>
> Look at the tail light reflector's on the back of the Van, or the
> headlights.
>
> You'll notice a couple of letter's engraved in them.
>
> DOT.
>
> Wonder what that is all about?
>

NHTSA (DOT) has jurisdiction over the manufacture and importation of
vehicles in the US. Once it's in private hands, so long as it's not a
commercial vehicle involved in interstate commerce, headlights and
taillights need only comply with state law. Not that it really matters, as
state law usually just parrots DOT regs.