Rep Power: 252

Has anyone else heard of this? I live in Michigan and called about maximum number of lights allowed in the front. The officer that I spoke to stated that you're allowed four lights in the front. No more than four, regardless of the situation.

Well, imagine my surprise when, during my questions, he tells me that the amber parking lights are considered to be two lights! That means (and I'm not assuming, because he did state this directly) that if I put on my foglights, not only will it be illegal to have my low beams, high beams, and foglights on, all at the same time, it will ALSO be illegal to have just my low beams, foglights, and parking lights on at the same time!!! What, I have to find a way to rig it up so that the parking lights turn off whenever the foglights are on?!

I guess that means that every single car manufacturer is in violation of Michigan law, since NO cars have a function where the parking lights turn off whenever you have your low and high beams on!

What the hell is going on??? Has anyone else heard of this crap or is it just a Michigan thing? He was very adamant that he was correct, that it's technically illegal to have parking lights on with foglights and headlights, but that the Police will "rarely pull you over" for that violation.

No, it won't stop me from putting in my foglights, nor will it stop me from modding them to stay on with the high beams, but, still, it irks the bejesus out of me...

 
Rep Power: 0

i think the officer is mistaken. I think the parking lights count as one when the low beams are on, as long as they are in the same housing. So basically headlights count as one light each no matter what is in it. (parking light, high beam, low beam) foglights are separate...

 
Rep Power: 252

No, like I said, he was very adamant, because I brought up that same point for clarification. He was quite clear: each light counts as one. Believe me, I think he's wrong, too. I'm just saying that's what he said...

 
Rep Power: 334

So a stock Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart is ****ed, right? Double beams, turn signals and side markers. That makes for eight lights total...

That's simply plain stupid.

 
Rep Power: 320

The cop is full of crap. Then a 3 series bimmer would be in violation too. It has high, low, amber led turn signal, side markers and fogs.

 
Rep Power: 812

only headlight and foglight count. he was right about having 4 max (headlights and fogs). which technically white fogs are illegal in the city. yellow is fine.

 
Rep Power: 252

I thought the same thing, which is why I grilled him. I was pretty sure that only primary lighting applied, but he claims the amber lights apply, too. Personally, yeah, I think it's stupid. Love to see them pull me over...

 
Rep Power: 812

ha then just having parking lights would be meeting the legal limit on 01-03 cause they have two sets of parking light. Should've asked if you are supposed to drive with only parking lights on at night.

 
Rep Power: 252

lol! *listens in on daily morning roll call at local police station* "And remember, guys, if you see a grey, Civic Sedan driving around town, be sure to pull him over, just for the hell of it. Says here, in this report, that he made a wisecrack to Officer Likmeeharrd about turning off his amber lights..." You gonna bail me out, Gearbox?

 
Rep Power: 812

haha. as crazy as it seems, not all cops know what they are talking about. They will make up anything to search the car for drugs or guns.

 
Rep Power: 252

Yeah, I'm currently driving around with no bumper shroud and I'm just waiting for them to pull me over, even though I still have my bumper on...

 
Rep Power: 334

Ugh! Stupid cops. They mos't probably will stop you because you don't have the bumper on. The bumper is a piece of metal, not plastic!!!

 
Rep Power: 0

Technically, each light in a housing is considered ONE light, so no matter how many bulbs are inside a single housing, it's just one...That cop makes no sense at it...Just go ahead and contend about the ticket....

 
Rep Power: 0

take it to court. you should win
828 is correct, for my state atleast. Whatever is in one housing counts as one light

 
Rep Power: 0

Man, taking one bulb as one light isn't making any sense....

 
Rep Power: 252

Well, thankfully, there's been no ticket. I just called the police to get all of the legal details before I finished my OEM foglights and put it all back together. I doubt I'll lose sleep over it, unless I'm trying to sleep in a cell with some big guy named "Princess"...

 
Rep Power: 319

only way to find out is called the superior court in ur city and get the actual vehicle code..or search online...here in LA the vehicle code states that all headlights must be between the shade of white and yellow so technically yellow bulbs are legal but CHP says they're not...but if you take it to court with a copy of the vehicle code you can get off the ticket...i just dont bother witht he yellow headlights anymore...im going HID hehe...

so...what about 4 lights...if a 5 series bmw went there they would be in deep **** cuz it has 2 parking lights, 4 halos, 2 fog lights, 2 high beams, and 2 low beams not to mention the bixenon which is also a high beam when turned on...plus sidemarkers...or the lexus it has separate high beams, low beams fog lights etc...

 
Rep Power: 252

The only thing I can think of is that there might be some sort of special allowance to factory installed light setups, like the BMW scenario you describe. I know that's the way it was with the tinting on the 2000 Dodge Caravan we used to own. Was darker than what the police liked, but permitted, because it was considered "factory installed".

 
Rep Power: 0

I also live Michigan and a lot of officer dont really care.....it depend on
if they want to pull you over or not...