"Legal" concerns about additional lights
 

I worked at an all night gas station a few years ago and a lot of truckers would hang out an BS. They'd always say the big rigs you see going down the road decorated with all the unneceissary lights present a problem to the driver because if just one of those lights burnt out, they could get pulled over and fined for it.

I was considering getting a row of orange lights along my roof, just above my windshield when I remembered this. Anyone here have lights like I'm talking about? If so, have you ever gotten in trouble for one being burnt out? It seems rediculous to me, since you usually get nothing more than a warning for a burnt out tail light.

RE: "Legal" concerns about additional lights
 

are you talking about the lights that are on the top of like super dutys or like a big dodge 3500? i dont see why they would give you a ticket for that. however i figured those would use leds which, more than likely, will never stop working

RE: "Legal" concerns about additional lights
 

just check with your local police yes i know not everyone likes them but ask one if you get the chance or your d.o.t. for state regulations just to be on the safe side of the law for extra non factory lighting some states don't allow it unless its factory in your application

RE: "Legal" concerns about additional lights
 

Yeah similar to the ones on the Super Duty's. I wouldn;t have any idea if they're LED or not, but if they are and what you explained is the case, that'd be great. I'll be looking further into once I replace my exaust this month.

And gr8t1, not to shoot your suggestion down, but I think if a young long haired mountaineer like myself stopped in the local police barricks to ask them a question like that, they'd laugh me out of the place! Cops around this area are like that. Thanks for the replies guys.

RE: "Legal" concerns about additional lights
 

oh didn't know but you can still call the D.O.T. and find out they wont laugh at you with long hair and being a mountain man my honest opinion is no they arent but then again the D.O.T changes rules all the time

RE: "Legal" concerns about additional lights
 

Haha, it's all good man. I'll probably just swing by a local garage and ask them if they'd know anything about that. I was really just curious if anyone had been pulled over for burnt out lights like these, but if they truly never burn out, I won't have anything to worry about. Thanks again.

RE: "Legal" concerns about additional lights
 

if there led's they last forever so spend a lil extra cash for those and hope to see a picture when you do your mod good luck

RE: "Legal" concerns about additional lights
 

Roof market lights should be no problem when it comes to local and state regs. Its when you get into auxilliary driving/fog lights that some state and local regulations get a bit murky.

RE: "Legal" concerns about additional lights
 

the roof lights, or cab lights, there is like 5 of them?
they are not against the law, well...in massachusetts anyways..
we do them all the time and if you do get them you def should get the led ones they look so much better.
you can even get clear ones with the amber led's if you wanna

RE: "Legal" concerns about additional lights
 

I can't imagine you getting in trouble for a burnt out roof light. And ifthe copslaugh at you, then that sounds like they won't pull you over for it. Even if they did pull you over they will most likely rip up the ticket when you replace it like a brake light or headlamp.

RE: "Legal" concerns about additional lights
 

My dads f-350 has the clearance lights on them, he has smoked lenses with amber LED's, they look really good and i wanna do them to my blazer. Its not a problem if the lights are amber white or red, its colored lights that get you in trouble in CT.

RE: "Legal" concerns about additional lights
 

i think you will be fine. it is usually the different color lights when you start getting in trouble

RE: "Legal" concerns about additional lights
 

I was planning on putting orange ones on.

RE: "Legal" concerns about additional lights
 

Chris, remember that highway rules regarding commercial vehicles can be quite different form the rules for private vehicles. Since orange clearance lights are a factory option on some 3/4 and 1 ton pick-ups they are legal in all 50 states and since they are not considered a visual lighting aid I doubt that a burned out lamp is going to be an issue on private vehicles. Like those lighting strips you can put under your tailgate and hook to the brake lights and turn signals that are exempt from regs.

RE: "Legal" concerns about additional lights
 

As long as the ones facing forward are amber/orange, I doubt you'll ever have an issue with them...

