North Carolina passed a similar law in the same year.
Modifying cars can be a huge business. However, sometimes the legislature will take it out of reach. This is what happened to the “Carolina Squat”, Virginia’s governor who signed a bill banning this practice. After BJ Upton, a Virginian was killed in an accident in 2021, the bill was signed. The Carolina Squat truck crossed the centerline and collided with Upton’s car.
The Baja Trophy Trucks created the Carolina Squat. They lowered the rear suspension to allow the rear tires to hit the ground first after a jump. This practice is now commonplace on the streets, with owners changing their cars to have a lower rear suspension and a raised front one. This does more than just change the vehicle’s appearance.
The vehicle’s weight is moved rearward by the squat, taking it off of the front tires and placing it on the rear. This changes the vehicle’s handling. If there is a collision, it lifts the front bumper off other bumpers. Bumpers can be smashed into other bumpers. It makes it difficult for drivers to see ahead and points the headlights in the sky, rather than down the road in the direction they are going.
North Carolina passed a similar bill last ye, prohibiting the mod from the state. It also imposed a severe penalty – mandatory license cancellation for at least one year. The bill was in effect as of December 1. Virginia’s bill is slightly more relaxed, making a violation a primary offense which allows police to pull over the driver. A violation can only be punished by a $250 fine, although that could increase.
While modifying cars is a fun way to give your car some personality, safety should always be the top priority. Modifying a vehicle’s handling and operation can make it more likely that an accident will occur. Modifying a car’s suspension is not prohibited by any bill. However, it will be a problem if one bumper exceeds the other.