Mississippi Bans Nitrous Oxide in Street Cars

[Mach 1 Club]

   

Mississippi has become the thirty ninth state banning the use of nitrous oxide to increase horsepower of cars driven on public roads. The law was enacted after the death of Trooper Steve Hood, who died during a high speed chase last May. The driver involved in the chase was later found to have a nitrous system installed in his Trans Am.

Penalties are steep, with a first offense costing between $250 and $1,000, plus up to 48 hours in jail. The law does not impact the use of nitrous oxide in competition, and it does not specify if the bottle must be removed or the system simply disabled for road use.

I’m all for keeping the roads safer, but is this an indication of things to come? If nitrous oxide kits (which produce a temporary horsepower gain) are outlawed, how long will it be before we see the same kind of bans on turbos, blowers, intakes, exhausts and ECU upgrades?