holy fix-it ticket Batman!

[Offroad_Medic]

Unfortunately even if the light housing has DOT stamped on it and the projector says DOT on it, that doesnt make the combination legal. Since you altered the housing and installed the projector into it yourself it invalidates the DOT approval more or less since the equipment is being used in an application it was not intended for.

If you plan on buying some stock housings and swapping them back in order to pass the fix-it ticket it may be a good idea to keep them and just get a much nicer halogen bulb. The reason I say this is for a few reasons....

1-Your runner is easily identifiable

2- UHP troopers are assigned specific areas to patrol and do not roam an entire large area as some people think, so you have a decent chance of him seeing your rig again. If he sees it after you have cleared your ticket and then put your projectors back him he will really ding you for that one.

3-You can always hook me up with your HID setup and I'll use them since I have incredible luck with avoiding cop issues....something about my specialty license plates :lock1:

 

[KidVermicious]

3-You can always hook me up with your HID setup and I'll use them since I have incredible luck with avoiding cop issues....something about my specialty license plates :lock1:

You corrupt bastard.

Down with the Man!

 

[Offroad_Medic]

You corrupt bastard.

Down with the Man!

Insert maniacal laugh here :rockon:

 

[snivilous]

you guys crack me up! and i knew the law for the windows, but 43% is absolutely pointless! but what do ya say?

[MENTION=92884]snivilous[/MENTION] are you serious?

I was, but after what the kid wrote and looking into it, I'll have to pass. I'd rather not get ticketed and it sounds like they are illegal however you look at it

 

[Brian757]

Sometimes you have to love the South; cops here except for a few areas in VA don't care one bit, except when they want to check out your ride. SC doesn't even have vehicle inspections anymore, because 1/3 of the autos registered wouldn't be on the road today if they did.

I will bet fellow member 93toy (NC state trooper) has written a few tickets.

Yeah, I've had my HIDs in Virginia for at least 4-5 years, and have never gotten a ticket for them.

I've been pulled multiple times over the years, probably more than I can count on both hands, and no cop has even brought them up. I did get an equipment violation, which is essentially a "fix-it" ticket, and it was because the officer thought I was drunk. I was toying with the radio late at night leaving prom, and he hit me for license plate covers, exhaust, and tint. And Virginia Beach is known for how hard they are on people in this state, so that says something.

I've settled down a lot since my aging, and design my truck carefully, to avoid confrontation.
It sucks that we chose a hobby that can break laws.
I don't see action figure collectors getting their doors kicked in by swat teams

 

[KidVermicious]

Action figure collectors don't have a habit of blinding me from the oncoming lane. :moon:

 

[GottaBeTRD]

so not to be a jerk or debbie downer, but i have mentioned this before to guys who run HIDs... THEY ARE ILLEGAL. both DOT and NHTSB state that unless your your vehicle came with them then they are a no go... just cause your HID kit you bought said DOT on it, does not mean it is DOT for your vehicle(if it had come that way and you are just replacing a bad bulb or bad ballast, then you would be fine). and even with that, the moment you yourself modify something that is DOT, it is no longer DOT ie your projector retrofit. i think it is the NTHSB that has a code and or fine that basically states there is a $6000 fine for each piece of equipment in violation to a HID light modification... thats $6000 for the bulb, $6000 for the wire harness, $6000 for the ballast, and thats just on one side. and it doesnt stop there, they can fine the owner, operator, installer, seller, and the manufacture if caught. so basically you could be facing a $36,000 minimum fine if that officer was a jerk about it, and thats just for being the owner/operator... he could push that all over again for you being the installer too.

this is one reason why most major lighting companies like PIAA, IPF, HELLA, have all stepped back from the HID lighting and made LED so popular... LIGHTFORCE and KC are really the only major players still in the HID market. but they are strictly for off road use and racing. yes while LEDs are less strain on electrical system and more efficient, they do not have the reach out and light up the road a mile out that HID systems can do.

while im no state trooper or state police, i have several close friends who are and i work with them and others all the time. and im sure 93toy will account to this as well, laws are gonna vary state to state on what they will allow.

you have done the best thing possible here, by putting them into a projector setup. one question i have for you though is where did you get/what projectors are you using? are they out of like an acura, or a mercedes, or bmw...? cause if you got projectors from a vehicle that came with HID projectors and you retrofitted them into your vehicle you might and i say might, have a fighting chance at using them.

you make a very good point, and that fine would really suck! I absolutely hate when people that throw a high wattage PnP HID kit. I admit that i was this guy for like a month and realized how bad it was. It's very disrespectful.

I have never been flashed with my retrofit, In fact so many Utards here always run with their high-beams. I always flash mine (which i thought were super bright) but no, people do nothing, just keep swimmin with their brights on.

Everything I have is from the retrofit source, so whatever the morrimoto projectors came from, those are them I probably can fight this using this method, but it might be a waste of time because i'm sure i have to get paperwork, let alone argue with a bunch old stubborn people that live in the old era of the auto laws. I'm sure they can give a rats ass about how I see the law too. Being able to see better at night is a bad idea. All they see is it's something different, They don't see that I'm not causing any danger to anyone. No disrespect to any officers, I appreciate mostly everything but there are a lot more horrible issues especially in utah on the roads today. for one people cant drive!

