Legal issues with rear-facing lights ...?

[jdkilroy]

I am going to replace my front light bar with something a little more powerful and am planning to move the Baja Designs 20" light bar to the back. Plan is to mount it on the underside of the spoiler as a reverse light.

Anyone know of any legal concerns with a rear facing light of this intensity ?

 

[Gerdo]

Only if you turn it on while driving, forward, down the road.

 

[jdkilroy]

I have known folks that have been given tickets or warnings for not having off-road lights covered while traveling on public roads.

Might that apply to rear facing lights ?

 

[BucknutBob]

I'm pretty sure that lighting regulations differ by state, not federal law, so yours will be specific to your area. I have heard the one about having too many uncovered lights, something like no more than six (low, high, and driving/fog), at least to the front. I also would tend to agree that any rear-facing lights are fine as long as they're off while you're driving forward. Check local laws for specifics, though.

 

[T4rman]

That's probably a question for local guys. People drive fenderless, doorless, crawlers in Texas and nobody cares

 

[mikey's2010SR5]

I'm pretty sure that lighting regulations differ by state, not federal law, so yours will be specific to your area. I have heard the one about having too many uncovered lights, something like no more than six (low, high, and driving/fog), at least to the front. I also would tend to agree that any rear-facing lights are fine as long as they're off while you're driving forward. Check local laws for specifics, though.

In California you can only have 4 forward facing white lights. That is why our trucks and many other vehicles you can't turn the fog lights on and have your high beams on at the same time.

I would definitely check your local vehicle code to make sure of the legality.

 

[blue dog]

I have known folks that have been given tickets or warnings for not having off-road lights covered while traveling on public roads.

Might that apply to rear facing lights ?

I got a ticket for no covers, showed the cop that the weather pack connectors were not plugged in, he did not care. $25.00 fix it ticket. And i got a ticket for having my license plate on the fender of a trailer in the vertical position, same huntington Beach cop. a$$hat.
Seems cops are not hip to the LED light thing yet, i would just do it if i were you. 20" BD light bar is a lot of light for a rear facing light.

Side bar, just checked a Baja Designs onx bar on a friends race truck, that is one awesome light bar, i swear it is brighter then my BD HID'S, just does not have the same throw.

Here is my truck that got the fabulous light infraction ticket.

 

[blk-4runner]

Im running 6 HIDs and LEDs in CA, havent been pull over yet (knocking on woods)... most of the time I get complement from the cops

 

[FactoryRide]

A lot of it I think has to do with the cop that is pulling you over too. I have clear covers, but they are to protect the lights. I've got black magics though looks like I have covers on them haha.

 

[the great him]

well ive never been pulled over for it, in fact ive had officers want to see all of them on at the same time(so i gladly obliged). the other night though i thought i was gonna get it good. i had all of them on and was going down the hwy -it was like 0300(thats 3am for you civilians). i came around this corner and saw a car way down there at the far end of the straigh, so i turned off the roof lights but kept all the others on, as i drove, then as i got a little close i turned off the ones ontop of the bull bar, leaving only my headlights and the big amber fogs on the bumper. as i got close enough to see better my lights caught the reflection of the light bar ontop of the car(by this time he had pulled over into a parking lot of a general store on the side of the hwy)... i then turned off the fogs, and thought forsure i was screwed. but he didnt bother coming after me, he just pulled back out and kept going the same way hed come from. so i turned all my lights back on and kept going, ran that way for the better part of an hour and a half on my drive home...




thats the back up lights i have, they are 55w flood lights wired into a relay of the factory back-ups. they are crazy bright and even with my 20% tent on the darkest nights i can see just fun out the back

 

[Denisimo]

When i drove through Canada many years ago, ive noticed that many semi rigs have a bright spot light mounted on the back of the cab pointed back towards the road.
So if you drive behind them or try to pass them with high beams On, they will turn On that light that shines right at you to let you know that your high beams are On.

As far as your question, ive never heard of anyone having an issue or of a law while the lights are Off.. Just dont turn them On while driving forward on any local roads or highways.
If you are backing up, they can be turned On as long as your OEM back up lights are On at the same time.

