so i got pulled over yesterday

[kevy wevy]

for having green running lights last night. Now I live in Virginia and I know they are fairly strict about customizing and whats a legal modification but I was driving 42 in a 40 nd got pulled over by a cop who was stopped at a light nd saw me drive by with my green running lights on. I have never heard of anyone getting pulled over for a some small mod like that. I was doing nothing else wrong and im 16 and just got the car a few months ago nd instead of giving me a warning and telling me not to drive w them or take them off or something he gives me a $92 tiket, a court date and that I have to take them off by the court date. I bought the car with those lights on it and had no clue they wer illegal. Any ideas on how to fight this in court? I dont want to have to pay for this rediculous ticket when I did nothing wrong. Im so mad about this and to top it off the cop was a complete jerk to me nd askd me literally 26 questions interrogating me on the side of the road.

[THansenite]

You need to check your local laws and see what they say about the lights. Some places don't allow additional lights on the car. Be sure to check with the Department of Motor Vehicles or Department of Transportation before going any further.

[oneHOTtC03]

yeah pretty much what Tony said. Each state is different, here in Iowa (or at least in my town) you can't have red or blue lights, you can't have the bulbs showing and they only want you running the lights on the sides of the car, not the front and back.

[2dot4]

I got pulled over because I didn't have a front plate on, then the cop decided to harass me about my tint, which is perfectly legal. He was just itching for a reason to write any ticket he could.

I didn't do anything wrong either - I was at a red light, then turned left and he decided to stop me. Cops can be assholes...and there's not really a whole lot you can do about it.

[deflaytedwayz1]

Welcome to modified vehicles. No front plate ticket I got was $200! You can get a ticket for just about any modification that you do to the exterior of your car.

[reaper]

if you take them off and go to court, tell the judge you dont have any of those lights on ya car he usually will tear up the ticket and you dont have to pay. i know it works here in GA. i got a 150 dollar ticket for tint i took it off they threw the ticket out. try it...it cant hurt!!!

[Big-Kokujin]

Ignorance is not a valid excuse. It may work though.

2dot4, you said you didnt have a front plate on, are you required to? If so then he wasnt harrassing you.

[See Ya]

yea they will try to get you for anything! i got pulled over the other day the cop first asked if i know the speed limit and i told him what it was then he asked how fast was i going i said 2 mph slower than the limit the he said i didn't signal when i changed lanes (thats just b.s.)so after he did his thing he let me go cuz he couldn't get me (i'm just glad he didn't have me pop my hood):bootyshake:

[tuchy03]

hahaha!yeah i got a $112 ticket for tint and im STILL ridding dirty!:bootyshake: but i did pay the ticket:oops:

[Daarken]

Your just a dirty girl like that touchy!

[pelly3s]

I'm waiting for the first time I get pulled over. Just the factory window tint on the back doors measured 2% darker than legal in MA (the windows were dirty but thats enough for them to be dicks around here). I've been pulled over for exhaust when I owned my truck but he couldnt give me a ticket because at the time the law was vague and it was his opinion that it was too loud. Plus I called him out on the bike that went flying by with straight pipes on it. Sometimes they just like to bust balls when they have nothing better to do. I have some friends who are cops who will attest to that.

[kevy wevy]

ya so after a bunch of research into the law the cop wrote down that suposedly said my lights were illegal says that I can not have red or blue lights and that you cant have any flashing or blinking lights of any color. My running lights don't flash or blink and theyr not red or blue so Im going to the juvenile court on June 30th and i'm gonna have it torn up

[Big-Kokujin]

:up:

[SATownScion]

let us know how it turns out, i have blue lights in mine but i already talked with my attorney about it and he said that if i should ever get a ticket, knock on wood, that he will fight it.

here is some texas law on that:

547.305(C) A person may not operate a motor vehicle equipped with a
red, white, or blue[0] (http://tlo2.tlc.state.tx.us/cgi-bin/cqcgi?CQ_SESSION_KEY=VNOQDIVETLMO&CQ_QUERY_HANDLE=125014&CQ_CUR_DOCUMENT=8&CQ_TLO_DOC_TEXT=YES#HIT0012) beacon, flashing, or alternating light[0] (http://tlo2.tlc.state.tx.us/cgi-bin/cqcgi?CQ_SESSION_KEY=VNOQDIVETLMO&CQ_QUERY_HANDLE=125014&CQ_CUR_DOCUMENT=8&CQ_TLO_DOC_TEXT=YES#HIT0013) unless
the equipment is:
(1) used as specifically authorized by this chapter;
or
(2) a running lamp, headlamp, taillamp, backup lamp,
or turn signal lamp that is used as authorized by law.
I hate reading law, its so vague and usually left to interpretation.

