How Do Traffic Police Handle Modified Lights?

[Anthony]

Modifying vehicle lights, if caught by traffic police, will result in mandatory removal and a fine ranging from 200 to 2000 yuan. Specific details about vehicle light modifications are as follows: 1. Definition: Vehicle light modification refers to the series of upgrade modifications made by car owners to the headlights and taillights of their vehicles. Light upgrades typically include two types: one aims to improve the driver's safety and comfort, alleviating the tension and fatigue of night driving by upgrading the original 55W halogen bulbs to xenon lights, LED lights, bi-xenon lenses, or complete headlight assemblies. The other type is for enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the vehicle's lights, such as upgrading to angel eyes, demon eyes, or LED flowing lights. 2. Light Maintenance: Just as engine oil and filters need to be replaced during regular maintenance, headlight bulbs also require periodic replacement. Generally, after every 50,000 kilometers or approximately two years of driving, the brightness of the headlight bulbs diminishes. It is advisable to have them checked at a 4S shop at this point. If there is indeed insufficient brightness, it is recommended to replace the bulbs, preferably both sides simultaneously to avoid uneven brightness between the two sides.

[AutumnLynn]

Last time I drove my friend's car with retrofitted xenon headlights at night, I was immediately pulled over by traffic police. They said this counts as illegal modification, as the brightness and color temperature of the headlights exceeded standards and could blind oncoming drivers. I got ticketed on the spot - 3 points deducted and a 200 yuan fine. The most troublesome part was being ordered to dismantle the lights immediately and restore them to original condition. The officer also lectured me that these colorful angel eye or demon eye headlights would absolutely fail annual inspection. Later I learned that regulations require low beams not to exceed 6000K, high beams must use halogen or factory-installed LEDs, and any added lenses require compliance documentation. Nowadays even changing a bulb requires keeping the product certification for inspection, otherwise you could really get unfairly penalized.

[MacPenelope]

Our auto repair shop often encounters customers asking about being checked for modified lights. In fact, traffic police mainly inspect three aspects of lighting: blue-white light with a color temperature exceeding 6000K, the addition of strobe functions, and misaligned light angles. Last week, a customer who changed their fog lights to red was pulled over and immediately penalized with 6 points because the law stipulates that fog lights can only be yellow or white. If you really want to upgrade your lighting, we recommend keeping the original assembly and only replacing it with compliant LED bulbs. Additionally, always carry the instruction manual and invoice with you—recently, a car owner tried to pass an inspection with unbranded bulbs bought from Taobao, but they were rejected when a scan revealed they weren’t registered.

[OAugust]

The fleet dreads nothing more than headlight malfunctions during long hauls. Old Zhang from our team once replaced his halogen lights with laser headlights and got heavily fined at the highway toll gate. Traffic police used equipment to measure the lumens, which exceeded the limit by three times, resulting in immediate vehicle impoundment. The crux is, such modifications aren't covered by insurance. Last year during heavy rain, a fellow driver's modified lights short-circuited and caught fire, but the insurance company cited the 'Modification Exemption Clause' and refused to cover the over 20,000 yuan in damages. Now, the team has strict rules: modifying brake lights to stay constantly lit requires reporting, and incorrect wiring of daytime running lights incurs a 200-yuan fine. Honestly, safety on the road is far more important than looking cool.