Light on tailgate? Some do, some don't?

[cojhl2]

The clearance light requirement has nothing to do with commercial or private use and if a DOT officer was ticketing srw trucks w/o lights he was uninformed. I would guess that was an unfounded rumor not fact.



Clearance lights are for the purpose of warning other motorists approaching in darkness that the vehicle is wider (or taller) than normal. Note clearance lights are used at the top rear and top front of trailers or tall box trucks as well.



I think dealer sales managers in snow country sometimes order 4wd srw trucks with clearance lights because they anticipate many of their trucks will end up with wide snow plows mounted.



Some just like the bright lights. Apparently it is a "trucker thing. "

I think you are right, heck I had West Coast Mirrors on my 1947 Ford PU in the 50's!

 

[steved]

The guy got a ticket, it wasn't rumor...



With that said, a flatbed trailer needs the truck cab lights to be "legal"... as they typically don't have the front corner lights.



Lastly, the gospel (according to HBarlow) is that no one can be unique or original... to hell with being an individual, and having personal tastes. . .

 

[mwilson]

Quoted from Truck-Lite Corp - Rules And Regulations



Referral to "108" relates to FMVSS 108, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards



38 ©2007 All rights reserved. Truck-Lite Co. ,Inc.

Most Common Legal Questions



(Q) What lights do I need?



(A) Browse the NHTSA charts (shown on pages 30-37). Truck-Lite Tech Support (888/562-5012) can be reached for additional questions. Note that states cannot require anything different than what is in “108”. However, states can add regulations. Contact the Truck-Lite lab for special situations.



(Q) The vehicle has everything needed for 108, but the State Police gave me a ticket anyway.



(A) States can regulate anything not covered by “108”. For example, any accessory lights or lights in addition to those in “108”. Generally the problem is in these areas. Sometimes they make a mistake. In that case, the lab can often write a letter to clarify the issue.



Here is a link to the Truck-Lite FMVSS 108 Resource. Kinda' interesting



Includes placement and number of lights required for all types of vehicles and trailers.



http://www.truck-lite.com/wcsstore/tl/resources/images/en_US/PDF/LUG.pdf

 

[steved]

I'm still waiting for a response from Harvey... ! I know what the law reads and how it gets interpreted along the road can be two completely different things.



While I am getting eaten alive by bugs in the middle of nowhere called South Carolina, accessory lights... I know PA has rules on offroad lights being covered on the road, no under car lighting, and all light being required to work for inspection (factory or not)... I have been failed for not having an add-on reverse light not illuminate (it was on a separate switch).

 

[mwilson]

Maine is the same way, you can have as many clearance/marker/tail lights as you want but they must all work to be legal.



You can remove any that don't work including some that are required by "108", just don't venture out of state that way.



I have been involved in "Rest Area / Weigh Station" arguments before with Troopers in various states, kinda' have to be your own legal defense team. #@$%!



Had to cut the tail feed wires to a set of rear facing amber turn signals and got a $50. 00 fine one day in Connecticut because some ninny wired up both turn and tail functions on the trailer I hooked on to. NO STEADY BURNING AMBER LIGHT TO FACE REARWARD!! I remember it well... ... :-laf:-laf