Actually it wasnt the DOT it was the NHSTA that banned them, but regardless. HID's are 100% illegal unless they came as factory equipment on the car. They did not outlaw HID's, they outlawed any form of aftermarket lightbulb that does not have a filament. That just happens to include all aftermarket HID kits, regardless of the housing they are placed in. For example, Catz can still sell their ballasts and transformers, they are DOT approved, the bulb is not though. They are only legal for export. As an individual you cannot get fined for having them, the dealers get the fines for selling them. But, if you buy a set from the internet or EBay good luck getting a replacement bulb if you ever need one. And they will go bad eventually. They arent going to crack down on those who have HID's because you will need a bulb at some point, so the problem will just weed itself out. Doesnt really matter, almost every new car will have them in the next 5 years.