Roof Rack Lights - Legal or Not?

[jsmoriss]

Anyone know where roof mounted lights (with covers) could be illegal?

I plan on keeping mine covered, and I'd rather avoid building one of those raise/lower light bars. Although if I could buy one pre-built...

Thanks!
js.

 

[67flat4]

You are able to put lights were ever you want. just cant turn them on, on the street. As long as they are off you're good. don't even need to be covered.

 

[eugene]

It differes from state to state. For exmaple in WV I can have lights on the rack as long as I don't use them on the street. If I drive into MD (my cousin lives there and does inspections for a dodge dealership) I have to remove the fuse or disconnect a wire to prevent them from being able to be turned on from the cab. He said that even having them covered won't pass inspection if he follows the letter of the law exactly, they have to unplug the harness for the stock Jeeps that comes with them thuogh I wonder about that because I thought if the national DOT allowed them stock then the states couldn't restrict that. But my point is just covered may not be legal in some states.

 

[Lynn]

When I lived in Colorado it seemed 'common knowledge' that they had to be covered, but I really can't say for sure what the law is.

 

[sami]

I just looked at Utah's DMV site, and it reads:

Equipment your vehicle must not have:

.
.
4)More than two extra fog lights
5)More that two extra driving lights

Doesn't say anything about covering them, or roof mounted lights.. Though, I know i've read the restrictions on those somewhere..

 

[adventureduo]

Yep, every state has different laws. For us Californians.. here's a really cool article/story about Rick Russell and defining what is allowed and what isn't.

http://www.sidekickoffroad.com/offroadlites.htm

 

[eugene]

Its unfortunate too because when driving through different states you now have to keep track of lift laws, light laws, scanner laws, knife laws, gun laws, etc.

 

[Brett M]

I just looked at Utah's DMV site, and it reads:

Equipment your vehicle must not have:

.
.
4)More than two extra fog lights
5)More that two extra driving lights

Doesn't say anything about covering them, or roof mounted lights.. Though, I know i've read the restrictions on those somewhere..

I've asked a SLC PD officer once and according to him, you're okay with roof/roof rack mounted lights. Just do not turn them on on the streets, or they'll pull you over.

Maybe I should add more lights to mine?

 

[sami]

Maybe I should add more lights to mine?

Pretty sure the mall parking lots are already well lit:ylsmoke:

 

[Brett M]

Pretty sure the mall parking lots are already well lit:ylsmoke:

Yeah, that's true.......my Hella 450's are good enough. Plus, I took the rack off anyway, so no where to mount lights! :clapsmile

 

[Pskhaat]

Its unfortunate too because when driving through different states you now have to keep track of lift laws, light laws, scanner laws, knife laws...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_faith_and_credit

 

[MoGas]

Whilst driving through California several years ago, I got pulled over because my lights were not covered. I didn't have the covers with me so the CHiPper let me use duct tape to cover them.

 

[TeriAnn]

I just looked at Utah's DMV site, and it reads:

Equipment your vehicle must not have:

4)More than two extra fog lights
5)More that two extra driving lights

Doesn't say anything about covering them, or roof mounted lights.. Though, I know i've read the restrictions on those somewhere..

I guess that works for me. I have 4 Hella Rallye 3000 lights mounted on my roof rack, but 2 are fog lamps and 2 are Euro beam pattern.

The fog lamps have a vertically narrow beam that is very wide. I have them aimed to provide light to either side of the trail as well as the centre to help get a wider view of what's in front of me. The Euro beams are aimed for the trail ahead.

When I'm on the trail at night I feel enlightened. Its comforting to know I'm also legally enlightened.

 

[eugene]

When I'm on the trail at night I feel enlightened. Its comforting to know I'm also legally enlightened.

That info may only apply to UT though since thats the DMV it came from. Other states have different restrictions so while you could be legal in one as soon as you cross the state line you could becom illegal. Some states have police sit right at the line watching for things like that too (PA for example).
Also in states that do allow extra lights there are usually height restrictions as well so they may be legal on the bumper but not the roof rack.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

I believe also that since your lights are more than 42" above the road, they are termed off-road lights, regardless of the beam pattern. That would mean they my need to be covered in some states.