Installing a racing wheel every day could land you in jail – Jalopnik

If you’re customizing a modern car and happen to have a quick release racing wheel in your online shopping cart, you might want to reconsider that purchase. Not only because it puts you at risk in the event of an accident, but also because it is illegal and could land you with a fine, a criminal offense or even a prison sentence.

However, this only applies to people who install an aftermarket steering wheel on a car that is factory equipped with a driver’s airbag. If the car comes from the factory without a driver’s airbag, in most cases you can use the crazy wheel that suits you, whether it is a heart-shaped wheel or a comically small wheel.

States such as California, Texas, Florida, Illinois, New York and Pennsylvania all ban the removal or disabling of air bags in vehicles sold with them when new, with penalties ranging from fines to seizure and jail time.

Why does the Gubmint tell you how to live your life? It’s a safety issue. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drivers without airbags are 30% more likely to die in a crash. A San Diego police officer told CBS8, “When people die in a crash, there’s a ripple effect. It doesn’t just affect the person who made that choice. That ripple effect goes quite far, from other drivers on the road to the medical examiners, the police officers who have to respond, any witnesses who saw it, the other drivers involved.”

In California, a charge of removing or disabling a vehicle’s driver’s airbag can carry a jail sentence of six months or a $1,000 fine. In New York, the fine is up to $5,000, and jail time is still on the table. In addition to legal issues, auto insurers may deny coverage for a car with a disabled or removed airbag, or increase your premiums due to the increased chance of serious injury in an accident. If your car came from the factory with a driver’s airbag, you might want to reconsider that aftermarket wheel, no matter how cute it looks.