another light question

[DangerousCurves]

Everyone I've asked said that lights under you car (like fast n furious style) are illegal, but what about body lights on bikes? I figured if it helps get you noticed at night it's a good thing, but I haven't seen any bikes with them....

 

[deaconblues]

If it's illegal on cars, it's probably illegal on bikes too.

as I understand it, amber or white up front, amber or red in the rear. "Alles sonst ist verboten!"

 

[CHICKenstrip]

Everyone I've asked said that lights under you car (like fast n furious style) are illegal, but what about body lights on bikes? I figured if it helps get you noticed at night it's a good thing, but I haven't seen any bikes with them....

DC - The Vehicle Code sections dealing with this are pretty hard to follow but it's really specific as to what lights can be on a vehicle and where and how they should be mounted. If anything, there are more sentences including "except motorcycles" when describing these. From a safety point of view, although it seems like more lights would make you more visible and therefore, cars would avoid you, people have a tendency to get more fixated on the lights and veer towards them. (You'll see this every now and then when a patrol car has someone pulled over and another driver smacks right into the flashing lights on the shoulder.) I think making sure the installed lights are working and correctly mounted, along with wearing reflective gear are gonna optimize your visibility.

 

[Trogdor]

The catch-all for weird-ass lighting is

24003. No vehicle shall be equipped with any lamp or illuminating device not required or permitted in this code, nor shall any lamp or illuminating device be mounted inside a vehicle unless specifically permitted by this code. This section does not apply to:

(unrelated exceptions not included)

So you basically have to read the VC and figure out if the lights are allowed. If there is no section that allows them, then they are illegal per 24003 VC.

 

[CBRWITHTVS]

I had blue lights all around my old bike. Cop pulls me over and says:
COP: did you know thoes lights are illegal?

Me: what lights?

cop: thoes blue lights all around your bike!

me: oh..no i had no idea they were illegal

cop: ya there illegal, you cant have blue or red lights on your bike. Your gonna have to take em off.

Me: so does that mean i could have green or purple lights?

cop:yup as long as there not red or blue.

 

[motorman4life]

cop:yup as long as there not red or blue.

He is wrong. If the lighting devices are not approved, they are not allowed. 99.9% of these novelty lights are marked "off road use only" or "not intended for street/highway use." This should be your first clue they are not legal for use on a street bike (or car, if applicable).

Apparently, in the 90's, one company did get some "ground effects" type lighting approved for use in Florida through the Florida DOT. Last I heard, they were legal on Florida plated vehicles.. but only the specific make and model that was approved for use there.

Blue and red lights to the front will get you stopped the quickest.

Green and/or amber to the side, red and/or amber to the rear and white/amber to the front will probably go somewhat unnoticed and uncited, even if they are not street legal.. most officers won't take the time to stop you unless the lights are distracting, flashing or obnoxious.

Also, keep in mind, only about 10% of the officers on the street have more than a basic working knowledge of the CVC.

 

[Trogdor]

Also, keep in mind, only about 10% of the officers on the street have more than a basic working knowledge of the CVC.

Add to that my earlier post about illegal lights per 24003 VC and the confusion is understandable. It is relatively easy to find a VC section that makes a light illegal. It is tough to know all VC sections to be certain a light is legal. So when you ask 'can I mount a light this way', an officer would have to have an uncanny understanding of the VC to state with certainty that the light is legal.