CHP and LED warning

[94sport]

Warning: Today I was the unlucky guy that was pulled over on HWY 330 at approximated 9:45AM because the LED Light Bar my son gave to me and installed on the front bumper was not covered.

Now I need to cover or remove it, go to get the xj looked at and varified by any law enforcement officer or the DMV or a vehicle inspection facility and have them sign the ticket and then return the ticket certified mail along with the processing fee which I expect to be around $50 bucks however I wont know how much that is for sure until the Fontana Court sends me the actual court papers.

He said all offroad lights must be covered when the vehicle is in use on road. The officer is pulling car after car over and it is obviously a trap. I told him I would be happy to remove it right then and there but he declined my request.

 

[Johnnie Walker]

My understanding was any aftermarket lights mounted ABOVE the headlights have to be covered. YOu would have to check and confirm, but if true then you should be able to fight and win.

 

[maxdidit]

V C Section 24411 Auxiliary Lamps Off Highway Use

Auxiliary Lamps: Off-Highway Use

24411. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a vehicle may be equipped with not more than eight lamps for use as headlamps while the vehicle is operated or driven off the highway. The lamps shall be mounted at a height of not less than 16 inches from the ground, or more than 12 inches above the top of the passenger compartment, at any place between the front of the vehicle and a line lying on a point 40 inches to the rear of the seat occupied by the driver, shall be wired independently of all other lighting circuits, and, whenever the vehicle is operated or driven upon a highway, shall be covered or hooded with an opaque hood or cover, and turned off.

Amended Ch. 149, Stats. 1986. Effective January 1, 1987.

 

[cal]

http://www.sidebysidesports.com/srs...6vuG7z5KKGsMdHoBUkX9c4-B_Zvh4V_ZjMaAoD98P8HAQ


led light bar covers.

quick and simple solution. cover the bar, and get it signed off.

 

[94sport]

That is the plan! My post was intended to warn others so that they do not get a ticket. Had I known it had to be covered or pointed down it would have been.

 

[scottmcneal]

Cover, I don't need no cover. I got friends in low places.

 

[Jays siik xj]

Ive been meaning to make a cover for mine too. I had heard rumors going around that people were getting tickets for their light bars not being covered but hadn't known anyone personally who's gotten one. I guess I'll turn mine downwards til I get time to fab one up.

 

[JohnX]

I wired mine as a fog light....can only be turned on when the running lights are on. Not wired independently.

 

[David_Bricker]

I used to get pulled over for equipment violations for lights back in the '70s constantly. Of course, a 4wd van was rather unusual back then. I just figured getting an equipment violation for lights was better than them looking for something more difficult to resolve.

I wonder if there has been an increase of complaints/people using the lights on the street, thus prompting the "crackdown", or if this is a lone officer enforcing the rules.

David Bricker / SYR

 

[GSequoia]

FYI you can have two off-road lamps uncovered (not on, of course) provided you only have headlamps otherwise. You are allowed a maximum of four uncovered forward-facing lamps.

 

[TheCaptain]

What is considered a "lamp"? I would consider my little 4 LED pod a single lamp, but using that same logic, my 52" light bar would also be a lamp

 

[Anak]

I would bet the law did not anticipate those light bars.

Geoff, do you have the text for the law allowing four uncovered lights? I doubt it will clarify anything, but it would be nice to know on what it is that the argument hinges.

It is probably a good bet that if there is any refinement of the law down the road it will only be more restrictive.

 

[GSequoia]

I would bet the law did not anticipate those light bars.

I would, too. LED pods may be a curiosity that the law hasn't yet clarified. I could see them being a waverer. A four LED pod could be considered either one lamp or a cluster of four.

Geoff, do you have the text for the law allowing four uncovered lights? I doubt it will clarify anything, but it would be nice to know on what it is that the argument hinges.

Here is what I have. It also looks like my memory was a bit fuzzy on the details. I would, however, keep it to four or six (if you have quad-headlamps) uncovered on highway to be safe.

24405. (a) Not more than four lamps of the following types showing
to the front of a vehicle may be lighted at any one time:
(1) Headlamps.
(2) Auxiliary driving or passing lamps.
(3) Fog lamps.
(4) Warning lamps.
(5) Spot lamps.
(6) Gaseous discharge lamps specified in Section 25258.
(b) For the purpose of this section each pair of a dual headlamp
system shall be considered as one lamp.
(c) Subdivision (a) does not apply to any authorized emergency
vehicle.


Also some definition of lights:
24400. During darkness, every motor vehicle other than a
motorcycle, shall be equipped with at least two lighted headlamps,
with at least one on each side of the front of the vehicle, and,
except as to vehicles registered prior to January 1, 1930, they shall
be located directly above or in advance of the front axle of the
vehicle. The headlamps and every light source in any headlamp unit
shall be located at a height of not more than 54 inches nor less than
22 inches.


