proof of hid being illegal

[zenraider]

hi all,

its probably been posted already but since im a novice at the forums i figured i post and see if someone can link me to a thread.


i keep reading all over many different forums that hid conversions are illegal, yet no one seams to be posting the proof. i have looked all over the washington state dot standards and have not found any mention as yet as to the illegal nature of hid lights. i understand the glare issues and the color issues. so far as i can tell the wsdot only says color on the front must be within a certain range, and focus must be set at a certain point. but due to the way the U.S. makes road sinage, there is supposed to be "upglare" in order to illuminate the reflective road signs. it had absolutely no mention of "HID" anywhere that i have been able to access.


can someone please point me in a direction to the proof of all the illegal claims.

 

[Mark_88]

I just googled HID conversion legality and came up with a couple of links you might want to read...guess it depends on your location and local laws...so you can also check with the local police or DOT...MOT...whatever ? of Transport you happen to have in your area...

 

[daniel3507]

Not only is it illegal in Washington, but its illegal in every other state too.
http://www.wsp.wa.gov/traveler/pasfaqs.htm

Are high intensity discharge (HID) conversion kits legal?

No, in order for a headlight to be legal for use in Washington State, it must conform to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) 108 requirements for headlights. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has concluded that it is impossible to produce HID conversion kits (converting a halogen system to HID) that would be compliant with FMVSS 108.

Halogen equipment uses an electrical current to heat a metal wire coil filament to incandescence, while the HID conversion kit's light source incorporates a discharge arc to produce light. HIDs require a ballast for operation. Under FMVSS 108 Section S7.7 (replacement light sources), each replaceable light source for headlamps must be designed to conform to the dimensions and electrical specifications for the headlamp source it is intended to replace. For example, if an HID kit is marketed as replacing an H1 light source, then it must match the H1's wire coil filament size and location, the electrical connector size and location, and the ballast design for use with an H1 light source (which is impossible since there is no ballast).

NHTSA believes this equipment presents a safety risk to the public since the kits can be expected to produce excessive glare to oncoming motorists. In one investigation, NHTSA found that an HID conversion headlamp exceeded the maximum candlepower by over 800 percent.

 

[feellnfroggy]

This appears to be an article written by some legal advocate, not a government authority. It still doesnt out right say its illegal, it just presents a few reasons why it should be illegal.

NHTSA believes this equipment presents a safety risk to the public

THis is an opinion, not neccesarily a public fact. Its the theory of this particular office, but again still not set in stone.

 

[Captain Ledd]

... and focus must be set at a certain point. but due to the way the U.S. makes road sinage, there is supposed to be "upglare" in order to illuminate the reflective road signs.

There you go. Focus point, which is why HID bulbs in Non HID housings are illegal. They don't focus correctly and blind oncoming drivers. Road signs do not require much "upglare" to reflect which is why they work just fine for normal headlights that 95% of every car on the road has. You don't need ultra bright lights to see a road sign. If you currently have a problem with this you either A) have worn out bulbs (yes, they dim before they actually burn out) B) have a yellowing or clouding lens issue. And finally C) your headlights are plain old aimed wrong.

Headlights are for other drivers to see YOU. NOT for you to see other drivers. Seeing a little ways in front of you at night is secondary. If it's too dark to react in time for oncoming obstacles you don't need brighter lights, you need to slow down.

Otherwise, other "illegal-ness" of HID's are enforced by laws such as dimming your brights for oncoming traffic (only with a HID you can no-longer do this).

 

[daniel3507]

This appears to be an article written by some legal advocate, not a government authority. It still doesnt out right say its illegal, it just presents a few reasons why it should be illegal.

NHTSA believes this equipment presents a safety risk to the public

THis is an opinion, not neccesarily a public fact. Its the theory of this particular office, but again still not set in stone.

No, in order for a headlight to be legal for use in Washington State, it must conform to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) 108 requirements for headlights. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has concluded that it is impossible to produce HID conversion kits (converting a halogen system to HID) that would be compliant with FMVSS 108.

If the NHTSA concluded that its impossible to make a conversion kit that meets the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards though, that sounds like it would make it illegal.

 

[Captain Ledd]

This appears to be an article written by some legal advocate, not a government authority. It still doesnt out right say its illegal, it just presents a few reasons why it should be illegal.



THis is an opinion, not neccesarily a public fact. Its the theory of this particular office, but again still not set in stone.

You missed the other part of that quote.

"NHTSA found that an HID conversion headlamp exceeded the maximum candlepower by over 800 percent."

Sounds like that's definitely on the side of illegal. It's not an opinion.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I hate driving on roads after dark anymore because so many people have uber bright lights (often HIDs) around here or refuse to turn off their high beams. Because of the aiming problem of HIDs, even being in a truck doesn't help me. If your headlights are so bright that I can't see which side of the road I'm on when you get close (or even if I'm actually on the road anymore), then there is a definite safety issue for both of us. Whether the lights are legal or not doesn't stop me from wanting to take a hammer to headlights that bright, and the desire to use that hammer on the driver's head.

I run Silverstar bulbs in my trucks. I prefer them over factory lights because they are brighter with a wider beam without being ridiculously bright like HIDs. If you really need an 800% increase in brightness over that, then you shouldn't be on the road after dark.

 

[4.0B2]

I got the clear glass replacements from LMC on my b2 and they are stupid bright. I can only imagine that HIDs would really make people mad. I've seen some and I can't see my lane when I'm close to them. It's a redicilous amount of light. I can see it on offroad lights when you're in the front of the group and wanna lit up the field or trail; which then forms an issue with dept of wildlife... Lol

 

[BlackBII]

Putting an HID bulb in a non-HID housing is illegal.

Replacing the whole headlight housing and bulb with an HID housing and bulb and ballast, and it wouldn't be illegal. At least, thats what my Safety Inspection guy told me.

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Weather or not HID's are illegal doesn't negate the fact that they are annoying as heck. and in alaska where its dark for 70% of the time in the winter i don't like not being able to see. Don't get them... I usually flash them a few times with my highs and off road lights...

 

[cammeddrz]

as a former state safety inspector blackbii is right, but also here in utah the only other restriction is that the light can not be show any other color than white when a white piece of paper is held in front of the headlight (many upgrades will show a blue tint)

 

[GoodOld85BlueBalls]

I like lil_Blue_Ford's Idea of taking a hammer to them. Those things are blinding. I will always turn on my bights and driving lights when someone comes the other way running HID's. If he is blinding me then F**k him, I'm doing it back. HID's just stand out; there is no mistaking if he just only has his bights on. Next time I see one I may follow him home and take a hammer to them. There is no need to have lights that bright on the regular roadways.

 

[BlackBII]

All you have to do is add a reflector in the right spot and it wont blind anybody, except maybe midgets in a cross-walk.

All the kits just sell the bulb and when you plug it in your regular housing, the light shines in every direction...

See image below. There is a reflector shield over the bulb, preventing the light from going to high.

 

[cammeddrz]

ah, but also shown in that pic is blue light showing on a white surface......still illegal