driving with offroad lights on

[swynx]

My buddy just bought a 40 inch led light bar. When he uses it on the road its a night and day difference. He never uses it when traffic is around. Was wondering if its illegal to drive withbit on when traffic isn't around. So say your using it and pass a cop on the highway shoulder.

We went wheeling the other night and at the trail head we stopped to wait for guys. He accidental left it on. Few cars and a police officer drove by. The cop was driving by as my friend was turning off tthe light. He started to slow but then kept going once he saw the light was off.

I assume as long as your not blinding other drivers its fine. Which means only using it while no one else is in sight. Like your brights.

 

[martin]

If you look on the box it will say "for off road use only" draw your own conclusions.

 

[forzda]

Most traffic acts allow for 2 white lights on at a time , ie low beams and fogs,high beams and driving lights . Driving lights must shut off when you go to low beams . however any lights above the headlights are for off road use only .

 

[adsm08]

It would depend largely on your local laws, but if it is illegal to have auxiliary lighting on while driving on the road I suspect that will apply if other cars are around or not.

For most cops the excuse "there weren't any other cars around" is not going to get you out of a ticket.

I am going to offer some advice that I base off my knowledge of your sealed juvenile record and the number of posts you make asking "is this legal" type questions. If you have to question it, don't do it it is probably illegal.

 

[swynx]

Shit is different in small hick towns like this one. What the cops let you get away with and whats legal to them is all that seems to matter. I only ask because several guys around here run even there 7 inch hids on the road.

 

[adsm08]

Yes, but in matters of legality I find it is best to err on the side of caution. Especially when one keeps applying for jobs that require back ground checks.

 

[Kowboy]

There was a time, when O/R lights were not only illegal, if lit while on the road or shown across the road, but they were required to be covered, if the vehicle was on public roadways. I guess you've all seen the yellow smiley faces and other types of covers.

 

[swynx]

I figured it was illegal. Didn't know if something had changed since i keep seeing them lit on the road. I remember having to have your lights covered. Perhaps ill once again call sheriff Rodriguez and have him explain it to me. I see people drive around with say a 50 inch light bar 2 hids and rock lights going shining right into houses. Maybe they just get lucky. I've been pulled over for not having a front licence plate. My buddy has yet to put one on his rig... he laughs at me.

Perhaps I should laugh at him when he gets ticketed for having the light of the sun on his jeep?

I searched on Google but it mostly came up with the lights themselves and mounting brackets.

 

[ab_slack]

Most likely illegal.

I had driving lights I wired to my high beams. This was back in the 80s and the vehicle had four sealed beam headlights. When low beams just two were used. When high beams all four were on. Law allowed for up to 4 headlights. With my two driving lights I had six.

I got stopped for having more than four. As I said they were wired to my high beams so I wasn't blinding people. Police officer was off the road with lights off. it was 2am in the morning, nobody else on the road and I was stopped.

I didn't get a ticket, just a verbal warning. I did confirm it was illegal. It would have been legal if the vehicle came stock with a single dual purpose low/high sealed beam instead of having separate ones cause I would have just had four total instead of six.

Now did the guy stop me for the 6 lights or was that more a pretext to pry into what I was doing out on the road at 2am? I tend to think there is a bit of the latter.

It is entirely possible that the police officer saw it and didn't think it was a big deal because he didn't get blinded, but that doesn't mean it is legal.

 

[swynx]

On my car I have 2 20$ lights from Walmart wire up to the head lights. There always on. Maybe that's different but nobody has said any thing.

 

[6.2]

If they aren't dot approved they aren't legal to use on road.

I haven't seen any offroad lights that are dot approved.

That being said, I use my vision x 4500 spot lights at night when there's no traffic. But I live on the prairies and you can see for miles. So cops can't even hide to get ya.

Where I live they have to be covered when the vehicle is on the road. They don't make covers for the 4500's so I don't cover em. I haven't had any issues yet.

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[straycat]

I did that in California once when I had just got off the beaten path. I had my two front six inch lights behind the grill on and I had my four six inch roof rack lights one. A CHIP did a U-turn and pulled me over and gave me a warning. I told him I had got off the trail and it was midnight and I was heading back to the base and I forgot I had them on. It was pitch black in that area. Those lights made a big difference!! But..no ticket, just a warning. He was the only car I saw that night. Had to be a cop!!!! lol

 

[a31ford]

Having JUST reviewed the HTA (Highway Traffic Act) here in Canada only a month ago on this exact situation, it says ONLY 2 white lights. There are MANY people that get away with lows & driving lights (FACTORY EQUIPMENT) which according to the HTA is a no no.

HOWEVER, funny thing (Local level) in speaking with a Compliance Officer (Vehicle Standards Officer), here in Manitoba, "Blue" or "Yellow" lamps are NOT considered "white" (even HID blue).

So the only other issue is "placement", "2 white lamps facing forward" (Rock lamps appear to be OK, HOWEVER that would be given final determination in a ticketing officers view), one vcould fight it in court I guess..

Personally I have 6 ACL's (Air Craft Landing) lamps (100w SPOT each) set as two on a bush bumper and 4 on top of a headache rack AND only in the "no one else around" situation I treat them with the same attitude that brights would be, and have a relay that automaticly turns them off when I go to dims instead of brights (that way I can't forget).

I've never (yet) been stopped or warned about too many lights.......

But I guess I could simply one day forget to dim... then OMG !!!

Greg

 

[MastuhWaffles]

Here in Texas offroad lights are illegal for on road use.

 

[6.2]

Having JUST reviewed the HTA (Highway Traffic Act) here in Canada only a month ago on this exact situation, it says ONLY 2 white lights. There are MANY people that get away with lows & driving lights (FACTORY EQUIPMENT) which according to the HTA is a no no.

HOWEVER, funny thing (Local level) in speaking with a Compliance Officer (Vehicle Standards Officer), here in Manitoba, "Blue" or "Yellow" lamps are NOT considered "white" (even HID blue).

So the only other issue is "placement", "2 white lamps facing forward" (Rock lamps appear to be OK, HOWEVER that would be given final determination in a ticketing officers view), one vcould fight it in court I guess..

Personally I have 6 ACL's (Air Craft Landing) lamps (100w SPOT each) set as two on a bush bumper and 4 on top of a headache rack AND only in the "no one else around" situation I treat them with the same attitude that brights would be, and have a relay that automaticly turns them off when I go to dims instead of brights (that way I can't forget).

I've never (yet) been stopped or warned about too many lights.......

But I guess I could simply one day forget to dim... then OMG !!!

Greg

I also live in Manitoba. Gotta watch out for VIU. We also have the modified vehicle act. Have you read that? I haven't in regards to lighting maybe it says something in there.

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