Make it illegal to operate a “squatted” vehicle on West Virginia roads.
Summary
House Bill 4723 would add a new section to West Virginia traffic law making it illegal, beginning July 1, 2026, to operate a “squatted” vehicle on state roads. The bill defines a squatted vehicle as one with a front or rear fender raised four or more inches higher than the other, targeting the modified vehicle style commonly known as a “Carolina squat” or similar lifted-front/lowered-rear configurations.
The bill creates a phased enforcement approach. For the first six months after the effective date, law enforcement may issue warning citations only. Starting January 1, 2027, violations would be ticketed, with escalating penalties for repeat offenses: a $100 fine for a first offense, $200 for a second offense, and a $300 fine plus a 12-month driver’s license suspension for a third offense. The measure is framed as a traffic-safety and vehicle-operation restriction rather than a general vehicle modification ban.
Impact
HB4723 would amend the West Virginia Code by adding §17C-14-16 to the traffic code, creating a new statewide prohibition on operating squatted vehicles on public roads. It would affect drivers of modified trucks and other vehicles with altered ride height geometry, and it would give law enforcement and the Division of Motor Vehicles new enforcement and penalty authority, including license suspension for repeat violations. The bill would also establish a transition period before full ticketing begins.
Sentiment
The available context shows the bill as introduced and referred to the House Committee on Government Organization, with no recorded votes or committee transcript excerpts provided. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to be presented as a straightforward public-safety and roadway-regulation proposal, with no documented formal opposition or support in the supplied materials. The phased warning period suggests an effort to ease implementation and reduce immediate punitive impact.
Contention
No committee discussion or vote history is included, so specific objections or endorsements cannot be identified from the record provided. The likely point of contention, based on the subject matter, would be whether the state should regulate a particular vehicle modification style and whether the proposed fines and license suspension are proportionate. Potentially affected parties include drivers of squatted trucks, vehicle modification enthusiasts, law enforcement, and DMV administrators.