[nintenDeviant]

heres CALIFORNIA'S
25400. (a) Any vehicle may be equipped with a lamp or device on the exterior of the vehicle that emits a diffused nonglaring light of not more than 0.05 candela per square inch of area.
(b) Any diffused nonglaring light shall not display RED to the front, BUT MAY DISPLAY OTHER COLORS. A diffused nonglaring light shall not resemble nor be installed within 12 inches or in such position as to interfere with the visibility or effectiveness of any required lamp, reflector, or other device upon the vehicle.

(c) A diffused nonglaring lamp or device, other than a display sign authorized by subdivision (d), shall be limited in size to an area of 720 square inches and where any lease, rental, or donation is involved the installation of the lamp or device shall be limited to those vehicles operated either primarily within business or residential districts or municipalities, or between business districts, residential districts, and municipalities in close proximity.

(d) An internally illuminated sign emitting not more than 0.25 candela per square inch and possessing copy which does not contain a white background may be displayed on each side, but not on the front or rear, of a trolley coach or of a bus being operated in urban or suburban service as described in Section 35107 of this code.

Amended Ch. 582, Stats. 1968. Effective July 16, 1968. Supersedes Ch. 144.

[SATownScion]

heres CALIFORNIA'S
25400. (a) Any vehicle may be equipped with a lamp or device on the exterior of the vehicle that emits a diffused nonglaring light of not more than 0.05 candela per square inch of area.
(b) Any diffused nonglaring light shall not display RED to the front, BUT MAY DISPLAY OTHER COLORS. A diffused nonglaring light shall not resemble nor be installed within 12 inches or in such position as to interfere with the visibility or effectiveness of any required lamp, reflector, or other device upon the vehicle.

(c) A diffused nonglaring lamp or device, other than a display sign authorized by subdivision (d), shall be limited in size to an area of 720 square inches and where any lease, rental, or donation is involved the installation of the lamp or device shall be limited to those vehicles operated either primarily within business or residential districts or municipalities, or between business districts, residential districts, and municipalities in close proximity.

(d) An internally illuminated sign emitting not more than 0.25 candela per square inch and possessing copy which does not contain a white background may be displayed on each side, but not on the front or rear, of a trolley coach or of a bus being operated in urban or suburban service as described in Section 35107 of this code.

Amended Ch. 582, Stats. 1968. Effective July 16, 1968. Supersedes Ch. 144.

I NEED ADVIL STAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ShadowBox]

ya so after a bunch of research into the law the cop wrote down that suposedly said my lights were illegal says that I can not have red or blue lights and that you cant have any flashing or blinking lights of any color. My running lights don't flash or blink and theyr not red or blue so Im going to the juvenile court on June 30th and i'm gonna have it torn up

I'm suprised that green isn't included in that list. Usually blue is for vonlunteer fire, green is for medical emergency, and red/blue are for police/fire/ambulance.

The best practice is to leave all aftermarket lighting off until you are parked.

[Kenrock1000]

Im in CA and took all my green lights out (front and rear turn) fearing that a cop would finally nab me...I also find it hard to believe that green is legal...even when I first put them in I knew it probably was not okay....

Amber isnt that bad...and plus...clearing out the headlights and tailights of those ugly reflectors looks just as good even if you use ambers :up:

[Big-Kokujin]

I'm suprised that green isn't included in that list. Usually blue is for vonlunteer fire, green is for medical emergency, and red/blue are for police/fire/ambulance.

Nah...nowheres is blue for volunteer anything...that wouldnt make sence. Blue is always for police only. And ambulances rarely have blue at all.

[Hotrod]

in texas red and strobe lighting is illegal when driving, anything else is perfectly legal.

[ShadowBox]

Nah...nowheres is blue for volunteer anything...that wouldnt make sence. Blue is always for police only. And ambulances rarely have blue at all.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_vehicle_lighting#Volunteer_Personnel

Blue is for volunteer in Indiana and a few other states.

[Aurora]

for having green running lights last night. Now I live in Virginia and I know they are fairly strict about customizing and whats a legal modification but I was driving 42 in a 40 nd got pulled over by a cop who was stopped at a light nd saw me drive by with my green running lights on. I have never heard of anyone getting pulled over for a some small mod like that. I was doing nothing else wrong and im 16 and just got the car a few months ago nd instead of giving me a warning and telling me not to drive w them or take them off or something he gives me a $92 tiket, a court date and that I have to take them off by the court date. I bought the car with those lights on it and had no clue they wer illegal. Any ideas on how to fight this in court? I dont want to have to pay for this rediculous ticket when I did nothing wrong. Im so mad about this and to top it off the cop was a complete jerk to me nd askd me literally 26 questions interrogating me on the side of the road.

