This City Just Banned Car Accessories From Even Being Displayed Or Sold In Shops!

Vehicle modifications are illegal in India. However, one can easily buy accessories and aftermarket fitments in many cities. Despite the practice being illegal, many car and SUV owners continue to modify them. In the mountains, it is common to see SUVs fitted with accessories like aftermarket bumpers and horns. In the latest crackdown, the Jammu Administration has banned automotive accessories completely.

According to the new law, it is illegal to sell, buy, store or even display motor vehicle accessories 'which are likely to be used for unauthorised modifications'.

The new order was issued by Jammu District Magistrate Sachin Kumar Vaishya, banning these in the territorial jurisdiction of the Jammu district, with immediate effect. The prohibition falls under section 52 of the Motor Vehicles Act.

It deals with alterations to motor vehicles, and prohibits owners from doing modifications that would make its registered details (specifications) differ from those supplied by the manufacturers. This means that making changes to the core components like engine, body, or any other parts is illegal.

"In exercise of powers conferred upon me under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, I do hereby order that the sale, purchase, storage, distribution, and display for sale of all motor vehicle accessories which are intended or likely to be used for unauthorised modifications are hereby prohibited within the territorial jurisdiction of District Jammu, with immediate effect,"- reads the district magistrate's ruling.

Accessories and fittings like oversized tyres, pressure horns, musical horns, metallic bumpers, high-intensity halogen lights, tinted or reflective window films, roof rail spoilers and modified exhausts are covered under the scope of the new ruling.

In recent crackdowns, the traffic police had seized several modified vehicles in Jammu. Over 100 modified vehicles were confiscated in a single day and the same seems to have triggered immediate legal action. Kashmir has lately been witnessing a steep increase in the number of rampant rash driving, underage riding, and overspeeding cases. These pointed to lax enforcement, eventually leading to the crackdown.

The place has also been witnessing more instances of rash and reckless driving (and riding) by underage individuals. It has become common to see minors on bikes here.

Talking about the chaotic traffic and diversions, SSP Traffic Srinagar, Aijaz Ahmad, previously remarked that Srinagar’s outdated road infrastructure and geographical constraints seem to have led to 'flexible traffic management'. “Our roads haven’t expanded much over the years. Diversions are sometimes necessary depending on traffic flow during different times of the day,” - he said in a statement.

Circling back, the court order is specific about curbing illegal modifications. "It has been brought to the notice... that a large number of commercial establishments and vendors in the Jammu district are engaged in the sale and purchase of various motor vehicle accessories which are being used for unauthorised modifications of vehicles" Vaishya said in the ruling.

It further instructed Jammu's Senior Superintendent of police and traffic senior superintendent to ensure effective enforcemment of the new ruling. It further asked that a joint committee be formned to conduct periodic inspections to ensure strict compliance. The body will have to submit fortnightly reports to the Office of the District Magistrate.

People, first or establishments which violate the new ruling will face penal action under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The new ruling is clearly aimed at ensuring (improving) public safety and security.