Those dark tinted windows help your night vision much?

Your lights MIGHT be better. Your lights MIGHT meet federal requirements (but probably not) but unless you paid to have them certified by the NHTSA then you're arguing conjecture. You had illegal lights. the cop gave you a ticket. I'm assuming you knew the risk before you installed them.

PS- before you start digging yourself in deeper the doctor isn't going to give you a note for brighter lights, he's going to tell you that you are not allowed to drive at night!

:moon: If my windshield was tinted then yes I'm an idiot and I have no argument but It's my side windows. They are about as dark as the factory tint which is nothing. Yes it alters the light a little at night but the only time It's been any discomfort was in a dark neighborhood. All i have to do there is put the window down.

I was on HIDPlanet, where its a forum specifically for people that do retrofits. I posted something there and got a reply that I was one of the two people out of the whole forum that has ever been pulled over for this. Not trying to argue with you but just saying, I'm not the douche dropping HID's in to look cool, I'm doing it for a purpose and as legal/OEM looking as I can.

Oh and the Doctor thing was a joke, I know there would be no way in hell that could happen; however, i did have friend who got a note from his doctor to where he could have darker tint, because of skin condition.

Yeah, I've had my HIDs in Virginia for at least 4-5 years, and have never gotten a ticket for them.

I've been pulled multiple times over the years, probably more than I can count on both hands, and no cop has even brought them up. I did get an equipment violation, which is essentially a "fix-it" ticket, and it was because the officer thought I was drunk. I was toying with the radio late at night leaving prom, and he hit me for license plate covers, exhaust, and tint. And Virginia Beach is known for how hard they are on people in this state, so that says something.

I've settled down a lot since my aging, and design my truck carefully, to avoid confrontation.
It sucks that we chose a hobby that can break laws.
I don't see action figure collectors getting their doors kicked in by swat teams

yeah I hear ya, I actually want to ditch my exhaust because the loudness is getting old, i may have to just give up and follow this route

 

[Brian757]

Action figure collectors don't have a habit of blinding me from the oncoming lane. :moon:

You don't know that

 

[TheArkMaster]

Somebody needs to start a "closest to OEM" thread for light lol

 

[Boom Headshot]

When you walk around carrying a hammer, everything starts to look like a nail.

 

[BrianSD_42]

and even with that, the moment you yourself modify something that is DOT, it is no longer DOT ie your projector retrofit. i think it is the NTHSB that has a code and or fine that basically states there is a $6000 fine for each piece of equipment in violation to a HID light modification... thats $6000 for the bulb, $6000 for the wire harness, $6000 for the ballast, and thats just on one side. and it doesnt stop there, they can fine the owner, operator, installer, seller, and the manufacture if caught. so basically you could be facing a $36,000 minimum fine if that officer was a jerk about it, and thats just for being the owner/operator.

Ok I have to call BS here.

Please elaborate on who would issue a ticket for a NTHSB violation and if that would be the local sherrif, PD, or CHP?

NO ONE gets a ticket like that. In CA at least the ticket is a fix it ticket for $25 and it isn't even considered a moving violation.

People build their own kit cars out here and modify things a plenty.

Everyone on here is ranting about DOT and NTHSB as if those are entities that are enforced by any local or state police. They are not (unless I'm totally wrong of course) and people are not getting $6,000 tickets LoL :juggle:

 

[the great him]

Ok I have to call BS here.

Please elaborate on who would issue a ticket for a NTHSB violation and if that would be the local sherrif, PD, or CHP?

NO ONE gets a ticket like that. In CA at least the ticket is a fix it ticket for $25 and it isn't even considered a moving violation.

People build their own kit cars out here and modify things a plenty.

Everyone on here is ranting about DOT and NTHSB as if those are entities that are enforced by any local or state police. They are not (unless I'm totally wrong of course) and people are not getting $6,000 tickets LoL :juggle:

no, no one to my knowledge has ever gotten a $6000 ticket for this... but have you ever head of anyone going to jail for 5 years for tampering with a fire extinguisher, or getting the $10,000 fine? or how bout 10 years in prison and $100,000 for illegally copying movies? yeah i didnt think so... but the point still remains its there, its possible and its a law.

the point of the law was to crack down on HID lights being tossed into cars with out care or do diligence to proper instal. and being as though there has been no company as of yet to prove they have a justifiable retrofit that is acceptable to DOT or NHTSB, then they just blanket stated no go on the subject.

the law was aimed more at shops, retailers, and manufactures of these lights. i have seen and read the letter from NHTSB to both a lighting manufacture and a shop, its i think like 5 pages long and mainly sights safety concerns, compatibility concerns, improper installation, ect. this law or code was enacted to prosecute repeat offenders and put some teeth into safety issues. this is the type of issue that would probably most likely come to light in a court case where one side is stating that the accident was cause by temporary blindness by the oncoming headlights... then an investigation starts, someone finds out "Jimmys" civic(or in our case 4runner) had aftermarket HID lights that his car did not come with and they are indeed brighter...... i think you see where im going here.

