Fog Light Law I Didn't Know About

[polvadis]

So I'm taking an online traffic school to clear up a ticket, not my proudest moment, but I have actually come across some stuff that was of interest to me.

I saw a 3rg gen 4Runner the other day with just the fog lights on. My immediate reaction was that he had to do a fog light mod to make that happen and be able to run his fogs without his headlights on.

But just now I found out that's illegal in California:

CVC24403 allows motor vehicles to be equipped with no more than two foglamps which can be used in combination, but not in substitution, of your headlights. It is illegal to drive with just your foglights during times of darkness.

I should probably get back to reading through that stuff, it's really time consuming and each page is timed so you can't just skip through...

 

[A/V1]

Yep, and in a lot of states it's illegal to drive with just your parking lights on.

As that CA law states, no more than two fog lights at a time may be used. Most other states actually have that law as well. Even though it's not uncommon to see vehicles with two sets of fog lights installed. Basically what I've read says you can't have more than 4 lights on at a time. This means two headlights, and two fogs. Or in some vehicles, the 4 headlights when the brights are on (and no fogs).

Other laws include not having any color other than red/amber as the tail lights. This is for the T A R D S who install the white tails, and leave white lamps in there because it looks so cool (while blinding the drivers behind them).

Of course, this doesn't mean the cops are going to waste their time chasing you down if you violate these laws. I've witnessed plenty of cops drive right by violators.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

It's dumb to use your fogs as your main lights at night anyway.

 

[Jeff Kleb]

Yep, and in a lot of states it's illegal to drive with just your parking lights on.

Here in VA, it is not illegal to drive with your parking lights on -- UNLESS it is dark enough to require low-beam headlights. In other words, you can use your parking lights anytime except when driving after dusk. Turn them on during the day, and you're good to go.

As that CA law states, no more than two fog lights at a time may be used. Most other states actually have that law as well. Even though it's not uncommon to see vehicles with two sets of fog lights installed. Basically what I've read says you can't have more than 4 lights on at a time. This means two headlights, and two fogs. Or in some vehicles, the 4 headlights when the brights are on (and no fogs).

This is sometimes called the "Four Filament Law" as far as I know. Here in VA, you cannot use your fogs in place of low-beam headlights; nor can you use them with your high beams turned on.

You can drive with fogs turned on in conjunction with your low-beam headlights during darkness or with your parking/running lights during the day as well. My 4Runner's fog lights only came on with the low beams, though. (Yeah, I know there's a fix for that that has been posted here.)

I have a 2008 Mustang GT that has rather large fog lamps in the grille, and they work with the parking lights or the low beams turned on. It is quite easy to see where you're going, too! A relay turns off the fogs when the high beams are activated, however.

Other laws include not having any color other than red/amber as the tail lights. This is for the T A R D S who install the white tails, and leave white lamps in there because it looks so cool (while blinding the drivers behind them).

Yep, stop/tail lamps must be red. Rear turn signal lights can be either red or amber (but not white). The only rear-facing lights that are white should be the license tag lights and the reverse lights.

Plenty of people think it is cool to have white turn signal bulbs, which will definitely get you pulled over. Others are just confused. Most cars can use a clear bulb if they have an amber lens, but other vehicles require the yellow bulb if the housing is clear.

The tail light must also have a built-in reflector that must show red when another car's lights shine on it. Those "Alteeza" type lights are DOT legal if they have the red reflector inside the housing; but the "all clear" ones are not legal for street usage.


P.S. Check your state's vehicle code for more information. Some states may have less restrictive laws than we have here in VA.

:biggrin2:

 

[A/V1]

Thanks Jeff Kleb. You said everything I was TRYING to say.
I must have been pretty tired, and was fighting whiplash as I was nodding while typing LOL!

Here in Arkansas, it's illegal to drive with parking lights only at any time, day or night.

"Four Filament Law". Exactly! Thanks for explaining that out further.

Yeah, the whole white tails thing irritates me. I think it looks pretty r e t a r d e d, with or without clear bulbs. Obviously, some may do it because it looks cool to them, others may not even know there is a different bulb they should use.

Now my last car, my Grand Prix, was Arctic white, and a Limited Edition so it had a different look to it anyway (like blue tinted OEM driving lights). I've only seen three others out on the road. On this car, I did change out the front turn signal lenses to clear, which matched the OEM headlight housings. I did also install the amber lamps so it was legal, and didn't look bad.
I have never really cared for Altezzas on ANY vehicle, so in my opinion, taking it any further would have gone too far in the ghettification, so it stopped there.

Then, being the GM product it was, failed on me, so I traded it in on my Toyota.

That was a happy day. :biggrin2:

 

[tomhaney1]

Yep, and in a lot of states it's illegal to drive with just your parking lights on.

As that CA law states, no more than two fog lights at a time may be used. Most other states actually have that law as well. Even though it's not uncommon to see vehicles with two sets of fog lights installed. Basically what I've read says you can't have more than 4 lights on at a time. This means two headlights, and two fogs. Or in some vehicles, the 4 headlights when the brights are on (and no fogs).

Other laws include not having any color other than red/amber as the tail lights. This is for the T A R D S who install the white tails, and leave white lamps in there because it looks so cool (while blinding the drivers behind them).

Of course, this doesn't mean the cops are going to waste their time chasing you down if you violate these laws. I've witnessed plenty of cops drive right by violators.

Haha! I just saw a Las Vegas Metro cop pass a car with NO headlights on this evening! goddam moron... both of them.