You can turn them On while on parking lot or at gas station etc standint still.

 

[blk-4runner]

In CA, anything thats above 42" are consider off road lights, doesnt matter if its driving lights.

Section #24411 of the CA Code, state that you need a cover for off road lights, but doesnt mention which cover, could be clear or black... maybe you could get away with clear??

 

[treklights]

You'll be ok using them as backup lights.

As long as you don't drive backwards down a busy road, the cops shouldn't mess with you.

 

[Jeff Kleb]

When i drove through Canada many years ago, ive noticed that many semi rigs have a bright spot light mounted on the back of the cab pointed back towards the road.
So if you drive behind them or try to pass them with high beams On, they will turn On that light that shines right at you to let you know that your high beams are On.

Those big rigs don't have those spotlights to show you that your high beam lights are on; although they come in handy for that purpose. Those spotlights are for the driver if he needs to see while backing down into a loading dock where there is a roof over it and no exterior lighting.

They also are good if you are backing around a corner, working on the trailer (installing new glad hand couplings, air line fittings, etc.) or trying to read door, dock or address numbers late at night.

I wish my boss would let us put them on our tractors!
lane:

 

[wadle5]

I am going to replace my front light bar with something a little more powerful and am planning to move the Baja Designs 20" light bar to the back. Plan is to mount it on the underside of the spoiler as a reverse light.

Anyone know of any legal concerns with a rear facing light of this intensity ?

An old thread, but was wondering if you ever got these lights mounted on your rear as I was thinking about doing this as well, but wasn't sure about how to go about mounting them. I was thinking for a more stealth look between the spoiler and the vehicle, that way it is pretty much hidden, but pointed down it will shine all around the back of my vehicle, perfect for camping?

 

[Love4myRunner]

It's like you bought your Runner twice! Looked at your build thread and that thing is extremely built! So much money put into that Runner. Looks really great tho!

 

[jdkilroy]

... was wondering if you ever got these lights mounted on your rear ...

I did finally do that. I didn't mount it up under the spoiler though because the wiring would have been more of a PITA than I was willing to put up with at the time. Mounted on the underside of swing gate. Used a 10" BD light bar and it really lights up the area behind me. Pretty sure you would get better lighting mounted up higher ...


I switched it rather than using reverse activation so I would have more flexibility and control of the light.

 

[T4R Anomaly]

Switches

I did finally do that. I didn't mount it up under the spoiler though because the wiring would have been more of a PITA than I was willing to put up with at the time. Mounted on the underside of swing gate. Used a 10" BD light bar and it really lights up the area behind me. Pretty sure you would get better lighting mounted up higher ...


I switched it rather than using reverse activation so I would have more flexibility and control of the light.

Dude, where did you get those light switches !! So clean and the labeling , I want!!

 

[reelamin]

Had a nice full explanation and solution typed out then lost it. The quick and dirty.

All non factory installed equipment legality depends on the law/code for your area.

All states adopt federal NHTSA standards for their local equipment laws/codes. They then add in more restrictive codes but can not legally implement less restrictive codes/laws. Some states also allow certain divisions (DOT/State Police/State Patrol) to implement equipment standards by resolution or their own standards. This allows them to keep up with the aftemarket equipment changes because it would be impossible for the legislatures to be able to pass laws fast enough or enough of them. Perfect example is (HID/LED Headlight Kits) and the associated issues with light output and stlye of light output. Also, local municipalities can implement laws/codes just as state agencies do, and again can only be more restrictive not less.

90% of police officers know very little about their vehicle codes/laws off the top of their head. They will provide the law/code that applies to your specific question when asked. Don't just ask any officer request a traffic officer or one who does lots of traffic enforcement.

Just because you have never been stopped for certain equipment does not make it legal and if illegal you very well could get stopped months/years later.

Not too hard to find the actual laws/codes/rules we just have to look for them.

Ignorance is fixable...stupid is not!

 

[NuclearN8]

PA lighting laws

067 Pa. Code §Â*175.66.Â* Lighting and electrical systems.