There was a nationwide thing for automobiles that states if you have headlights that go off automatically, you have to have your headlights on at all times. I don't think some states care so mcuh about it enough to enforce it, but just a rule of thumb, either have all your lights on or none of them.

[Crab o' nasty]

So i have found that there is always a loop hole but after this past weekend i just don't know any more.
On last friday night i was driving around 9 at night and saw that there were tons of police everywhere so i rolled down the windows (so they couldn't see tint) turned stereo to mute, and slowed my roll to the limit just to watch all directions that they (police) could pull me over and ticket me..
Well long story short i got pulled over. They first said it was my stereo then my lights. Then they realized that i was not doing anything wrong and let me go. Now because that night i was installing my new led's i made sure i understood the laws.

So i asked 1) is blue illegal inside your car. He said no unless you can see the bulb or if the light is flashing. Meaning you can have red, blue, green, white in your car as long as the bulb is not showing and the lights are not strobing, flashing chasing..

2nd) is asked what about out side of your car. And he answered no emergency colors unless you are parked. He said if you were parked pretty much anything goes. So i went on my way no ticket and cop ended up being cool after the DWI (driving while imported)


Thought i was in the clear and new my rules and laws. Next night me and the rest of the scikotics jax group went to the car swap/car meet parking area. We cruised in 22 deep and well need less to say buy the time we went to park i put on my blue led's in the parked position. When we had all parked we were told to move by an officer to another part of the lot. PLBBBB he went straight to me at this point and turned on his lights.

This is were i thought i knew what i was talking about and said exactly what i had heard the prior night before, and this cops answer was the ONLY LIGHTS THAT ARE LEGAL ARE THE ONES THAT WERE NOT ON. Didn't give me a ticket, but did harrass me for 45 min on every little thing. Thank goodness my crap is ligit.

Long story sorry but from my experience if you have anything aftermarket plan on being pulled over, because well the police most of the time are just looking for an excuse to pull over an import. :icon_Isvader:

[jwaj2002]

I know purple is also illegal as in arkansas blue is for police, amber would be wreckers (not legal either) red is ems/fire green is game and fish, so in arkansas all you can use for underbodies is white, legally, and a few states use purple for unpaid fire fighters, green/blue combos for reserve police, and so on

[JokerBox]

They want to be a prick, be a prick back. lol... Like they said got to the DMV and look at the laws. Though dig in them, try to find loop wholes with the laws. And defently don't listen to people and their rumor laws. lol... I askd a cop where I live before I put mine on. Our law says no color light is illigel just prefered that you not ride with them on. And come court case time go in with copies of the laws showing that they're not illigel (if u find out they aren't)... good luck man and keep us posted...

[kevy wevy]

ya so the laws in Virginia are incredibly vague like most laws. heres the law:


Any motor vehicle may be equipped with fog lights, not more than two of which can be illuminated at any time, one or two auxiliary driving lights if so equipped by the manufacturer, two daytime running lights, two side lights of not more than six candlepower, an interior light or lights of not more than 15 candlepower each, and signal lights.
The provision of this section limiting interior lights to no more than 15 candlepower shall not apply to (i) alternating, blinking, or flashing colored emergency lights mounted inside law-enforcement motor vehicles which may otherwise legally be equipped with such colored emergency lights, or (ii) flashing shielded red or red and white lights, authorized under § 46.2-1024 (http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-1024), mounted inside vehicles owned or used by (a) members of volunteer fire companies or volunteer rescue squads, (b) professional fire fighters, or (c) police chaplains. A vehicle equipped with lighting devices as authorized in this section shall be operated by a police chaplain only if he has successfully completed a course of training in the safe operation of a motor vehicle under emergency conditions and a certificate attesting to such successful completion, signed by the course instructor, is carried at all times in the vehicle when operated by the police chaplain to whom the certificate applies.
Unless such lighting device is both covered and unlit, no motor vehicle which is equipped with any lighting device other than lights required or permitted in this article, required or approved by the Superintendent, or required by the federal Department of Transportation shall be operated on any highway in the Commonwealth. Nothing in this section shall permit any vehicle, not otherwise authorized, to be equipped with colored emergency lights, whether blinking or steady-burning.


the only problem is in the modification laws it only says that emergency lights that your not allowed to have are flashing white or flashing or steady burning red or blue but nowhere does it say anything about green lights whether flashing or steady burning.

[kevy wevy]

i emailed the police chief for the police district i got pulled over in and I just said i wanted to buy a car with green running lights and i was wondering if it was legal. he responded and said that your not allowed to have any green lights on the outside of your car when driving. So i'm not going to court anymore i guess considering that I dont want to have to pay $75 in court costs on top of the $90 ticket if i lose. I just don't have that kind of money. No way am I getting rid of the lights though. Ill just turn them on when I'm parked from now on. thanks for all your guys's help.