As we have already said that all over the world (including in our country) at the moment there is over-popularity of LED lamps that are installed in car headlights.
In recent years, more and more drivers are starting to think about replacing halogen and xenon headlights with LED ones. How effective is it, etc. You can find out from our review article.
But there is one main question that worries many. Is it possible to install new-fashioned LED lamps in conventional headlights designed for halogen or xenon lamps? Is there any responsibility in Russia for the installation of LED lamps in the front optics?
Unfortunately, many car owners think that responsibility does not exist. After all, these are not xenon lamps that are forbidden to be installed in halogen headlights. But this is not so. Responsibility actually exists and is very strict. For example, for the illegal installation of LED low or high beam lamps in the front optics, the driver may lose his driver’s license. Surprised? Here are the details.
Why do many drivers believe that there is no responsibility for installing LED lamps?
Indeed, an interesting paradox has developed in our country. For example, most drivers know that for installing xenon lamps in halogen headlights in Russia, there is a liability in the form of deprivation of a driver’s license. That is why, we no longer see a lot of cars on the road with "collective farm" xenon. You see, very harsh.
But why, then, every year on the roads of Russia there are more and more cars with LED lamps, which are usually installed by vehicle owners on their own?
The fact is that a very large number of motorists believe that LED lamps can be installed in front optics. Especially when you consider that many sellers of LED dipped and main beam lamps provide a large number of different certificates and permits, assuring buyers that LED lamps in halogen or xenon optics available for sale are indeed allowed in our country for use and sale.
But in fact, it turns out that most of the certificates for such lamps at the time of sale are either no longer valid or are suspended.
Also, do not forget that if the sale of LED lamps is allowed and there are valid permissions and certificates, this does not mean that every car owner has the right to install them in the headlights of his car.
Therefore, the certification of LED lamps in Russia does not mean that you have the right to install them in your car. Yes, you can buy. But nothing more, if your headlights are strictly designed to work only with xenon or halogen lamps.
That is, the situation is exactly the same as with xenon lamps, the installation of which is strictly forbidden in cars equipped with front optics designed for halogen incandescent lamps.
Accordingly, by installing in your halogen or xenon headlights LED lamina dipped and main beam, you will grossly violate the current Russian legislation, namely:
article 12.5 of Part 3 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation:
3. Driving a vehicle on the front of which light devices with red lights or retro-reflective devices of red color are installed, as well lighting devices, the color of the lights and the mode of operation of which do not meet the requirements of the Basic Provisions on admission of vehicles to operation and duties of officials to ensure road safety, -
Attracts deprivation of the right to drive vehicles for a period of six months to one year with confiscation of the specified devices and devices.
What is the responsibility of installing LED lamps in halogen or xenon headlights?
Installation in the front halogen or xenon headlights of LED low or high beam sources is equivalent to equipping the car with red special signals. Accordingly, in accordance with the applicable traffic regulations and the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, if the driver illegally unauthorizedly installs LED lamps in the headlights intended for halogen or xenon lamps, he will be liable for depriving the driver’s license for up to 1 year.
Agree that this is a very strict measure. Also do not forget that ignorance of the laws does not relieve you of responsibility. Therefore, in no case do not install LED lamps on the machine in headlights that are not designed for this according to the factory specification.
Someone might think that in the above link to article 12.5 part 3 there is no direct prohibition on the installation of LED lamps in halogen or xenon headlights. But this is not so.
Article 12.5 Part 3 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation sends us to the provision on the basic requirements for the admission of vehicles to operation and the duties of officials to ensure road safety, for violations of which the driver can be held administratively liable.
So, in particular, according to paragraph 3 of the provision on the basic requirements for the access of vehicles to operation and the duties of officials to ensure road safety, the technical condition and equipment involved in the road traffic of vehicles, in part related to road safety and environmental protection environment must meet the requirements of relevant standards, rules and guidelines for their technical operation.
Accordingly, if the car does not meet the relevant standards, its operation on public roads is prohibited.
