There are a ton of threads about LED/HID but I have not read one yet that addresses how are so many owners are putting in HID with no reservations of the legality. I get it that some states have no issue but at least here in Virginia it is different. Unless, the vehicle was bought with stock HID headlights, any aftermarket mods will not pass state inspection and have the possibility of getting stopped my the law. That is the whole thing that is stopping me from going from LED to HID. Thanks.
I do not get it -- HID vs. the law
- Thread starter sunnah
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
97BlackAckCL
Elite Member
I've run HID's in both retrofits and stock halogen projector headlights in my las 2 4Runners and have never been stopped by police or failed a state inspection. The key is not being an a-hole and putting HID's in non-projector headlights that have no cutoff and will blind people, like EVERY Jeep owner around here with round headlights. PA is a very restrictive state when it comes to state inspections and aftermarket lights and I've had zero issues in 15 years of running HID's. But like I said, I've only run projectors with proper cutoffs to not blind people.
str8flexed
Member
I haven’t had any issues, but Sacramento may be more lax (I’ve driven around without a front license plate for a year and never got in trouble). I also aimed the headlights a little lower (initially after the HID install, I would frequently get flashed by incoming drivers since it was in their eyes). There appears to be a pretty delineated cutoff so as long as that is low enough I suppose it’s fine.
There are also trucks with 2 feet lifts and those probably are worse offenders than mine when it comes to blinding people, though...
Presa Canario
New member
I can’t speak for others, but I just don’t care. It’s my vehicle and I’m going to do what I want to it. We have tint laws here and the first thing I do on every vehicle I buy is go straight to the tint shop and get 5% limo tint on all the windows and a strip across the top of the front windshield. I’ve never got a ticket. If I did, I’d pay it and keep my tint just like it was. I have HID’s in my lowbeams and they are very bright. I’ve never been stopped. I have Rigid D2’s in my fogs (the good Rigids, not those dimmed down DOT approved things). I use them on the road when there are no oncoming cars. I’m not ignorant to the law. I know what it is. If I get stopped for it, I’ll pay my fine and keep on rolling. It’s my vehicle. It’ll be exactly how I want it to be.
ok we get it but it sounds like sunnah has to deal w/ an annual or bi-annual inspection.. some states/counties require it and some do not.. you must be lucky enough to live in a place where it's not required..
I've had a 07 camry that i drove around southern utah for a decade without an issue with safety inspections.. then one year the both shops i took it to failed me.. failed me on a ****ing family car with tint.. guess what happened a year later after i removed tint? The state did away w/ the safety inspections altogether... just my ****in luck
Of course those 3 years leading up to that event, the police in our state were getting gunned down during traffic stops.. so i kind of understand for their safety they want to be able to see inside the vehicle
pDubs
New member
Virginia here as well and yeah I run HIDs in my 5th gen and I did with my 4th gen (projector headlights). Mine are 5k and I was I went with 4300k as they are still a little to blue-ish for my taste. As other have stated, just don't go running above 6k and no one will likely ever know it isn't OEM
4runr4eva
New member
Yup, got a TRD FJ suspension installed then bought a Xenon Depot HID kit. Got flashed several times. Lowered the hell out of the low beams and now not one flash since. I also think out of the factory, the headlights were aimed too high.
Decipher
New member
The state inspection is what’s getting you. First off, what an epic scam of taxpayer dollars and a BS way to gain more income. I’m SHOCKED crooked-*ss Illinois hasn’t thought of this yet.
But I digress. Your state inspection forces people to follow sometimes arbitrary laws whereas I can do whatever the fuuu I want and roll the dice on whether Johnny law catches me. In my Runner, I get away with everything I used to be shaken down for in performance tuner cars ( no front plate, tint, etc).
Enjoy your dictatorship of a state and thanks for making me feel marginally (at best) better about living in god-awful Illinois.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
But I digress. Your state inspection forces people to follow sometimes arbitrary laws whereas I can do whatever the fuuu I want and roll the dice on whether Johnny law catches me. In my Runner, I get away with everything I used to be shaken down for in performance tuner cars ( no front plate, tint, etc).
Enjoy your dictatorship of a state and thanks for making me feel marginally (at best) better about living in god-awful Illinois.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
MaddoxPics
New member
I've always loved the OEM argument from VA because anything you install on your vehicle, whether it be a replacement exhaust, light bulbs, etc, are technically not OEM, just an OEM replacement part.
With that said, I ran my HID's in VA for over a month when I was home for Christmas and was never stopped by Fairfax (who are anal about everything), nor state (who like to nail you for everything). Hell I even had the Christmas lights on the rear tire carrier on and had no issues with that either.
My brother runs LED's, my father runs LED's, both which didn't come with their vehicles. They have never been failed. My brother even has two LED bars below his hood not covered (not sure the law there in VA regarding that though).
Just make sure they are aimed correctly and I highly doubt you'll fail. Or, being it's such an easy process. Put the stock ones in during inspection and put the HID's in when you get home.
With that said, I ran my HID's in VA for over a month when I was home for Christmas and was never stopped by Fairfax (who are anal about everything), nor state (who like to nail you for everything). Hell I even had the Christmas lights on the rear tire carrier on and had no issues with that either.
My brother runs LED's, my father runs LED's, both which didn't come with their vehicles. They have never been failed. My brother even has two LED bars below his hood not covered (not sure the law there in VA regarding that though).
Just make sure they are aimed correctly and I highly doubt you'll fail. Or, being it's such an easy process. Put the stock ones in during inspection and put the HID's in when you get home.
hahah
some of you guys will never grow up..
there's a very important role for these inspections and i totally get why they do it..
go live in mexico if you want to live in the wild west
if you are capable of hiding the ballast that well.. then i say go 4 it.. a sloppy install w/ extra cabling will give it away too easily.. but keep it clean looking and they shouldnt hassle you.. 4300k is tastefully done.. anything more than 5500k is just tacky as shit
dride
New member
It’s hazard when you’re blinding other drivers on the road. If you don’t care because you need your blaring white bro lights you’re a dick. At least do everyone on the road a favor and re-align at the very least. I’m all for having great lighting and making your vehicle yours but not at the expense of others. Damn I’m getting old
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
MaddoxPics
New member
Anytime you lift you ideally are going to need to lower the lights. With that said I noticed the HID's shot out higher than my halogens at stock height, so I think it has something to do with the HID's beam or theirs in general.
Presa Canario
New member
Yep......I’m a dick.
