Doors off....Is it really Illegal
21 - 37 of 37 Posts
Was looking for some information about tube doors when I came across this thread so decided I would register and offer my experience on this.
I live in the lower mainland of B.C. and last summer I was on my way up to Harrison with my doors off on my '05 . I hadn't bothered with mirror relocation as I was spending the entire weekend off road. Where the pavement meets gravel there was a roadblock as it was the august long weekend, np, pull up and the officer asked me what year my jeep was, I told him and he just smiled, and then told me he was going to give me a lesson on my vehicle. Not sure what I did to set him off but away he went. Right wrong or otherwise he explained to me that up to I think 84 it was ok to have your doors off as the jeeps shipped from the factory without. Later models however required a factory door seal whatever that means.
So he fined me 108.00 per door so a 216 dollar fine total. He then told me if I wished to complain further he would fine me for being short a mirror, and further if he was so inclined would also deem the vehicle unsafe for use on the road, due to the lack of a second mirror, and could have it towed. Which pretty much put an end to any argument I might have had about the whole situation. He did say that a tube door was ok, so long as it engaged the factory latch.
This particular officer had the page in his manual actually folded and ready to go seemingly for any Jeep he came across. Up to that point I had driven all over the lower mainland without issue and even gone through a few road blocks late at night on the way home from work without issue. I wasn't in any way aggressive with the officer at all, in fact the whole thing came about after a fairly lengthy conversation about the trip I had planned that weekend that he seemed genuinely interested in which made it all the more surprising when he dropped the fines on me. He also turned me around at that point, forcing me to add a couple hours to my trip as I had to head home to grab my doors.
When I went to pay the fines the person at ICBC didn't seem to understand the language used for the infraction on the ticket and wouldn't give me a straight answer on the right or wrong of it. If it had simply been mirrors it would have been straightforward but also would have been less a fine . I still to this day haven't been able to get a reliable answer from any officer or ICBC rep I have spoken with. Mirrors obviously you need something in addition to the rear, but the door issue remains unconfirmed to me.
I live in the lower mainland of B.C. and last summer I was on my way up to Harrison with my doors off on my '05 . I hadn't bothered with mirror relocation as I was spending the entire weekend off road. Where the pavement meets gravel there was a roadblock as it was the august long weekend, np, pull up and the officer asked me what year my jeep was, I told him and he just smiled, and then told me he was going to give me a lesson on my vehicle. Not sure what I did to set him off but away he went. Right wrong or otherwise he explained to me that up to I think 84 it was ok to have your doors off as the jeeps shipped from the factory without. Later models however required a factory door seal whatever that means.
So he fined me 108.00 per door so a 216 dollar fine total. He then told me if I wished to complain further he would fine me for being short a mirror, and further if he was so inclined would also deem the vehicle unsafe for use on the road, due to the lack of a second mirror, and could have it towed. Which pretty much put an end to any argument I might have had about the whole situation. He did say that a tube door was ok, so long as it engaged the factory latch.
This particular officer had the page in his manual actually folded and ready to go seemingly for any Jeep he came across. Up to that point I had driven all over the lower mainland without issue and even gone through a few road blocks late at night on the way home from work without issue. I wasn't in any way aggressive with the officer at all, in fact the whole thing came about after a fairly lengthy conversation about the trip I had planned that weekend that he seemed genuinely interested in which made it all the more surprising when he dropped the fines on me. He also turned me around at that point, forcing me to add a couple hours to my trip as I had to head home to grab my doors.
When I went to pay the fines the person at ICBC didn't seem to understand the language used for the infraction on the ticket and wouldn't give me a straight answer on the right or wrong of it. If it had simply been mirrors it would have been straightforward but also would have been less a fine . I still to this day haven't been able to get a reliable answer from any officer or ICBC rep I have spoken with. Mirrors obviously you need something in addition to the rear, but the door issue remains unconfirmed to me.
Joined
·
10,451 Posts
I have yet been able to get any reaction for doorless.. In my TJ I had been pulled over a few times doorless without mirror relocations and nothing was said. I have my drivers side mirror only relocated on my JK and drive past police daily where I live no issues. It sucks that ^ ran into the officer that he did who seams strict.. I've never talked to anyone in uniform who had an issue with doorless jeeps. Most have the same opinion as I do, they don't offer much protection anyway..
Joined
·
9,494 Posts
Every third Jeep you see here doesn't have doors.
Mine will not have them when it is back on the road. You DO have to have mirrors on BOTH sides whether or not you have doors if your vehicle came with two exterior mirrors.
If you own a pre 1965 Jeep, you can not only run doorless, but you can also drive it with no seat belts and only one mirror.
Mine will not have them when it is back on the road. You DO have to have mirrors on BOTH sides whether or not you have doors if your vehicle came with two exterior mirrors.
If you own a pre 1965 Jeep, you can not only run doorless, but you can also drive it with no seat belts and only one mirror.
Joined
·
1,558 Posts
I usually run soft 1/2 doors and no mirror but do run doorless, with no mirrors, on beadlocks, no mudflaps, tires that stick out 5" past the flairs out back, and no flairs up front, and a busted windshield. I haven't been pulled over for that stuff yet, but if I do I will take it and not complain about it. It's just the price I'll have to pay for being as cool as I am hahaha
Joined
·
9,494 Posts
You are a rebel. lol After you pay the $10K in fines and make the $200 repairs you should be good.
Joined
·
1,558 Posts
Meh, what's the use of having a good lawyer is ya never use them
Joined
·
9,494 Posts
Larry H. Parker?
Ghost, sorry you had that bad experience, since the cop clearly knew that no doors posed no danger, he just wanted to flex his tiny cop muscle.
If it was an issue of safety, and why else should you then need doors. He would not have let you go to make the long drive home.
Joined
·
2 Posts
I have been driving around vancouver bc here and rhere with the doors off and safarrie mirrors on the side door hinges. Have not been stopped yet had some pigs give me a double take not sure if they were just liking my ride or too lazy to pull me over
Joined
·
2 Posts
Hi, new Rubicon on order, excited, hell ya!
So full of questions, and think I may drive all of you to drink excessively, as I ask too many questions, but I hope not.
But to kick them off, can anyone confirm if it is for sure illegal to drive around, doors off in British Columbia, Canada? I hear both sides, but no one is pointing out the actual words in a law book to me saying its illegal. If its not illegal, I would like to print this, and carry it with me incase I get stopped. Thanks
Hi, could you email me the Transport Canada response email thanks? [email protected]
I finished reading it, and he solved some of my doubts.
Seriously, manuals are sometimes more dependable.Can you post up the email response that you got??
This is an email a buddy of mine got a few weeks ago regarding the same question here in Nova Scotia.
This Pat O'Malley is a jack ***. The MVI manual, the book the mechanics go by states any vehicle needs 2 rearview mirrors, one being on the driver's side. No mention of requiring doors.
If you ask the cops here, you'll get mixed answers, and also Vehicle Compliance officers as well. Some will tell you there is no law requiring side mirrors even. At least there's the manual to fall back on.
Check out the "cheap mods" thread in the TJ OEM section, & do something like what is there for a DS mirror, and don't waste your time on the PS. With the relocation brackets, your PS mirror is totally useless if your doors are on.
Tried the answer to make me ambiguous.
21 - 37 of 37 Posts