According to the list of malfunctions, the operation of vehicles with the type, color, location and mode of operation of external lighting devices that do not meet the vehicle design requirements is prohibited.
Here is an excerpt from the law:
The list of malfunctions and conditions under which the operation of vehicles is prohibited
3. External lighting
3.1. The number, type, color, location and mode of operation of external lighting devices do not meet the requirements of the vehicle design.
Note:On vehicles discontinued, the installation of external lighting devices from vehicles of other brands and models is allowed.
3.2. Headlight adjustment does not comply with GOST R 51709-2001.
3.3. They do not work in the established mode or external light devices and retroreflectors are dirty.
3.4. On light devices there are no diffusers or diffusers and lamps are used that do not correspond to the type of this light device.
3.5. Installation of flashing beacons, methods of their fastening and visibility of the light signal do not meet the established requirements.
3.6. On the front of the vehicle, light devices with red lights or red reflectors are installed, and white in the back, except for reversing lights and registration plate lighting, retroreflective registration, distinctive and identification signs.
And here is another important document that directly prohibits the installation of LED lamps in headlights that are not designed to work with LED lighting:
We are talking about the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, which was adopted by the decision of the Commission of the Customs Union on December 9, 2011 (No. 877):
- 3. Requirements for lighting and light-signaling devices
- 3.1. The number, location, purpose, mode of operation, color of the lights of external light devices and light signaling on the vehicle must comply with the vehicle manufacturer's documentation specified by the manufacturer, while the dipped-beam headlamps must comply with the conditions of right-hand traffic.
The class of the light source installed in the lighting and light-signaling devices of the vehicle must correspond to that specified by the manufacturer in the operational documentation, taking into account the factory equipment of this vehicle or, in case of making changes to the vehicle design, indicated in the documentation for lighting devices installed instead of those provided for by the design .
External lighting devices must be in working condition.
- 3.2. Changing the color of lights, operating mode, locations, destinations, replacing, installing additional ones and dismantling external lighting devices provided by the manufacturer in the operational documentation is allowed only in accordance with section 1.3 of Appendix N 4 to this technical regulation and table 3.1 of this appendix, as well as when the requirements of section 9 of Appendix N 9 to these technical regulations.
On vehicles discontinued, it is allowed to replace lighting devices with those used on vehicles of other types.
Accordingly, depending on the type of your headlights in the car, you have the right to use in them only those light sources that are designed for this type of optics.
How will the traffic police check which type of headlights your optics applies to?
Each headlight in the car must be marked at the car factory with the corresponding generally accepted marking, which indicates not only the type of optics, but also the type of lamps used in it.
Accordingly, according to the marking, technical supervision employees can determine that halogen headlights are installed in your car, in which, for example, you have installed xenon or LED lamps. Naturally halogen optics with reflectors cannot provide safe lighting on the road when using LED lamps. That is why according to the legislation for the illegal installation of LED or xenon lamps in halogen optics, the driver can be held administratively liable (forfeiture).
The same applies to the installation of LED lamps in xenon lens optics. That is, even though there are lenses in the front optics that are designed for xenon light sources, the use of LED lamps in such headlights is dangerous and accordingly prohibited by applicable law.
How to legally install LED lamps in headlights?
According to the law, if you make changes to the design of the car, then you have the right to operate the car on public roads only after passing a certain procedure in the legalization of installed equipment in the traffic police and in specialized organizations.
In more detail, how to formalize the re-equipment of the car, we examined in the article "". Recall that in this article we examined the process of legalizing the installation of gas equipment on a vehicle.
When installing LED lamps in a car, you will first need to convert the headlights into a specialized organization that will install the appropriate lenses and other equipment in them that will provide the LED light with the optimal beam of light projected onto the road.
Also, for the legal design of LED optics, you need to get permission to re-equip the car.
In particular, after installation / alteration of the headlights in a specialized organization, you must arrange for the car to be re-equipped with the traffic police and receive a certificate of conformity of the vehicle with modifications to its design in accordance with safety requirements.
More about the process itself.