Brian, am i say you(or anyone else) are going to get a $18,000 ticket from CHP(or who ever else) for having HID lights in your 4runner? no probably not. but if you are invlovled in a crash and that crash kills someones kid(s) or wife/husband ect you better be wear that this could come back in a judgment against you and that could become part of the fine...

its happened before with bumpers and other items...

and yes DOT regs and NHTSB regs/codes ect are enforced by local and state law enforcement as well as federal -yes US marshals can write traffic violations/infractions, just like any other police officer, and they have no jurisdictional bounds. -seat belt laws are a DOT and NHTSB code, and many states have adopted it, headlights and tail lights are both DOT and NHTSB regs, again many states have adopted them as well...

 

[02SE]

1-Your runner is easily identifiable

This is what I was getting at when I said you were obviously an enthusiast. Your 4Runner is not stock, and stands out. Once they notice a modified vehicle, it becomes a question of if there any illegal modifications they can identify, and have a reason to pull you over.

 

[GottaBeTRD]

This is what I was getting at when I said you were obviously an enthusiast. Your 4Runner is not stock, and stands out. Once they notice a modified vehicle, it becomes a question of if there any illegal modifications they can identify, and have a reason to pull you over.

yeah this is true. I knew it was only a matter of time i'd get busted for the window tint, and I don't know., I see/look at my truck every day so it doesn't really stand out to me, but to everyone else, it probably does and makes me an easy target; not only that but something that they will probably see quite often which makes it hard for me to do anything that may be against the law

 

[blizz86]

This is what I was getting at when I said you were obviously an enthusiast. Your 4Runner is not stock, and stands out. Once they notice a modified vehicle, it becomes a question of if there any illegal modifications they can identify, and have a reason to pull you over.

Ive never met a police officer who had that kind of mentality.. its a damn truck for pete's sake. Its not like we are flying down the streets in an r34 or something.

[MENTION=37079]GottaBeTRD[/MENTION] its good to have a spare set of headlights. just swap those in and get your inspection done and swap back.. as for tints not much you can do about that except remove and put a lighter color if you want.

edit: ALSO, just leave the TYC sticker or whatever DOT sticker you have on your retrofit.. and claim ignorance. say you bought them and it had a DOT if they ask you... those shitty ebay projector headlights are DOT approved.. just say you got it like that.

 

[GottaBeTRD]

yup, I might pull the trigger on some of those wonderful JDM style headlights that have such a great light output haha

IF ONLY i could let that officer ride with me one night, and compare some light outputs, halogen, PnP and the retrofit... I guarantee he would rip up that ticket and ask me to build him a set for his patrol car... dahhhh

 

[GottaBeTRD]

edit: ALSO, just leave the TYC sticker or whatever DOT sticker you have on your retrofit.. and claim ignorance. say you bought them and it had a DOT if they ask you... those shitty ebay projector headlights are DOT approved.. just say you got it like that.

I tried that, I used my stock headlights. I told him to go look, they have the Toyota factory specs edged in the glass of the headlight. yeah he laughed at me and said these are NOT OEM

 

[02SE]

no, no one to my knowledge has ever gotten a $6000 ticket for this... but have you ever head of anyone going to jail for 5 years for tampering with a fire extinguisher, or getting the $10,000 fine? or how bout 10 years in prison and $100,000 for illegally copying movies? yeah i didnt think so... but the point still remains its there, its possible and its a law.

I know a guy that was selling copyrighted material: Movies, computer programs, music, etc.

I knew he was very computer savvy, and had asked him something about a computer program one day, and he mentioned he could get me a copy for pennies on the dollar. I told him the offer was tempting, but I didn't feel comfortable buying what was essentially stolen property. I told him he was risking a lot (his, and his wife and daughters future) for relatively little financial gain. He said he wasn't worried, and that his business selling copyrighted material was small time, and no one would be the wiser.

Anyway, it turned out his best customer was the FBI.

About a year later, he was busted, tried, fined, and spent two years in the Federal Penitentiary in Colorado, and then several years on supervised release.

 

[02SE]

Ive never met a police officer who had that kind of mentality.. its a damn truck for pete's sake. Its not like we are flying down the streets in an r34 or something.

I am not, nor have I ever been an Officer. I know quite a few Police Officers. I've also been on numerous ride-a-longs. All of them notice modified vehicles, but usually they have more important things to attend to, then stopping modified vehicles for a closer look.

Now Highway Patrol Officers really notice modified vehicles, and look for illegal modifications on those vehicles. The vast majority of their job is patrolling the highways looking for violations.

 

[blizz86]

I tried that, I used my stock headlights. I told him to go look, they have the Toyota factory specs edged in the glass of the headlight. yeah he laughed at me and said these are NOT OEM

Hmm.. maybe it would have worked if it was an aftermarket brand :l sucks..

socal police havent ever stopped me