TX help?
08-27-2009, 10:47 PM
#1
Rotarian
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TX help?
I was just wondering if ya'll think i would get pulled over or get a ticket if i got these lights for my parking lights >>
http://www.v-leds.com/Exterior-LED/C...81086-1-2.html
illegal??
http://www.v-leds.com/Exterior-LED/C...81086-1-2.html
illegal??
08-27-2009, 11:23 PM
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if they are ultra violet leds as specified by the manufacturer, then yes you will be likely to get pulled over in Texas. only emergency vehicle can display blue lights on the front.
Just get the regular ones that match the 6000 or 8000 HIDs.
Just get the regular ones that match the 6000 or 8000 HIDs.
08-28-2009, 01:34 PM
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I spoke with a DPS officer a little back and he told me "the law doesn't specify a color for headlights except red, just no headlight tints." I tried validating this but haven't had luck.
08-28-2009, 02:22 PM
#9
ive validated it when i got pulled over ... texas law states any rear facing lights maybe either white red or amber for signals and forward facing lights may be white yelow or amber ... no blue red or ANY other colors are permitted on the exterior unless a license for a specific purpose is granted thats what the trooper told me
08-28-2009, 03:02 PM
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ive validated it when i got pulled over ... texas law states any rear facing lights maybe either white red or amber for signals and forward facing lights may be white yelow or amber ... no blue red or ANY other colors are permitted on the exterior unless a license for a specific purpose is granted thats what the trooper told me
The only thing I remember it specifically saying were that you can not have red or blue alternating lights in front, and side marker lights had to be white or yellow.
08-28-2009, 09:09 PM
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ive got those exact bulbs in my car and have only gotten pulled over 1 time and it was for speeding. the cop noticed my parking light and commented on how nice they look with the color of my car
08-29-2009, 12:10 AM
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OK So to back up what I said earlier, figured I post this... awhile back I had the same question as you, and I figured you know what, those public service people should ya know service my question... I'm part of the public and I need service right?
Well this is what I got back in regards to what color lights are legal:
It is difficult because chapter 547 of the Texas Transportation Code,
which contains the laws regarding vehicle equipment to include lights,
is not a how-to manual for vehicle customization. These statutes are
available on the Internet at the following Web site:
http://tlo2.tlc.state.tx.us/statutes/statutes.html . I would point you
to Subchapters D & E.
These statutes are generally structured as follows:
1. What is required.
2. What is prohibited.
3. Exceptions to the above.
The type of lighting of which you speak, often called "accent lighting"
is not required by the Transportation Code.
Generally, anything not required or authorized is considered prohibited,
particularly if it can be shown to be distracting to other drivers or a
driving hazard.
Exceptions are for special purposes, for example road construction
vehicles, emergency vehicles, and other special vehicles.
Most of the enforcement of equipment laws are based on the
interpretation of the laws "we have on the books" and federal
regulations. This is because Section 547.3215 incorporates these
standards into Texas law. This regulation is 49 CFR 571.108 - the
regulation which governs vehicle manufacturers. It tells GM, Ford, and
all the others what specifications are to be used for vehicular lighting
equipment. The point is, these manufacturers expend enormous resources
in engineering and legal research to meet these regulations and if a
vehicle doesn't come, from the factory, with the equipment - it probably
is not a good idea to install it on the car.
In examining the law, there are two applicable statutes. Section is
547.332, Other Lamps Permitted, which states that two (2) amber or white
crowl (front top of vehicle) or fender, non-glaring lights are allowed
and two (2) running board lamps are permitted.
Section 547.353, Color Requirements, states the following:
(a) A clearance lamp, identification lamp, side marker lamp, or
reflector mounted on the front, on the side near the front, or in the
center of the vehicle must be or reflect amber.
(b) A clearance lamp, identification lamp, side marker lamp, or
reflector mounted on the rear or the side near the rear of the vehicle
must be or reflect red.
These two statutes would apply if the lamp (or bulb) was visible.
The common practice to circumvent these laws is to install the lighting
under the vehicle, out of direct view, so that the light is cast
downward illuminating the ground. State law is silent on this issue (in
this case silence is not golden) and the federal regulations do not
prohibited it, except for taking the place or interfering with any
required lamp, especially the license plate lamp.
