Got pulled over for taillights being too dark!?!?
03-01-2012, 08:35 AM
#41
On more meds than ymeski
In Texas you cannot impair the required effectiveness of the lights. Just because they are tinted doesn't mean that they do not meet the requirements set by the state (see below).
Your state just took the lazy way out. In one sentence they state the required effectiveness cannot be impaired as outlines in the transportation codes then in the next they state that any reduction in effectiveness, whether it meets the requirement or not, is a violation. This makes it easy for them to take one look and fail you without actually testing to see if it meets the required criteria. Now I see we have the "whatever the government says is good for me must be the truth" crowd on board so as not to pizz in your Wheaties I am not saying that blacked out lights that restrict the lights from visibility at a safe distance should be allowed. What I am saying is next they will go after something like your aftermarket tires as the more aggressive tires affect the manufactures specifications and thus could affect safety.
TRANSPORTATION CODE CHAPTER 547. VEHICLE EQUIPMENT SUB CHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
§ 547.322. TAILLAMPS REQUIRED. (d) A taillamp shall emit a red light plainly visible at a distance of 1,000 feet from the rear of the vehicle.
§ 547.323(d) A stoplamp shall emit a red or amber light, or a color between red and amber, that is: (1) visible in normal sunlight at a distance of at least 300 feet from the rear of the vehicle; and (2) displayed when the vehicle service brake is applied.
§ 547.324. TURN SIGNAL LAMPS REQUIRED.(d) A turn signal lamp shall emit: (1) a white or amber light, or a color between white and amber, if the lamp is mounted on the front of the vehicle; or (2) a red or amber light, or a color between red and amber, if the lamp is mounted on the rear of the vehicle. (e) A turn signal lamp must be visible in normal sunlight at a distance of: (1) at least 500 feet from the front and rear of the vehicle if the vehicle is at least 80 inches wide; and (2) at least 300 feet from the front and rear of the vehicle if the vehicle is less than 80 inches wide.
Your state just took the lazy way out. In one sentence they state the required effectiveness cannot be impaired as outlines in the transportation codes then in the next they state that any reduction in effectiveness, whether it meets the requirement or not, is a violation. This makes it easy for them to take one look and fail you without actually testing to see if it meets the required criteria. Now I see we have the "whatever the government says is good for me must be the truth" crowd on board so as not to pizz in your Wheaties I am not saying that blacked out lights that restrict the lights from visibility at a safe distance should be allowed. What I am saying is next they will go after something like your aftermarket tires as the more aggressive tires affect the manufactures specifications and thus could affect safety.
TRANSPORTATION CODE CHAPTER 547. VEHICLE EQUIPMENT SUB CHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
§ 547.322. TAILLAMPS REQUIRED. (d) A taillamp shall emit a red light plainly visible at a distance of 1,000 feet from the rear of the vehicle.
§ 547.323(d) A stoplamp shall emit a red or amber light, or a color between red and amber, that is: (1) visible in normal sunlight at a distance of at least 300 feet from the rear of the vehicle; and (2) displayed when the vehicle service brake is applied.
§ 547.324. TURN SIGNAL LAMPS REQUIRED.(d) A turn signal lamp shall emit: (1) a white or amber light, or a color between white and amber, if the lamp is mounted on the front of the vehicle; or (2) a red or amber light, or a color between red and amber, if the lamp is mounted on the rear of the vehicle. (e) A turn signal lamp must be visible in normal sunlight at a distance of: (1) at least 500 feet from the front and rear of the vehicle if the vehicle is at least 80 inches wide; and (2) at least 300 feet from the front and rear of the vehicle if the vehicle is less than 80 inches wide.
03-01-2012, 09:13 AM
#42
Eat. Sleep. Lift.
Originally Posted by my67falcon
In Texas you cannot impair the required effectiveness of the lights. Just because they are tinted doesn't mean that they do not meet the requirements set by the state (see below).
