CLEANSR5

I just got pulled over a few days ago because my 4 PIAA 520's are uncovered. I was pulled over by the CA Highway Patrol in Truckee, California. I can't believe it, I had no idea that was a law. Has anyone had this ticket before? I need some idea of how much it's gonna cost. Thanks in advance.

Scofco

How is that a ticket?
I could see if they were ON, at night. Uncovered? Give me a break.
Make sure that actually is an offense before you pay it.

Elton

wow thats about the dumbest law ive heard of

slosurfer

wow, I haven't heard of that! Doesn't suprise me though, welcome Kalifornistan.

Elton

looks like they have one http://www.sidekickoffroad.com/offroadlites.htm

CLEANSR5

Yea I couldn't believe it, they weren't on or anything, I'm tempted to challenge it, just to see if it really IS a law in that circumstance. There was no suspicion of anything else either. He said he pulled me over ONLY because of the lights being uncovered. No reckless driving or anything.

ChickenLover

I had a similar experience in Kalifornistan back in the mid '90s. Oddly enough, it was near Truckee, (Boca). The kicker in my situation was that I was actually offroad. I was camping when the sheriff pricks came up and harassed the hell outta me.

They made me cover the 4 KC lights with articles of clothing. Otherwise I'd be ticketed. Ridiculous.

CLEANSR5

Yea, in fact he said something along those lines, he said something like this:

"Do whatever you can, trash bags, whatever, but you need to get those covered"

me assuming i was only getting a warning: "Ok Officer, I'll get on it as soon as I get home, thanks for the heads up"

"Sorry, I'm still ticketing you."

Great, so after the fire, after everything I get a ticket, but For uncovered OHV lights? Come on.

RedRunner_87

Auxiliary Lamps: Off-Highway Use
24411. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a vehicle may be equipped with not more than eight lamps for use as headlamps while the vehicle is operated or driven off the highway. The lamps shall be mounted at a height of not less than 16 inches from the ground, or more than 12 inches above the top of the passenger compartment, at any place between the front of the vehicle and a line lying on a point 40 inches to the rear of the seat occupied by the driver, shall be wired independently of all other lighting circuits, and, whenever the vehicle is operated or driven upon a highway, shall be covered or hooded with an opaque hood or cover, and turned off.

Amended Ch. 149, Stats. 1986. Effective January 1, 1987.

CLEANSR5

Thanks redrunner, I have been looking around for that for a while now, guess it didn't take you very long, thanks again! It's weird, every website I go to classifies the webbing on the PIAA's as "light covers". I just ordered some 6" KC Daylighter covers, I hope they will fit the PIAA's well. Does anybody have a set of lights covered by light covers made by another company?

RedRunner_87

I was told the same thing when I volunteered at the police department. So I kinda know my way around the Vehicle Code. I agree it is kinda stupid, but what can you do. Kinda gay that he pulled you over just for that.

4x4Lamm

What is really wierd is that west Virginia also has this law, the Jeep Liberty Renagade can't even be sold in WV due to it's roof lights!

Lamm

yotawheelin95

yah my dad got a ticket for it when he had a bed bars with kc highlights in his nissan, he always tells me i gotta keep mine on, but are they too high? i didnt think so by the way im in WI

CLEANSR5

Yea, I don't know if I'm still safe even with the covers though, I just recently put on an additional set of PIAA 520's pyramid style on my Surco Safari Rack, so I may not even pass the height requirements.

wjwerdna

what classifies a light.... just a housing?? he didnt check for bulbs did he? if you have a burned out bulb in your main headlight you will get ticketed for not having 2 lamps... so if you have 4 piaas with no bulbs, dont you have 4 non-lamps?

Erich_870

Is it an offense you can be pulled over for? The reason I ask is that Alaska just past a law making it legal to pull you over for not wearing your seat belt. Believe it or not, before the law they had to find another reason to pull you over to be able to ticket you for no seat belt.

Off road lights seem less important than seat belts. (I realize you're not in Alaska )

Sound like RedRunner_87 might know the answer.

Erich

CLEANSR5

I think a light means something with a switch that can be turned on inside the cabin at any given moment. I don't think the cops would be interested if the bulbs were out or not. To be perfectly honest with you, two of them don't work right now. I just wired them a few days ago and I'm having trouble getting the new set to power on.

wjwerdna

exactly, you had wiring problems, so they are just decorative... of course completely against my explanation and idea, if you have blue and red fake lights on a crown vic with a lot of other noticeable fake cop crap while eating a donut, you'd get pulled over for impersonation whether or not they worked

CLEANSR5

they will work, give me a few days, i think i switched the negative battery wire with the actual ground wire. I have to splice and extend almost everything because they are on my rack, so once I get a few hours I will take the whole the apart and switch the two and see if that works.

YotaFun

PA has the same law.
Since the lights are going to be mounted on the roof rack right near the sunroof, easy access to take the covers off and on...

But I don't see why they have to be covered while they are off?

EDIT: Jeep Liberty's around here have roof racks with lights on them and there not covered, and they never get ticketed, whats the deal there?