This is a technical loophole. As with all technical or legal loopholes,
it is not understood by everyone to include some law enforcement
personnel. All questions of law are finally resolved in court.
To put it simply, while you may be able to drive the vehicle with the
accent lights illuminated and not receive a citation, there may come a
time when you are cited and the judge agrees with the officer. Your only
recourse will be to appeal the decision until you reach a court that
recognizes the loophole and you may still lose.
For more information, you can also visit the DPS Web site at
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/vi/Misc/faq/insp_faq.htm
Respectfully,
Lisa Block
Public Information Office
Texas Department of Public Safety
Doing some research, I found this:
http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/
This will get you there a bit faster:
http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.u...47.htm#547.302
So this is what I got for the rear:
Sec. 547.303. COLOR REQUIREMENTS. (a) Unless expressly provided otherwise, a lighting device or reflector mounted on the rear of a vehicle must be or reflect red.
(b) A signaling device mounted on the rear of a vehicle may be red, amber, or yellow.
Front and misc:
(c) A person may not operate a motor vehicle equipped with a red, white, or blue beacon, flashing, or alternating light unless the equipment is:
(1) used as specifically authorized by this chapter; or
(2) a running lamp, headlamp, taillamp, backup lamp, or turn signal lamp that is used as authorized by law.
Nothing about color here:
Sec. 547.327. SPOTLAMPS PERMITTED. (a) A motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than two spotlamps.
(b) A spotlamp shall be aimed so that no part of the high-intensity portion of the beam strikes the windshield, window, mirror, or occupant of another vehicle in use.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
Sec. 547.328. FOG LAMPS PERMITTED. (a) A motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than two fog lamps.
(b) A fog lamp shall be:
(1) mounted on the front of the vehicle at a height from 12 to 30 inches; and
(2) aimed so that no part of the high-intensity portion of the beam from a lamp mounted to the left of center on a vehicle projects a beam of light at a distance of 25 feet that is higher than four inches below the level of the center of the lamp.
(c) Lighted fog lamps may be used with lower headlamp beams as specified by Section 547.333.
Misc:
Sec. 547.332. OTHER LAMPS PERMITTED. A motor vehicle may be equipped with:
(1) not more than two side cowl or fender lamps that emit an amber or white light without glare;
(2) not more than two running board courtesy lamps, one on each side of the vehicle, that emit an amber or white light without glare; and
(3) one or more backup lamps that:
(A) emit an amber or white light only when the vehicle is not moving forward; and
(B) may be displayed separately or in combination with another lamp.
CHECK THIS ONE:
Sec. 547.353. COLOR REQUIREMENTS. (a) A clearance lamp, identification lamp, side marker lamp, or reflector mounted on the front, on the side near the front, or in the center of the vehicle must be or reflect amber.
(b) A clearance lamp, identification lamp, side marker lamp, or reflector mounted on the rear or the side near the rear of the vehicle must be or reflect red.
Thats basically all I could find that would be relevant (my question was actually in regards to the color of the fogs)
Well this is what I got back in regards to what color lights are legal:
It is difficult because chapter 547 of the Texas Transportation Code,
which contains the laws regarding vehicle equipment to include lights,
is not a how-to manual for vehicle customization. These statutes are
available on the Internet at the following Web site:
http://tlo2.tlc.state.tx.us/statutes/statutes.html . I would point you
to Subchapters D & E.
These statutes are generally structured as follows:
1. What is required.
2. What is prohibited.
3. Exceptions to the above.
The type of lighting of which you speak, often called "accent lighting"
is not required by the Transportation Code.
Generally, anything not required or authorized is considered prohibited,
particularly if it can be shown to be distracting to other drivers or a
driving hazard.
Exceptions are for special purposes, for example road construction
vehicles, emergency vehicles, and other special vehicles.
Most of the enforcement of equipment laws are based on the
interpretation of the laws "we have on the books" and federal
regulations. This is because Section 547.3215 incorporates these
standards into Texas law. This regulation is 49 CFR 571.108 - the
regulation which governs vehicle manufacturers. It tells GM, Ford, and
all the others what specifications are to be used for vehicular lighting
equipment. The point is, these manufacturers expend enormous resources
in engineering and legal research to meet these regulations and if a
vehicle doesn't come, from the factory, with the equipment - it probably
is not a good idea to install it on the car.
