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We have researched
and found that most states, these LED Accent Lights are legal to have them
on while riding. We have also researched web links to most
states on the use of lighting of motor vehicles.
We have even spoken
to the police, state troopers, and other law enforcement officers on the
issue and they think that it is a better advantage to see a motorcyclist
at night with the accent lights on than to respond to an accident
because the other driver didn't see them. We have even sold LED Accent Light packages
to some
police officers own personal motorcycles.
If the state law provides the
use of accent lighting use it, as it does add safety of being more visible
while riding at night.
Here
is an update of what we found recently about the law in Texas and what they think.
As we said before about
accent lighting adding safety, look what we have found about what the
Texas Department of Public Safety has to say about motorcycles standing
out and being more visibly by adding lights so other motorists on the
road can see you. Here is the link to their website: http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/msb/standout.htm
Texas Law on Lighting
With EVERY sale of
lighting we will help provide a print out or you can do a search link to your state,
generally you can search under, www.capitol.state.tx.us,
as an example. Go to state statutes, then
transportation code, then go to
law on use of lighting of motor vehicles, then look for
restrictions on use
of lighting. You will get all your information there.
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§ 547.305.
RESTRICTIONS ON
USE OF LIGHTS.
(a)
A motor vehicle
lamp or
illuminating
device, other
than a headlamp,
spotlamp,
auxiliary lamp,
turn signal
lamp, or
emergency
vehicle or
school bus
warning lamp,
that projects a
beam with an
intensity
brighter than
300 candlepower
shall be
directed so that
no part of the
high-intensity
portion of the
beam strikes the
roadway at a
distance of more
than 75 feet
from the
vehicle.
(b) Except as
expressly
authorized by
law, a person
may not operate
or move
equipment or a
vehicle, other
than a police
vehicle,
with a lamp or
device that
displays a red
light visible
from directly in
front of the
center of the
equipment or
vehicle.
(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,
tail lamp,
backup lamp, or
turn signal lamp
that is used as
authorized by
law.
(d) A vehicle
may be equipped
with alternately
flashing
lighting
equipment
described by
Section 547.701
or 547.702 only
if
the vehicle is:
(1) a school
bus;
(2) an
authorized
emergency
vehicle;
(3) a church
bus that has the
words "church
bus" printed on
the front and
rear of the bus
so as to be
clearly
discernable to
other vehicle
operators;
(4) a tow truck
while under the
direction of a
law enforcement
officer at the
scene of an
accident or
while hooking up
to a disabled
vehicle on a
roadway; or
(5) a tow truck
with a mounted
light bar which
has turn signals
and stop lamps
in addition to
those required
by Sections
547.322,
547.323, and
547.324,
Transportation
Code.
(e) A person
may not operate
highway
maintenance or
service
equipment,
including
snow-removal
equipment, that
is not equipped
with lamps or
that does not
display lighted
lamps as
required by the
standards and
specifications
adopted by the
Texas Department
of
Transportation.
(f) In this
section "tow
truck" means a
motor vehicle or
mechanical
device that is
adapted or used
to tow, winch,
or move a
disabled
vehicle.
Acts 1995, 74th
Leg., ch. 165, §
1, eff. Sept. 1,
1995. Amended
by Acts 1999,
76th Leg., ch.
380, § 1, eff.
July 1, 1999.
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Not all states allow
use of accent lighting for motor vehicles so check what your state law is
for lighting of motor vehicles.
Generally calling the Department of
Transportation someone there can give you information to the states web link for state
laws, then do the research on your own, and not just hear say from someone
who isn't sure or doesn't know or even give you the wrong information.
All customers who
live in Texas that purchase our LED Accent Lighting package will get a copy and
update of what the Law is in Texas for use of lighting for motor vehicles
that we print off the states website.
Here
are some FACTS about the LAW in most states of use of lighting.
