Motor Vehicle Bumper Height Requirements

TITLE 49 MOTOR VEHICLES CHAPTER 9 VEHICLE EQUIPMENT 49-966. Motor vehicle bumper height requirements. (1) With the exception of motor vehicles registered pursuant to section 49-406 , 49-406A , 49-407 or 49-408 , Idaho Code, or motor vehicles where the original or predominant body configuration of the motor vehicle, provided by a recognized manufacturer, did not include a front or rear bumper or bumpers for vehicles meeting the original specifications of a recognized manufacturer, a motor vehicle shall be equipped with a bumper on both the front and rear of the vehicle. (2)  Bumpers, unless specifically exempt in subsection (1) of this section, shall be at least four and one-half (4 1/2) inches in vertical height centered on the vehicle’s centerline by bolting or welding to the vehicle frame as originally installed by the vehicle manufacturer. Bumpers shall be horizontal load bearing and attach to the vehicle to effectively transfer energy when impacted and shall extend in width to the originally manufactured tread width for the vehicle. (3)  The maximum bumper heights for a vehicle shall be determined by vehicle class and the vehicle’s gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). Maximum bumper height is the vertical distance between the ground and the highest point on the bottom of the bumper and shall be measured when the vehicle is laden on a level surface with the vehicle’s tires inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure. For vehicles exempted from the bumper requirements for reasons stated in subsection (1) of this section, a maximum frame elevation measurement shall be made to the bottom of the frame rail. Maximum heights are as follows: Vehicle Class Maximum Height Front Rear Passenger Cars 22 inches 22 inches Trucks and MPVs 4,500 or less lbs. GVWR 24 inches 26 inches 4,501 to 7,500 lbs. GVWR 27 inches 29 inches 7,501 to 10,000 lbs. GVWR 28 inches 30 inches Four-wheel drive or dual wheel with a 10,000 or less lbs. GVWR 30 inches 31 inches (4)  Vehicles which do not meet the requirements of this section on July 1, 1997, must be brought into compliance by July 1, 1998.