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Location: In a little house on the prairie - literally
10,202 posts, read 7,922,771 times
Reputation: 4561
Quote:
Originally Posted by dkf747
I had no idea that the NHTSA was out ticketing drivers for this.
I suspect local police are.
And should. The only defense I have is my hand held 2 million candle power spot light. Which gets used about 25 feet before we pass and aimed right at drivers eyes. I've seen more than a few brake lights in my rear view mirror. Worse are those with light bars they refuse to turn off.
I dont see the point in installing lights that are blinding on coming drivers.
I've wondered if people who do install these high intensity lights get some kind of satisfaction by turning on their actual high beams when oncoming traffic gives them a flash of brights in the mistaken belief that you have your high beams on.
I'll admit to having done that with factory installed self leveled bi-xenons in my GTI to someone who was repeatedly flashing me from the oncoming side at a stop light. Oh? You thought those were my high beams?
I have LED headlights in my 2014 Mercedes ML350 and get flashed every now and then from people who think my high beams are on. My father-in-law has HIDs on his SUV and said he's never been harassed.
Seems the LEDs are what annoy people, but then that's just an observation.
NHTSA Cracks Down on Aftermarket HID Conversion Kits
That being said - did anyone actually get a ticket for that particular violation?
If not mistaken, Most States have their own specs on Headlamps. Our State does, and HID headlamps are allowed are not blue tinted. They must also be properly aimed to State Specifications.
Most tickets for headlamps are issued for headlights are related to the tint or the aiming, and not for the type of headlamp, since an average Cop would not know what the difference was, and what years they where stock equipment. States enforce their own Laws, and not NHTSA requirement, since Cops don't know what they all are anyway. Neither does the Car owners.
An old friend of mine got a ticket (TX) for installing HID's in an early 90's sports car that originally had pop up headlights.
As far as why you don't see most cops writing tickets for this stuff... Probably because they have a hard time telling what is a factory HID system and what is not. Some vehicles even have halogens for the base model, but HIDs are an option. So if someone with a vehicle like that had a retrofit kit, there's no way for a cop to know.
It's ironic, how you ask a question - Did you get a ticket? and end up with 6 responses saying "I had them installed".
NHTSA actually forced a TX manufacturer of HIDs to recall its product and substitute with legal lights. But that's TX manufacturer. What is made out else in the world and sold online is beyond their grasp.
And please, spare me rhetoric "I took care of this and aimed lights lower" or did something else. When you are going over a curve, your lights are pointing straight into oncoming traffic drivers eyes.
So what's the point in federal regulation if it's basically ignored by police? Don't tell me they do not have proper tools. They sure do have one for window tint.
Never heard of the NHTSA forcing a Manufacturer to change his product. States are different in their Automotive Laws. What is legal in one, may not be in another. The NHTSA does not concern themselves with what can be purchased, as far as I know. If you know different, post that in a link.
Over a curve? Or over a hill? Which? Standard headlamps will bling you if you meet a car on a hill. or if the meeting car is going around a right curve, since headlamps are always aimed "down" and to the "right" of their hot spots. Candlepower is not an issue in those occasions.
Mostly young Dip ships.. do it.. If Its Dark They have the Option of having you have it towed hahaahhha that needs to happen a lot more often too.. Its a HAZARD!
Quote:
Originally Posted by dpm1
People install these lights like dips. Hopefully more people get ticketed.
They are flashing you because you are Purposely blinding them.. how childish..
Quote:
Originally Posted by notnamed
I'll admit to having done that with factory installed self leveled bi-xenons in my GTI to someone who was repeatedly flashing me from the oncoming side at a stop light. Oh? You thought those were my high beams?
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