I got pulled over last night for having my LED fog lights on. The cop said they should have covers on them unless used offroad. The way the law puts it, only roof and roll bar mounted lights need to be covered while on the road. Aside from the way they are wired (mine aren't to legal spec yet), is there any problem with having them on along with the headlights? For the record, I had my low beams on at 1:30am with no cars on the road, except for that one cop. My lights are also aimed properly and spaced far enough apart.

 

Sounds like the fuzz was bored and wanted something to do.
From what he is saying, sounds like factory fogs would have to be covered too, which is BS. Not familiar with east coast shenanigans so can't tell for sure. But sounds like BS to me.

 

The laws vary from state to state. Here its if they are at or above the headlight centerline, they must be covered unless off-road. Below the headlight centerline they can be uncovered.

 

This is so true. And some cities really like to enforce it. When I was still in Calif. I would drive through West Covina and I would get pulled over at least once a week for not having covers on my light. At least they were only fix it tickets. I would just put my light covers on and they would sign it off and I was on my way.

 

Until a few years back, when Sacramento decided a 'local sign-off' wasn't sufficient, and you had to go to the station instead. And pay $10 for the signoff (which became $25, I believe.)

I didn't have anything to do with the decisions that are making the state go broke - why do I have to help fix them? Make the people who made those asinine decisions personally financially responsible, instead.

 

WOW! Really?
I had no idea. But, I did move out of Ca. about 10 years ago.

 

Yep it's $25 now and that's very true. I don't have covers on any of my 6 lights and I have yet to have a problem with the law with them and it's been a year and a half

 

A lot of it has to do with whether you're stupid about it or not - I run 90/130W E-codes (have for a dozen years,) and I haven't gotten dobbed in.

I also run a Wig-Wag box and a taillamp flasher (I do a fair bit of roadside help,) and the most telling comment I got was from CHP - "We're here, where's the switch to turn off your flashers?"

I tend to be cool with cops - they're cool with me in return. And, my name & vehicles come up a lot in accident reports as a "responder," so I'm known at least by reputation all over the county. HUGE help!

 

In pa you are allowed 2 auxiliary lights. Anything above the factory headlights needs to be covered even when not in use. You are allowed 2 aux lights to be uncovered but they must be wired to only work with low beams and be level or below the headlights. If you have factory fogs then those are your two, anything additional must be covered. I ran my Hellas for a whole year on a toggle switch and never got bothered for them being wired illegally

 

When you guys say covered do you mean they need covers when they are off too?

 

Why would you cover a light while on? You'll melt your covers.. ask my Mrs. Yes, covered when off.


Anyone know the legality in Pa on rear flood lights? Or an auxillery backup?

 

I think rear lights have to be wired into the reverse switch but I'm not sure. When I get a chance I'll pull out my state inspection manual and look it up

 

I read 2 pairs of aux lights (1 fog, 1 driving) are allowed. Rear lights need to be wired in with the reverse lights or have an indicator light that lights up when they are on. Thanks for the comments guys. I honestly think the cop had nothing better to do and pulled me over because I'm a young kid. 3rd run in with the cops of that town within a year and a half. Only 1 time was ticketable (overdue inspection). I think they like to check up on me. My Jeep tends to stick out like a sore thumb too though, haha.

 

Here in WV I can run fog lights but I can't run my offroad lights unless it's offroad of course.
Also I've never had any problems with needing covers as long as they are off

 

I know when I was young I felt very intimidated by police, so I never had the nerve to ask. But if I were in your shoes today I would drive down to the local police station and ask an officer read the part of the vehicle code that describes how auxiliary should be mounted/covered/wired. Be polite, inquisitive, act respectful. Showing them that you WANT to obey the law will earn you respect from them too and you may find you get harasses less.

Personally I don't see anything wrong with the mounting of your lights, but I don't really know the PA vehicle code- but it's probably online somewhere.