Got pulled over for my HIDs

agrats84 · February 7, 2012

Ive been driving the same roads to work at 5:30am for three years. Last week a cop rolled up behind me and flicked his lights on. Completely unaware of what I was doing wrong (under the speed limit) I pulled over and laughed at what I could be doing wrong. Turns out he pulled me over because my HID driving and fog lights were "blinding". I have the 55 watt 6000k for each. I never passed him so I don't know how he was blinded. Anyway, he asked if they were just the bulbs or bulbs and ballasts. He told me to swap them out without the ballasts and then just upgrade my bulbs. I got away with a warning and told me he would write me a ticket if I don't swap them out within a week.

So... What's the best bulbs out there besides HIDs?

mjdxtreme · February 7, 2012

I would just change them out to 35w and re-adjust your headlights. I used to get flashed all the time with mine until I swapped them out for 35w and angled the headlights down a little more.

chakis24 · February 7, 2012

how much would new housings be? that would make the HID bulbs legal.

Mike74 · February 8, 2012

Agrats,

What state are you in? I would like to know what statute he is quoting. I have been in Law Enforcement since 95 in more than one state and I am not aware of any statute that would justify a "blinding" ticket.

For instance, here are the ones for Florida:

316.220?Headlamps on motor vehicles.—

(1)?Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with at least two headlamps with at least one on each side of the front of the motor vehicle, which headlamps shall comply with the requirements and limitations set forth in this chapter, and shall show a white light. An object, material, or covering that alters the headlamp’s light color may not be placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied over a headlamp.

(2)?Every headlamp upon every motor vehicle shall be located at a height of not more than 54 inches nor less than 24 inches to be measured as set forth in s. 316.217.

(3)?A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318

316.237?Multiple-beam road-lighting equipment.—

(1)?Except as hereinafter provided, the headlamps or the auxiliary driving lamp or the auxiliary passing lamp or combination thereof on motor vehicles shall be so arranged that the driver may select at will between distributions of light projected to different elevations and such lamps may, in addition, be so arranged that such selection can be made automatically, subject to the following limitations:

(a)?There shall be an uppermost distribution of light, or composite beam, so aimed and of such intensity as to reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least 450 feet ahead for all conditions of loading.

(b)?There shall be a lowermost distribution of light, or composite beam, so aimed and of sufficient intensity to reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least 150 feet ahead; and on a straight level road under any condition of loading none of the high intensity portion of the beam shall be directed to strike the eyes of an approaching driver.

An object, material, or covering that alters the headlamp’s visibility from at least 450 feet for an uppermost distribution of light or at least 150 feet for a lowermost distribution of light may not be placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied over a headlamp.

(2)?Every new motor vehicle registered in this state shall be equipped with a beam indicator, which shall be lighted whenever the uppermost distribution of light from the headlamps is in use, and shall not otherwise be lighted. Said indicator shall be so designed and located that when lighted it will be readily visible without glare to the driver of the vehicle so equipped.

(3)?A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318.

So, the only thing he might be able to say is that you need to adjust them. I would definately look into it before spending extra coin.

cwalcz · February 8, 2012

I'm not sure what state the op is in but in VA we have a fail to dim high beams code. I'm not sure if that is what the officer was trying to reference

Mike74 · February 8, 2012

We have that as well here, as most states do. From what the OP said though, the officer seems to be pointing out the actual brightness of the lights by asking specific questions.

Z45 · February 8, 2012

Some lights will say right on the package that they are legal ONLY for off-road use. Many use these lights on the roadways anyway. I heard about a local guy who nearly got himself at the very least beatup and possible worse. He was coming home late on night and someone flashed him the brigths and he in turn hit his brights. The other vehicle hit the brakes, turned around and started to follow him everywhere he went. He pulled into his nieghbors driveway and 2 guys got out and came up to his truck demanding he get out so they could beat on him. He would not, the yelled at him for about 5 min then took off. Scared the heck of him but from what his friends say he was warned several times that his lights were too broght but he said, f---em.

cwalcz · February 8, 2012

Yea I was kinda thinking the same thing, That is the only code I can think of that we have here dealing with the brightness of the lights although no actuall numbers are quoted in the code. Could have been the original reason that the op got pulled over and the officer may have been a car guy and actually knew about hid's as well. To the op...did the officer write the code section on the warning?

