Aux lights, the law and your State?

[Matt400]

I ran across this interesting link about lighting, it pertains to California code but also has DOT information and a letter from DOT at the bottom.

Here are some highlights:

• Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed two auxiliary driving lamps mounted on the front at a height of not less than 16 inches nor more than 42 inches. Driving lamps are lamps designed for supplementing the upper beam from headlamps and may not be lighted with the lower beam.
  
• Driving, passing, and fog lights are all "auxiliary lighting equipment" within the definition of the Vehicle Code.
  
• Aux lights that are OEM equipped must meet DOT specs
  
• Aux lights you add do not have to meet DOT specs- including the wattage!
  
• Lamps above 42” are considered “Off Road Lamps” and must be covered.
  

Whats your State say?

 

[kozowski]

Oregon is similar. Aux lights must be off anytime you would turn off your high beams.

 

[MacHaggis]

Doesn't this run contrary to the way the OEM fog lights work, i. e. , they operate in conjunction with the low beam only? Maybe the DOT specs under Matt's third bullet cover it, but then you have two states with MV code conflicting with DOT regs.

 

[Joe G.]

I read that before I installed my 100 watt driving lights. I have also modified the wiring so that the head lights are on a relay to take the load off the light switch. The result is that the lights are brighter. The low beams are also on with the high beams are. So are the driving lights. I like to see where I'm going in this area because of deer.

 

[Thomas]

Doesn't this run contrary to the way the OEM fog lights work, i. e. , they operate in conjunction with the low beam only? Maybe the DOT specs under Matt's third bullet cover it, but then you have two states with MV code conflicting with DOT regs.

There may be other reasons for the fog lamps to be wired as they are. For instance, California Vehicle Code section 24405 allows a maximum of four of the following to be burning at the same time: headlamps, auxiliary driving or passing lamps, fog lamps, warning lamps, and spot lamps.

I'm legal in California burning my BriteBox® effect Sport headlamps & PIAA 60 XT's - (500 watts total). The law breaker is adding the 75 watts of the fog lamps.

I imagine there are all kinds of conflicts, within states and among states, given the way each state comes up with their own vehicle laws.

 

[cyborg]

High beam/driving lights

low beam /fog lights



It really makes sense.



There is nothing more irritating than those simpletons who drive with lights aimed high. NOTE: If your at highway speeds and you low beams are focused on the tailgate of the truck in front of you, it's wrong. Get them aimed.

Do people flash their high beams at you? Get a clue.



The best fogs ever made are the Per-Lux with the louvres. It keep the light from reflecting back and also out of the eyes of oncoming traffic.

 

[Matt400]

California Vehicle Code section 24405 allows a maximum of four of the following to be burning at the same time: headlamps, auxiliary driving or passing lamps, fog lamps, warning lamps, and spot lamps.

I can't find that and the first 2 bullets I posted is from the CHP.



Oh I see what you mean 24405 just means total lamps but does not cover in what conditions, so you can have 4 when there is no on coming traffic.

 

[Matt400]

Doesn't this run contrary to the way the OEM fog lights work

Yes it does. California clearly states all aux lights are to supplement the upper beams only. In really heavy dense fog where your speeds are reduced to a crawl you may find using the fogs by them selves works even better than also having the lows on. In lighter fog conditions combined with night driving the fogs and lows would be better so the law begins to have a gray area there.



I don't think CA ever intended people to run around with their fogs and lows when its clear out. I found it surprising to read that as long as you supplement the highs with only 2 lamps between the 16-42" limit you can run a non DOT lamp at what ever wattage you want.

 

[Thomas]

I can't find that...

CVC 24405: http://www.dmv. ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc24405.htm

CVC Front Lighting: http://www.dmv. ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vc/tocd12c2a2.htm

 

[Matt400]

Thanks Thomas,

Interesting is that 375 may have been amended since that court case I posted.

The court case is where I got the second bullet but when I view 375 that statement is not there??



They may have amended it when late model cars started coming equipped with aux lamps.

 

[Thomas]

My read of the CVC suggests that the fogs are not considered auxiliary lighting - just the passing & driving lamps. CVC 24405 seems to separate fogs from auxiliaries.

 

[JFaughn]

I call it being *** is now being cool and the biggest is coolest , if theres traffic infront [ no matter what direction] just low beems other wize its an endless compition as to who has more , I see better with no lights being shinged in my face, so the so called parking lights should be ok for many driving conditions.

 

[Matt400]

Also where they list fogs at 24403 they say you cant substitute those for headlamps so even though you can turn them on by themselves you could be ticketed. With the new "lamps on" when its raining law using just the fogs wouldn't work either.



I still can't find anything that says you can or can't have fogs AND lows on with on coming traffic.

 

[Matt400]

if theres traffic infront [ no matter what direction] just low beems other wize its an endless compition as to who has more

I agree, I don't care for the OEM fogs I see all the time now that people run in none fog conditions in on coming traffic.

 

[TRCM]

When I first started driving, you could have no more than 6 bulbs energized at the same time on the front of the vehicle. And they could be no higher than 60".



In VA, any auxiliary or driving lights must turn off when the high beams are turned ON, or you will fail the state inspection.



Most stock driving/fog lights turn off when the high beams are on. And in VA, and a lot of other states, any aftermarket ones are supposed to also.

 

[Matt400]

TRCM- Just curious. . in VA is it common to use Fogs or driving lights with the low beams in on coming traffic?

 

[TRCM]

quite... .





quite annoying too.





And yes to using only fog lights in fog/snow. Work much better and blind you a lot less... especially if you have yellow fog lights. That is THE MAIN reason I put yellow fog lights on my car. Traveling thru northern PA/southern NY in snow & fog is bad during the winter, and the white fog lights, even with them being lower, still blind you pretty bad.

 

[Boondocker]

dim lights

I call it being *** is now being cool and the biggest is coolest , if theres traffic infront [ no matter what direction] just low beems other wize its an endless compition as to who has more , I see better with no lights being shinged in my face, so the so called parking lights should be ok for many driving conditions.

That's lucky since the stock Dodge low beams aren't much better than parking lights. When there's an HID light equiped car going in my direction, either in front of or behind me, I can't see my head lights at all. Some day I'll pop for a set of Lightforce driving lights and maybe do the headlight brightener relay trick.



Neil

 

[BRobertson]

Neil,

I will be down in your area next month with my truck. I have a headlight conversion on it that is a very big improvement. If you have time, I can meet up with you for a look.

Bob

 

[rteig]

Can you send me a wiring diagram for this operation, please? Thanks