Police will enhance inspection and enforcement action against illegal conversion of high-powered high intensity gas-discharge (HID) vehicle headlamps, Secretary for Transport & Housing Eva Cheng says.

Transport Department figures show 152 cars failed the yearly vehicle examination due to white headlamp problems in the first nine months this year. In September alone 57 cars failed the exam.

During the same period, the department received 136 motorist complaints on the glare caused by other vehicles' headlamps.

Ms Cheng told legislators today HID headlamps do not meet statutory requirements and vehicles with them are mostly illegally modified.

Upon receipt of complaints about vehicles installed with HID headlamps, the department will arrange for their examination. In 2004, 2005, and 2006, headlamps for 226, 70 and 78 vehicles have been examined.

The Consumer Council has also expressed concern at the increasing number of motorists converting their cars with illegal high-power white headlamps, saying at least one accident injuring a pedestrian was suspected to have resulted from strong headlamps in July.

The Road Traffic (Construction & Maintenance of Vehicles) Regulations require all headlamps must be capable of emitting adequately aligned dipped beams, so they are incapable of dazzling any person who is eight metres or more in the front. Failure to meet the requirements warrants six months' jail, licence suspension and a $10,000-fine.