24402. (a) Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed two
auxiliary driving lamps mounted on the front at a height of not less
than 16 inches nor more than 42 inches. Driving lamps are lamps
designed for supplementing the upper beam from headlamps and may not
be lighted with the lower beam.
(b) Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed two
auxiliary passing lamps mounted on the front at a height of not less
than 24 inches nor more than 42 inches. Passing lamps are lamps
designed for supplementing the lower beam from headlamps and may also
be lighted with the upper beam.

24403. Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed two
foglamps which may be used with, but shall not be used in
substitution of, headlamps. Foglamps shall be mounted on the front
at a height of not less than 12 inches nor more than 30 inches and so
aimed that when the vehicle is not loaded none of the high-intensity
portion of the light to the left of the center of the vehicle shall
at a distance of 25 feet ahead project higher than a level of four
inches below the level of the center of the lamp from which it comes.



24404. (a) A motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed two
white spotlamps, which shall not be used in substitution of
headlamps.
(b) No spotlamp shall be equipped with any lamp source exceeding
32 standard candlepower or 30 watts nor project any glaring light
into the eyes of an approaching driver.
(c) Every spotlamp shall be so directed when in use: That no
portion of the main substantially parallel beam of light will strike
the roadway to the left of the prolongation of the left side line of
the vehicle.
That the top of the beam will not strike the roadway at a distance
in excess of 300 feet from the vehicle.
(d) This section does not apply to spotlamps on authorized
emergency vehicles.
(e) No spotlamp when in use shall be directed so as to illuminate
any other moving vehicle.

And off-road lamps:
24411. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a vehicle may be
equipped with not more than eight lamps for use as headlamps while
the vehicle is operated or driven off the highway. The lamps shall
be mounted at a height of not less than 16 inches from the ground, or
more than 12 inches above the top of the passenger compartment, at
any place between the front of the vehicle and a line lying on a
point 40 inches to the rear of the seat occupied by the driver, shall
be wired independently of all other lighting circuits, and, whenever
the vehicle is operated or driven upon a highway, shall be covered
or hooded with an opaque hood or cover, and turned off.


FYI this information may not be completely current. There may be laws that supersede this law that I am not aware of. I am not a lawyer. Your mileage may vary. If you have an erection lasting more than four hours call a doctor. Some assembly required. Picture simulated for television.

Here is the document I put together several years ago with some key laws. View attachment calliftlaws.pdf

 

[Anak]

Good stuff. Thank you.

"Passing Lamps" are a new one to me, and seem a bit loosely defined.

 

[GSequoia]

Good stuff. Thank you.

"Passing Lamps" are a new one to me, and seem a bit loosely defined.

Yeah, a lot of this stuff was clearly written way back in the day when 60% of the cars had Unity spotlamps, half of which were 6V.

 

[Russ Pottenger]

I got this picture in my head of David driving his Scooby Doo lookin 4wd van to Woodstock.

 

[David_Bricker]

I got this picture in my head of David driving his Scooby Doo lookin 4wd van to Woodstock.

Well, the van still sits in my driveway, and it's closer to Woodstock now than it ever has been! And, yeah, it's certainly from the Scooby Doo days.

At least a pair of the lights that gave me so much trouble in the 70's are now on the roof of Gomer! Let the CHP games begin!

David Bricker / SYR

 

[2stix]

a total of (6) headlamps can be uncovered as long as they are below the hood line. if you have factory duel headlamps (separate high and low beam) those would be considered (4) total. above the hood line, all lamps need be covered when operated on roads and highways.
coming back into town while after a evening of fun in the hills of big bear, i pulled into BB 7-11 and a sheriff pulled behind me and made me cover all my lights that where above the hood line then counted all the lights on my grill. he said six where allowed and i had 2 factory headlamps and 4 hella's on the bumper, and he said i was good to go. by the way i did not have the covers for my roll bar mounted lights and the officer laughed when i made my passengers take off their socks to cover the lights. still he was satisfied with the covers and off we went.

 

[karstic]

I used to get pulled over for equipment violations for lights back in the '70s constantly. Of course, a 4wd van was rather unusual back then. I just figured getting an equipment violation for lights was better than them looking for something more difficult to resolve.

I wonder if there has been an increase of complaints/people using the lights on the street, thus prompting the "crackdown", or if this is a lone officer enforcing the rules.

David Bricker / SYR

The CHP in Big Bear is notorious for fix it tickets.

 

[toyotawrench]

I got pulled over in Newport beach way back in the day, the officer was fairly angry. I wasn't speeding, I used my turn signal, and was at the time obeying all traffic laws. He told me to take the light bar down because it was visually unpleasing to the location. well hell so was the jeep it was one ugly bitch!