So a while back I got pulled over for not having mudflaps on my 1990 Toyota 4Runner, which is lifted 4 inches, has 33x12.50 tires, and has the rear bumper removed. The officer gave me a fix-it ticket. I talked to other people, however, who said that the 4Runner is classified as a station wagon and therefore does not need mudflaps, and any citation I receive for it will be thrown out in court because of that. I do not want to put mud flaps on if I don't need to. Does anyone know for sure whether or not I am required by law to have them?

 

I heard once that the only vehicles that don't have to run mudflaps in AZ were Jeeps. You'd have to look up the laws in that state. I looked up CO lift laws once and was really surprised at what I found(especially vs. VA lift laws). Mud flaps and such should be in the same area.

 

If you have oversized tires and your lifted then yea, you have to have them. It's the same in alot of states.

 

do you know if there needed front and rear? or just rear?

i was thinking about taking mine off...but dont feel like being hasseld by the cops really...

 

thats lame. i knew nothing about mudflap laws. i assume we dont have anything like it in fl though. blah.

 

I don't have any... and haven't been hassled yet. Maybe it's just a matter of time. I think AZ mudflap laws are based on a percent of coverage, not type of vehicle... but I am not sure. I know Westy runs a flatbed with zero fenders around town and has yet to have the Police suggest a change.



Then again, I generally have to worry more about being pulled over because my license plate isn't readable half the time.



Can't imagine what Toyota was thinking putting the plate back there.

 

From what I was told "when I was getting hassled" it's the rear. They actually told me that if your tires stick out too far also, your required to have flares. But I personally think that was them just being anal. I got a fix it ticket, no flaps/ no front plate/ Kc's with no covers/and apparently my rear license plate light wasn't bright enough for their liking. This was years ago in San Diego. I think it's all up to the local badge wearing folks. I know a ton of places where they run friggen unlimiteds or trophy trucks on the street and nobody hassles them.

 

1st i've herd'a such. obviously the police dont have anything better to do. go bust some druggies or something but get off the people who are law abiding citizens.

 

I think the post above stating that the 4Runner is classifed as a Station Wagon deems that it does not require mudflaps. Read On.

Source <click here


And the next logical question is: What is the definition of "truck"?

328-601 Definitions:

30. "Truck" means a motor vehicle that is designed, used or maintained primarily for the transportation of property.

 

Yup, the 4Runner is classified (at least later model Gen II's) as "4 Dr SW" (4 door station wagon), and, as such, is NOT required to have mud flaps.
Challenge the ticket.





Fred

 

Who says it's a station wagon though? Anybody I ask is going to say it's an SUV, + I haven't seen any station wagons around here with 33's on it lately. There's a couple towns down south though.........LOL

 

They been having this argument in Washington, between truck/suv/or car "because of registration costs being higher on trucks". I've seen a thread on this a few months ago. I would challenge it. It's their mistake that's the loop hole if their calling it a station wagon.

 

Well thats the thing - you can't ask just "anybody". You need to reference the governing law. In AZ, the registration says SW next to Vehicle Type. As I posted earlier, a "truck" is defined as a vehicle "primarily designed to transport property". Not People. Loop hole = good for us.

 

im surprised that i havent gotton a ticket. ive got 35 12.50 and stock flaps but also i dont get looked at alot from cops. fergeson just go buy some semi flapf they wont be able to say nothin about the flaps than.

 

whats the point of this law? i live in VA and have never heard such a thing! here its tires sticking out to far and being to tall

 

When I lived in AZ I thought I heard it was anytime you lifted above normal stance. But I guess they only care if its a truck???

Think about the honda civic you pull out in front of after you hit up a muddy trail. Now think about the crack you just put in their windshield because you didnt have mudflaps on your lifted truck. Thats the reason for the law. To prevent damage to other vehicles when someone lifts their truck and/or gets bigger tires.

 

Thanks for the responses, good to know I don't need to worry about installing mudflaps. It seems pretty unlikely I will get pulled over for it again, the police down here usually have better things to do, but it's good to know there is no chance of me having to pay a fine if it does happen again. My 4Runner doesn't look much like a "station wagon" to me, but hey, I can't complain.