Your state just took the lazy way out. In one sentence they state the required effectiveness cannot be impaired as outlines in the transportation codes then in the next they state that any reduction in effectiveness, whether it meets the requirement or not, is a violation. This makes it easy for them to take one look and fail you without actually testing to see if it meets the required criteria. Now I see we have the "whatever the government says is good for me must be the truth" crowd on board so as not to pizz in your Wheaties I am not saying that blacked out lights that restrict the lights from visibility at a safe distance should be allowed. What I am saying is next they will go after something like your aftermarket tires as the more aggressive tires affect the manufactures specifications and thus could affect safety.
TRANSPORTATION CODE CHAPTER 547. VEHICLE EQUIPMENT SUB CHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
§ 547.322. TAILLAMPS REQUIRED. (d) A taillamp shall emit a red light plainly visible at a distance of 1,000 feet from the rear of the vehicle.
§ 547.323(d) A stoplamp shall emit a red or amber light, or a color between red and amber, that is: (1) visible in normal sunlight at a distance of at least 300 feet from the rear of the vehicle; and (2) displayed when the vehicle service brake is applied.
§ 547.324. TURN SIGNAL LAMPS REQUIRED.(d) A turn signal lamp shall emit: (1) a white or amber light, or a color between white and amber, if the lamp is mounted on the front of the vehicle; or (2) a red or amber light, or a color between red and amber, if the lamp is mounted on the rear of the vehicle. (e) A turn signal lamp must be visible in normal sunlight at a distance of: (1) at least 500 feet from the front and rear of the vehicle if the vehicle is at least 80 inches wide; and (2) at least 300 feet from the front and rear of the vehicle if the vehicle is less than 80 inches wide.
Your state just took the lazy way out. In one sentence they state the required effectiveness cannot be impaired as outlines in the transportation codes then in the next they state that any reduction in effectiveness, whether it meets the requirement or not, is a violation. This makes it easy for them to take one look and fail you without actually testing to see if it meets the required criteria. Now I see we have the "whatever the government says is good for me must be the truth" crowd on board so as not to pizz in your Wheaties I am not saying that blacked out lights that restrict the lights from visibility at a safe distance should be allowed. What I am saying is next they will go after something like your aftermarket tires as the more aggressive tires affect the manufactures specifications and thus could affect safety.
TRANSPORTATION CODE CHAPTER 547. VEHICLE EQUIPMENT SUB CHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
§ 547.322. TAILLAMPS REQUIRED. (d) A taillamp shall emit a red light plainly visible at a distance of 1,000 feet from the rear of the vehicle.
§ 547.323(d) A stoplamp shall emit a red or amber light, or a color between red and amber, that is: (1) visible in normal sunlight at a distance of at least 300 feet from the rear of the vehicle; and (2) displayed when the vehicle service brake is applied.
§ 547.324. TURN SIGNAL LAMPS REQUIRED.(d) A turn signal lamp shall emit: (1) a white or amber light, or a color between white and amber, if the lamp is mounted on the front of the vehicle; or (2) a red or amber light, or a color between red and amber, if the lamp is mounted on the rear of the vehicle. (e) A turn signal lamp must be visible in normal sunlight at a distance of: (1) at least 500 feet from the front and rear of the vehicle if the vehicle is at least 80 inches wide; and (2) at least 300 feet from the front and rear of the vehicle if the vehicle is less than 80 inches wide.
03-01-2012, 09:18 AM
#43
Senior Member
Your lighting affects my safety.
If I can't see your taillights or I can't see because of your headlights, you're creating a safety issue.
The slippery slope argument doesn't wash, as aftermarket tires are for the most part DOT legal items. I've yet to see a blacked out taillight that's DOT certified, and HIDs are illegal by most states laws but the laws aren't enforced.
The page you're citing isn't the law, it's the abstract explaining the law.
The reality is that the state is taking the same route many governmental bodies with overlapping authority do, which is if it's DOT legal OEM, it's fine. No need to rewrite the legal requirements, as that could easily get tied up in court for ages, and most states don't have the resources to test new cars every year to make sure they meet the guidelines. When every agency rewrites the guidelines it's also the source of thousands of pages of needless law.
Does OSHA write fire safety codes? No, they refer to NIOSH and NFPA and use those. OSHA regs are labyrinthine enough as it is, I would hate to try to deal with them if they redefined NIOSH and NFPA because they thought it was lazy to just rely on another agency's work.
If I can't see your taillights or I can't see because of your headlights, you're creating a safety issue.
