2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Legal Issues with Big Lights....

[hammersley]

OK so I get the best Big Honker Driving Lights - I was just told by my auto-parts guy that unless you have the Covers On Them - you are subject to a ticket as they are not intended (DOT approved) for highway use and are to be used "Off Road". So my ????? - What Good are the big lights - if you have to keep them covered? How much of a problemis this - especially when one travels all over the place. I really want these for remote sections of travel.

 

[Brand-X]

Just call the local DOT. here in NH if they are mounted above the bumper they need to be covered but in the stock location or under the bumper is OK.



George

 

[datablitz]

i ran 5 6" lights on a bar on top of my jeep, and four more on the bumper, and no one questioned my lack of covers, or maybe i was lucky? i guess it depends if they want a reason to pull you over? i live in ohio, and i have heard of the same law here... .



i dont think they really care about it imho

 

[BarryG]

I have run lights for 25+ years without covers and never had a problem for no covers but did get a ration of crap once when I was using them on a dark rural road once (didn't think anyone was around but the cop was hiding off to the side of the road) but he didn't give me a ticket

 

[hammersley]

Rural road NPOBODY coming -

What's wrong with using them??????

 

[BarryG]

I thought the same thing. He (who looked to be about 21) gave me the they sit too high and are too bright for on road use speech. I chose not to argue the point with him especially since had he been paying attention he could have given me a boatload of other tickets (speeding, open headers, broken tailight, rear plate wasnt lit, my tags expired the day before and if he searched the vehicle he surely could have found some sort of contraband or other at that time in my life, ah the days of youth and stupidity. The funny thing is I took that road on purpose for just those reasons to avoid running into the police).

 

[jeepit]

I was riding with a fellow TDR member and we were pulled over one nite for have too many lights on the front of his truck. None were covered. He had the stock liights, stock fogs and an after market set of fogs mounted low almost under the truck. All lights were on due to weather conditions. He received a warning for too many lights on. I guess you can only have 2 sets of lights of the same COLOR operating on the front of vehicle in the State of Wisconsin. I say color because all he needs to do is get a set of tinted lenses and he is ok.

 

[San Felipe Bob]

Uncoverd here too.

I run 8" Hellas mounted on the front bumper . Uncovered

Are they within the limits of the Californis law?

well sort of.

The law gives specific heights for mounting.

Mine are equal to the stock head lights in height.

Where they are not Legal is the wattage of the bulb.

I run 130 watt bulbs.

I never use these light's on the road. OFFROAD ONLY!!!

If you wanted to cause yourself greif you could run 55watt bulbs on the street and fight with the LAW. You might win but I'm sure you would **** off alot of cops.





SFB

 

[mbaston]

California law actually says that not only do they have to be covered, but also the fuse to the lights must be pulled.



I am glad I don't live in California anymore. Up here, we don't cover them and even troopers have daylighters or such on the patrol cars. I want to see that moose before I smack it!!

 

[JR2]

mbaston - same goes for me, I run a set of 7 inch Light Forces on the front of the truck and have never had any problems with the law. I quite often drive with all the lights on, ie headlights on high beam, fog lamps on and the big lights on). Makes spoting the moose easy.

 

[SBrandon]

The law in michigan states : Low beams ownly when on coming traffic is approacing.



Im all for big lights but I now carry a 3million candle power spotlight for people who refuse to turn off there accessory lights. I also carry something else for those who want to discuss the problem after I blind them back.

 

[Chipstien]

In WA I have drived with my Offroad lights uncovered and have never had any problem. But get this..... My buddy was driving on the beach (Ocean Shores) at about 2:00 in the morning with his Daylighters on and got stopped by a cop. But the funny thing is the cop said that the beach was a state Highway.

 

[pharlacher]

I have been pulled over and told to put the covers on or get a ticket. They were mounted on my roll bar. (last truck F150) I was south of San Diego California. The cop was really upset...

 

[Jff24Gordn]

Ive had 160w KCs since 99 and I havent herd crap about them. If the law complains, tell them that you were looking for an officer to report that your covers were stolen. I did have covers on them for about a week till they were stolen. I had the hard plastic yellow covers with a Purdue sticker on each one and they walked off the first weekend.

 

[hammersley]

Originally posted by SBrandon

The law in michigan states : Low beams ownly when on coming traffic is approacing.



Im all for big lights but I now carry a 3million candle power spotlight for people who refuse to turn off there accessory lights. I also carry something else for those who want to discuss the problem after I blind them back.

Boy if they try to enforce that - look at all the rigs now that have fog/driving additional lights on... ... ...

 

[John L]

Here at the SF Bay Area I ran 4 off road light on top of a roll bar for years and years but my luck ran out. One day I got pulled over by a CHP and I got a Fix it ticket for No Cover on the Off Road Light, No mud flaps and tinted windows. The dude also measured my frame height and was saying something about weight vs frame height limit? I never figured that one out.

Bottom Line is they can always find some reason to pull you over.....



John

 

[Bill Lins]

Yep.

Originally posted by Chipstien

But the funny thing is the cop said that the beach was a state Highway.

Same thing here in Texas- vehicles must be street-legal, speed limit is 20 MPH unless marked otherwise, etc. - same as a public street.