RE: "Legal" concerns about additional lights
 

What part of CT you from. I'm in plainville. I was looking into doing this too, only along the bottom lip of my front bumper and wire them into the blinkers like the tailgate led bar I have.

RE: "Legal" concerns about additional lights
 

The problem with the truckers is that they have to have a certain number of clearnance lights in the right locations, so if one burnt out on a truck and it took him below the required number, I could see him getting a citation. As for the average driver, I imagine clearance lights are up to you to maintain.

But it's always a safe bet to check with your highway patrol/dot. I researched NC lighting laws when I was putting up auxillary lights and found a few interesting things. "Legally" I can only use at most 2 if the road is not "sufficiently lit" by street lights, and I have to deflect them or turn em off when a car approaches. Each state is different, so make sure you check em out.

installing?
 

I know this is an old post but does anyone know if there ever was a right up and some sort of kit for the blazer to do this. Even if there wasnt a kit but some sort of wiring harness would be nice. let me know if you guys know anything.
thanks

i do know if you add lights, they have to work, and you can fail inspection if they do not work
at least that is how it is here in mass

Here in MI we dont have have to pass emissions or anything for vehicles it rocks

Hey guys thinkin of adding these marker lights. dont really want to do it myself but autobody shop said it would take 8 hrs and $400 to install. which i believe is a bunch of bs. removing the headliner would be the worst part. found this link for them. says it comes with a harness. check it out. let me know what u think and if someone has added these lights/or anyother marker lights put some pics up please.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/Chevrolet-S...-600002879.jcw

also wondering (i have the temp console on the headliner) is there a way to splice into the temp reading to use as a power source for the lights

thanks everybody for the great advice.JK
i went ahead and bought the lights from advance auto should have pics up when done so if anybody else wants to do it or would be interested in me doing a write up. if the moderators here ever let be post a new thread. either email me at [email protected]
or pm me

here it is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQi7jzXAkFg

I have a Lund Lighted Moonvison (same concept as clearance lights) on my 2000... I had the bulb smack in the middle go out and never had any problems from an LEO (law enforcment officer). But it may vary upon your local laws.

why the hell would you do that? just run a wire up from the HL switch so they come on with your lights, not your ignition.
i know it's been awile since you last posted on this, i hope you never wired them in how you posted here.

Well there is the dimmer wire going up to the overhead console. If you splice into that wire, the roof lights would come on whenever your clearance lights are on. They also may dim when you dim down your interior lights...:icon_doh:

It would just be easier to run a wire up from under the dash for the application though.

it would be alot easier instead of tearin part of the dash apart and a pillar which i ended up doin. i ran it down and tied into the auto lights and the parking lamps so i can either turn them on with the switch or they automatically come on with the autos. next project is getting them to flash with the hazards for farm work... :icon_razz:

If you're driving a semi (which falls under much different regulations than a passenger vehicle), you can be fined for having a single "chicken" (extra running) light out. Other than the states that have an inspection (we don't in Indiana :)), it won't matter a bit. If you have a bunch of lights out in various places, you might get pulled over and checked out, but it's unlikely you'd get in any kind of trouble over it. My '96 Jimmy (RIP) had a lighted Lund visor. I had a couple lights out most of the time (bought it used and beat up) and never got stopped.

yea on a semi u might get pulled over but i dont think u would for havin them on a mean lookin blazer

In NY, if the light came from the factory, it has to work for inspections. Doubtful you would ever get any attention from LEO's from adding lights. Trucks that come with clearance lights, some have them for a reason. They fall into a category that requires them. It involves trucks with a width wider than 80 inches. The three lamps in the center of the cab are ID lights and are used to identify a vehicle over 80 inches in width. The 2 lamps mounted on the sides of the cab roof are called clearance lamps so a driver or spotter can clearly see the width and height of the cab.

i would check your local laws out :icon_google:

All I can say is that laws for big rigs don't necessarily apply to passenger vehicles. Check your local laws. You may be able to find something on the DMV's website.