I'm looking to put a custom rear bumper on my 4Runner, but was concerned about the height from the ground to the bumper. I found this in the VA Code, essentially it says:

No person shall drive on a public highway any motor vehicle registered as a passenger motor vehicle if main horizontal bumper bar exceeds 22" from the ground.

How many of you have been pulled over and ticketed for a bumper that's too high? If I replace the bumper, it will be about 25" high w/o the tow bar/hitch.

º 46.2-1063. Alteration of suspension system; bumper height limits; raising body above frame rail.
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-1063
No person shall drive on a public highway any motor vehicle registered as a passenger motor vehicle if it has been modified by alteration of its altitude from the ground to the extent that its bumpers, measured to any point on the lower edge of the main horizontal bumper bar, exclusive of any bumper guards, are not within the range of fourteen inches to twenty-two inches above the ground. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, the range of bumper heights for motor vehicles bearing street rod license plates issued pursuant to º 46.2-747 shall be nine to twenty-two inches.

You probably already know this but you stand a much better chance of being pulled over in Northern VA then the rest of the state where monster trucks are a common sight.

That said I would not worry about it. You drive a new truck that will not attract the attention of most police. If you drove an older truck with significant lift, tires, and rock rash you are a cop magnet in NOVA.

The only person I personally know of who got pulled over for a bumper height problem in VA registered their 4Runner as a heavy truck which used to be the popular thing to do to get around restrictions. No problems after that. Note it it much harder now to get the DMV folks to give you heavy truck tags from what I hear. Unfotunately VA classifies your vehicle as a station wagon.

Get the bumper, I highly doubt the man will give you a second look with a truck that new. And if you are worried just weld on a piece to the bottom to make it legal.

Uhh... I never got pulled in NOVA, but I was a "suspect" at least once a month in the Va Beach area. Juat stay away from the beach, and you will be fine.

Ever hear of a ticket for "antenna too high?"

ticket this <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/butwiggle.gif" alt="" />.. i can understand some tickets but bumper height and antenna? good grief, now we know why murders are unsolved and drugs are still on the street.
i don't have a bumper on my truck, porlly should have one being the bumper height rules

If you have a custom bumper or have modified your stock bumper they measure you from the frame in Virginia. You're not illegal unless the height to your frame is over 30".

a 3rd gen 4runner has a GVWR of 5250 # so 29" front and 30" rear bumper height are the limits...

The front bumper height of trucks whose gross vehicle weight ratings are 4,501 pounds to 7,500 pounds shall be no less than 14 inches and no more than 29 inches, and their rear bumper height shall be no less than 14 inches and no more than 30 inches.

since you're planning on a custom bumper, depending on the officer who pulls you (it will vary - trust me) - he or she will measure from the lower edge of the aftermarket bumper if it appears to be in the stock location. however, them may do this measurement...

In the absence of bumpers, and in cases where bumper heights have been lowered, height measurements under the foregoing provisions of this section shall be made to the bottom of the frame rail. However, if bumper heights have been raised, height measurements under the foregoing provisions of this section shall be made to the bottom of the main horizontal bumper bar.

so just be aware if the bumper is raised or lowered. i know with my taco and the bumper was raised for the body lift, they measured from the bumper's lower edge. when i lowered it to the stock location, they tried to measure it from the frame but i told them it was in the stock location and they measured it from there.

Hey I live in Woodbridge. Out of curiousity I just went and measured, front bumper is 24", rear is 26". I've never ever had a cop mention it, and I've got plenty of friends with lifted trucks that have never ran into any problems, including one with a "cop magnet"- 80's fullsize chevy with huge lift, 35's, and NO exhaust <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />

I did have a friend with a jeep get pulled over for having tires stick out too much, 3 or 4 inches, but he didn't even get a ticket for it.

On the contrary to John Smith, I think NOVA is more lenient than the rest of the state, I've heard stories about Southern Va where the cops busted you from having too tall of a truck (measuring to headlights), to having a www.4x4wire.com sticker, cause its illegal advertising??? or some crap.

Mike

the beach is pretty bad especially in the summer time.

Which cops y'all talking about? Roscoe and Cleatis? Them two still stiring up the pot for ol' Boss Hogg?? lol When a cop takes the time to pull somebody over for routine bumper height check...he has way to much time on his hands. Make sure you let him know this and that you are a frequent visitor at the city council meetings, commissioner hearings etc. Only rule we have here in Washington that is remotely close to those you right coasters list is the mudflap law on trucks. We dont even need to have a rear bumper!
~Darin <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/baby.gif" alt="" />

Thanks guys, I appreciate all the info. Once the bumper is done, I'll post some pics.