ChevyTech77 · February 8, 2012

I'll be honest, I wish every truck with HID's in factory Non-HID housings were pulled over and warned/ticketed. HID's were made to be used in projector housings for a reason. When they are not in said housings they are VERY blinding and annoying to other drivers. I use nothing brighter than a Sylvania Silver Star Ultra, myself.

TimmyG · February 8, 2012

If there real blue they can pull you over for them

MikeNH · February 8, 2012

Mike, I'm no law enforcement expert but since the HIDs do not meet DOT requirements no matter what any vendor says, if I were the officer I'd write a defective/improper equipment ticket. I'm armchair quarterbacking here but that is how I'd imagine it could work.

Morgan1986 · February 8, 2012

Some lights will say right on the package that they are legal ONLY for off-road use. Many use these lights on the roadways anyway. I heard about a local guy who nearly got himself at the very least beatup and possible worse. He was coming home late on night and someone flashed him the brigths and he in turn hit his brights. The other vehicle hit the brakes, turned around and started to follow him everywhere he went. He pulled into his nieghbors driveway and 2 guys got out and came up to his truck demanding he get out so they could beat on him. He would not, the yelled at him for about 5 min then took off. Scared the heck of him but from what his friends say he was warned several times that his lights were too broght but he said, f---em.

Good he must of learned alession I would never ever threaten someone over there lights being to bright but there is somedays i feel like it . Its annoying really annoying the stock lights are plenty good enough and some moron has to put in brighter lights and thinks its cool when he is just being a ass to everyone on the road. blinding everyone . They just probely wanted to punch your friend in the eyes and give him a shiner and show what its like to be blind a bit. Like i said I would never be physical but there are sure some days I feel like it.

waumo1 · February 8, 2012

This " and on a straight level road under any condition of loading none of the high intensity portion of the beam shall be directed to strike the eyes of an approaching driver."

Also in my state the code states any light not DOT approved is illegal. As soon as you modify the the DOT approved assembly in any way, it is no longer DOT approved as I understand it.

Mike74 · February 8, 2012

Mike, I'm no law enforcement expert but since the HIDs do not meet DOT requirements no matter what any vendor says, if I were the officer I'd write a defective/improper equipment ticket. I'm armchair quarterbacking here but that is how I'd imagine it could work.

It wouldnt be defective/improper, but you could cite an individual. The reason most officers will not is that it is simple to dificult to defend if the individual went to court on it. You would have to prove several things:

1. How did you know it wasn't original equipment (Scientific fact, not "they were to bright")

2. What training have you received as a Law Enforcement Officer that allowed you to suspect the lights not to be factory equipment (remember, some high end cars come with HIDS)

3. Did you, at the time of the stop, remove and inspect the bulb to ascertain that they were infact NOT original equipment and not DOT approved

4. What training have you received for you to say with a fact something is not DOT approved

5. Did you secure the bulbs as evidence for the court to examine

There are several that I can continue to list as this actually happened to me in court and I lost the case. It was very irritating sitting on the stand while the individuals lawyer basically told me I was an ass and didnt know what I was talking about. It was a learning experience to say the least. In MS we even had a statute that said "any alterations to a vehicle from factory condition was illegal", and it still got thrown out.

Im just saying that the officer may have thought they were to bright, but unless there is a specific statute, he was pissing up a wall. Now, there may be a specific "Candle Watt" statute that is applicable to the state, but again, what scientific device or calculation did he use to ascertain that the lights are above the specified wattage? I have been doing this a long time and it really irks me when I see or hear about officers who think that just because we have the authority to enforce laws, that they can try to bluff through some. To me, it feels like this officers personal opinion were that the lights are to bright so he was trying to scare the OP.

CDUBS is right, if the officer issued a written warning, what was the code he used? I would definately be interested to see the statute.