FYI Virginians:

I took my car in for a broken parking brake handle and state inspection today. The new handle is on order, I got the new flash (and stalled 5 or 6 times on the way home), and failed the inspection for clear corners (amber light but no amber reflector & not DOT approved), Derwankel rear rotary light (not DOT approved), and for a sticker on the 3rd brake light/CHMSL. I pulled the brake light mask & rear lamp & swapped the amber corners back to get my sticker. I'll reinstall the clears and rear lamp this afternoon.

I spoke to another tech while I was waiting and he implied that most will let that stuff by, but it technically should fail. In fact, mine's passed at the same dealer 3 times before.

If something like this went to court, I think I could argue that the inspection law stipulates "approved" lights, but does not specify "DOT approved", so, as long as Virginia law is followed per color, position & number, I'm OK. Here, though, you're at the mercy of the techs, so I'll do the inspection elsewhere in the future or swap those parts out first.

Any one else get dinged for clears?

 

meahhhhhh, for some reason I never like VA for residence.

most of the time they come up with some stupid laws like the one for speeding and paying time in jail and about a thousand dollars fine.

but anyway, this was about clear corners right? that sux

 

good thing i register in FL. no inspections at all. my car would fail the crap out of one here.

 

rosenthal arlington (aka finishline performance on this forum) never failed me for clear corners, so yay for me

 

i'd never live in VA.

im scared to even drive in it.

 

+1

matter of fact I got my last 2 tickets in VA

 

you guys don't know the half of the wrath that is the fairfax county police, lol

 

I've had no cop issues, just the **** inspection guy. The mega-fines for some infractions died a quiet death.

 

luck of the fools for life been in va. since 1973.can't really say i got a ticket i didn't break the law for but all in all if you don't treat them like there stupid or something most of the officers i have been stopped by were cool and gave me a break or two.mostly warnings.you need to know there are somethings to do on the street and other things to do at the tracks.lose a loved one from being stupid and maybe some will understand and some won't.being young and having fun always puts you in a win or lose place you might not like if the shoe was on the other foot.just me 2 cts don't hang me out to dry just learned how to roll and when to kick ***!safty first!

 

to their credit, i follow the speed limit far closer in VA than in MD. a long with most drivers, haha, people actually will drive speed limit on 95 and 495. thats just crazy talk in maryland.

 

I live just south of Richmond, Virginia and I have clear corners with Amber LED's and i have never had any problems. The Dealership in Midlothian (Whitten Brother's Mazda) passed my car just fine. These are offical Mazda Japan Parts....not some aftermarket BS. Mine say something like Kioto or something, all the lenses say that. Btw, mine is for sale, i posted a post in the Classifieds section.

 

All the clears are OEM Mazda Japan, but they aren't US DOT approved since DOT rules specify an amber reflector and marker light for the front corners. The US amber corners have "DOT" imprinted like all the other lights on the car. It was a slow day in the garage, apparently.

The lights are all back on the car, but next time, I'll swap the corners and disconnect the rear rotary light preemptively.