The slippery slope argument doesn't wash, as aftermarket tires are for the most part DOT legal items. I've yet to see a blacked out taillight that's DOT certified, and HIDs are illegal by most states laws but the laws aren't enforced.
The page you're citing isn't the law, it's the abstract explaining the law.
The reality is that the state is taking the same route many governmental bodies with overlapping authority do, which is if it's DOT legal OEM, it's fine. No need to rewrite the legal requirements, as that could easily get tied up in court for ages, and most states don't have the resources to test new cars every year to make sure they meet the guidelines. When every agency rewrites the guidelines it's also the source of thousands of pages of needless law.
Does OSHA write fire safety codes? No, they refer to NIOSH and NFPA and use those. OSHA regs are labyrinthine enough as it is, I would hate to try to deal with them if they redefined NIOSH and NFPA because they thought it was lazy to just rely on another agency's work.
03-01-2012, 09:34 AM
#44
Eat. Sleep. Lift.
A lot of tinted lights on trucks I know are more visible than stock, either LED or the film I have. Ppl just need to stop using sh*tty unsafe methods of tinting like nightshade.
03-01-2012, 09:59 AM
#45
On more meds than ymeski
I never said blacked out. I said tinted.
DOT / SAE Approved and OEM quality certified
http://www.protuninglab.com/09fof1eustle3.html
The reality is that the state is taking the same route many governmental bodies with overlapping authority do, which is if it's DOT legal OEM, it's fine. No need to rewrite the legal requirements, as that could easily get tied up in court for ages, and most states don't have the resources to test new cars every year to make sure they meet the guidelines. When every agency rewrites the guidelines it's also the source of thousands of pages of needless law.
Does OSHA write fire safety codes? No, they refer to NIOSH and NFPA and use those. OSHA regs are labyrinthine enough as it is, I would hate to try to deal with them if they redefined NIOSH and NFPA because they thought it was lazy to just rely on another agency's work.
Does OSHA write fire safety codes? No, they refer to NIOSH and NFPA and use those. OSHA regs are labyrinthine enough as it is, I would hate to try to deal with them if they redefined NIOSH and NFPA because they thought it was lazy to just rely on another agency's work.
So only factory replacement parts? No aftermarket? As for the “testing” if the tinted lights meet the requirement that is set by the state then why isn’t it legal? It is their burden to prove otherwise.
As for aftermarket tires. You state that the lights should be OEM DOT approved. So if you replace tires and they are not OEM DOT for that vehicle then what? Tires affect mileage and driveability. How long before the state or feds go after them?
03-01-2012, 10:20 AM
#46
Senior Member
In NY state the legal burden of proof that a part meets OEM spec (specifically relating to lighting) is up to the manufacturer. Each part is supposed to ship with a scatter diagram showing the light output. If it doesn't meet that requirement, it's illegal for sale in the state, and they aren't supposed to pass a NYS inspection with non-approved lighting parts in place.
Tires are a strawman. DOT approves tires on a general guideline, and you can take a tire off of a chevy and have it fit a ford. You can't say the same for a lighting assembly.The lighting assemblies are made to meet legal specs on the vehicle which they are designed for. A headlight assembly from a Fiesta probably isn't going to pass muster if it's mounted on an F150.
As an aside, no, I have never stated that whatever the gubmint says is good.
In these cases what I'm stating is that as people blatantly cannot use common sense in relation to certain thing that involve everyone's safety (lighting), someone has to set a standard. Being that we're not a feudal society with local nobles, that someone is the government.
Tires are a strawman. DOT approves tires on a general guideline, and you can take a tire off of a chevy and have it fit a ford. You can't say the same for a lighting assembly.The lighting assemblies are made to meet legal specs on the vehicle which they are designed for. A headlight assembly from a Fiesta probably isn't going to pass muster if it's mounted on an F150.
As an aside, no, I have never stated that whatever the gubmint says is good.
In these cases what I'm stating is that as people blatantly cannot use common sense in relation to certain thing that involve everyone's safety (lighting), someone has to set a standard. Being that we're not a feudal society with local nobles, that someone is the government.
Last edited by gone postal; 03-01-2012 at 11:01 AM.