Most, if not all
states list in the transportation code, use of lighting of motor vehicles,
that you cannot have RED, WHITE, or BLUE with flashing, rotating, or
strobing lights. These are emergency colors. Also, some states like
Florida you can NOT have continuous Blue or RED lights displayed on the
motor vehicle while riding or driving on the road ways. Some states just
mention the use of continuous blue lights, some other states also have
this law as well, so read what YOUR state laws are regarding lighting of
motor vehicles.
Red cannot be placed on the front and center of the motor
vehicle.
The light cannot
produce a beam with an intensity brighter than 300 candle power and that
no part of the high-intensity beam strikes a portion of the roadway at a
distance of 75 feet from the vehicle.
Red is for the rear of the
motor vehicle as well, so you have to KNOW what the law is and we are here to
help educate you. Some dealers/installers DO NOT know exactly what the law is
nor will inform their customers on the issue.
Print out a copy and have a copy
with you should you ever get pulled over for your accent lighting and show the officer that you are
according to the law abiding by it. But most important, your attitude with the officer is a big
thing, so be very nice about it.
Then in MOST CASES he will
let you go and have no reason to write you a
ticket for your accent lighting as long as you are abiding by the state
law.
Providing you comply with the states
law, for lighting of motor vehicles there should be no reason to receive a
ticket for your LED Accent Lighting.
Most states only
mention of Neon Accent Lighting, not LED's. Unless there is a mention of LED
Accent Lighting or for ground effects then you have legal right to have them on.
I am
not an attorney, but I can pretty well read like the rest of us can as well. So
read what the laws are in your state. Get educated on this issue.
The court system
cannot nor will not charge you with the LED Accent Lighting of your motorcycle as I had stated
before
unless you had Red, White, or Blue strobing, flashing, or rotating lights
on it, or if it doesn't specifically state the type of accent lighting then you
should be home free.
One example would be; in Virginia it states that you can not have neon ground effects, but
if you had LED ground effects and the law doesn't specify LED (light
emitting diode) ground effects then how can they stick you with a ticket?
Get my point? But, if the law plainly states any accent light effect,
then you may lose your battle.
Some cases if you
have neon light accent tubes where it is illegal you may get stuck with the ticket, so read what the
law states very carefully. If it doesn't mention neon or LED light effects
then it is legal to have them on.
Remember, laws
are written in black and white. If something isn't mentioned in the states
statutes then it is legal to do what isn't stated otherwise, right?
Then it is not illegal until they pass a law stating exactly what it
pertains to, like neon or LED Accent Lighting.
There have been some
cases that some motorcyclist have been pulled over using Red, White, or Blue
Neon Spark Plug Wires and have gotten tickets for them because of the
flashing, or strobing light.
I am not here to
discourage anyone from purchasing Neon Red, White, or Blue Spark Plug
Wires, but it is YOUR DECISION to purchase them.
I just want you ,the motorcyclist to be aware of what some
of the laws are and
possibilities of getting pulled over.
The motorcyclist in
some cases have to pay the ticket any way due to the strobing or flashing
light as stated in the law by the state.
It is just a sad
thought that there are police officers out there to
target motorcyclists in some form because of the flashing of the Red, White, or Blue
Spark Plug Wires they get away with
writing a ticket for it because of some laws pertaining to the lighting
effect of them.
We know that there are motorcyclists who are not
portraying an emergency vehicle. We as motorcyclists just want ANY and ALL
MOTORISTS to see
us at ALL TIMES and will use ANY means possible so the
other motorists can see
us on the road ways, and at night
especially, to prevent an accident, especially not to rear end us or
broadside us!
Some cases officers
have claimed
they know the law and will give you wrong information on the use of
lighting, in some cases only a very small number can
actually know every bit of information on the law. Those that
usually know every bit of the law usually are Judges in some cases if not all.
Next time you get
the chance, ask a law enforcement officer what the law is on accent lighting of
motorcycles or motor vehicles, they will, in most cases tell you the wrong
information or they may
reply with I am not sure.
Check with your
State Statutes, Transportation Code, Lighting of Motor Vehicles,
Restrictions on use of Lighting. You will
get all your answers there on the use of lighting for any motor vehicles
and be well informed of what the law actually is.
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