In examining the law, there are two applicable statutes. Section is
547.332, Other Lamps Permitted, which states that two (2) amber or white
crowl (front top of vehicle) or fender, non-glaring lights are allowed
and two (2) running board lamps are permitted.
Section 547.353, Color Requirements, states the following:
(a) A clearance lamp, identification lamp, side marker lamp, or
reflector mounted on the front, on the side near the front, or in the
center of the vehicle must be or reflect amber.
(b) A clearance lamp, identification lamp, side marker lamp, or
reflector mounted on the rear or the side near the rear of the vehicle
must be or reflect red.
These two statutes would apply if the lamp (or bulb) was visible.
The common practice to circumvent these laws is to install the lighting
under the vehicle, out of direct view, so that the light is cast
downward illuminating the ground. State law is silent on this issue (in
this case silence is not golden) and the federal regulations do not
prohibited it, except for taking the place or interfering with any
required lamp, especially the license plate lamp.
This is a technical loophole. As with all technical or legal loopholes,
it is not understood by everyone to include some law enforcement
personnel. All questions of law are finally resolved in court.
To put it simply, while you may be able to drive the vehicle with the
accent lights illuminated and not receive a citation, there may come a
time when you are cited and the judge agrees with the officer. Your only
recourse will be to appeal the decision until you reach a court that
recognizes the loophole and you may still lose.
For more information, you can also visit the DPS Web site at
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/vi/Misc/faq/insp_faq.htm
Respectfully,
Lisa Block
Public Information Office
Texas Department of Public Safety
Doing some research, I found this:
http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/
This will get you there a bit faster:
http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.u...47.htm#547.302
So this is what I got for the rear:
Sec. 547.303. COLOR REQUIREMENTS. (a) Unless expressly provided otherwise, a lighting device or reflector mounted on the rear of a vehicle must be or reflect red.
(b) A signaling device mounted on the rear of a vehicle may be red, amber, or yellow.
Front and misc:
(c) A person may not operate a motor vehicle equipped with a red, white, or blue beacon, flashing, or alternating light unless the equipment is:
(1) used as specifically authorized by this chapter; or
(2) a running lamp, headlamp, taillamp, backup lamp, or turn signal lamp that is used as authorized by law.
Nothing about color here:
Sec. 547.327. SPOTLAMPS PERMITTED. (a) A motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than two spotlamps.
(b) A spotlamp shall be aimed so that no part of the high-intensity portion of the beam strikes the windshield, window, mirror, or occupant of another vehicle in use.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
Sec. 547.328. FOG LAMPS PERMITTED. (a) A motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than two fog lamps.
(b) A fog lamp shall be:
(1) mounted on the front of the vehicle at a height from 12 to 30 inches; and
(2) aimed so that no part of the high-intensity portion of the beam from a lamp mounted to the left of center on a vehicle projects a beam of light at a distance of 25 feet that is higher than four inches below the level of the center of the lamp.
(c) Lighted fog lamps may be used with lower headlamp beams as specified by Section 547.333.
Misc:
Sec. 547.332. OTHER LAMPS PERMITTED. A motor vehicle may be equipped with:
(1) not more than two side cowl or fender lamps that emit an amber or white light without glare;
(2) not more than two running board courtesy lamps, one on each side of the vehicle, that emit an amber or white light without glare; and
(3) one or more backup lamps that:
(A) emit an amber or white light only when the vehicle is not moving forward; and
(B) may be displayed separately or in combination with another lamp.
CHECK THIS ONE:
Sec. 547.353. COLOR REQUIREMENTS. (a) A clearance lamp, identification lamp, side marker lamp, or reflector mounted on the front, on the side near the front, or in the center of the vehicle must be or reflect amber.
(b) A clearance lamp, identification lamp, side marker lamp, or reflector mounted on the rear or the side near the rear of the vehicle must be or reflect red.
Thats basically all I could find that would be relevant (my question was actually in regards to the color of the fogs)
