TX Law on lighting - covered or uncovered?

[crawlink5]

Just put some lights on and the covers are long gone. Anyone know what the Texas popo thinks of lights? I have googled for an hour. My google foo is coming up empty or 10 different statements - none from a law web site.

Four up and two on the brushguard.

Thanks.

Cummins 4BT, NV4500, NP205, 14 bff 4.56 detroit, rear disc, D60, Shackle flip, 1 ton springs

 

[StevoandaRedK5]

I have uncovered ones behind the grille on my '73 and haven't ever caught any flak, plus I see jeeps with full light bars of uncovered ones all the time. But that's out here in East Texas (Lufkin).

 

[dremu]

My experience is that the *letter of the law* differs from the *practical usage.*

If you run around on city streets with all the lights blazing, squealing tires, and playing loud music right in front of a cop ... yep, he'll ticket you for the lights, along with various and sundry other violations. Most any jurisdiction will have a code section for "unsafe driving", which is a catch-all for anything that pissed off the responding officer.

If you drive reasonably and don't do anything dumb, most any cop wouldn't take the time to look up the statute just to ticket you for the lights.

Once in a fit of boredom I read the California Vehicle Code (entertaining reading ) to determine if half doors are legal. In short, they could be legal and still violate a handful of code sections, especially those that are vaguely worded about "unsafe driving."

Point being, I don't know Texas law, but driving sensibly -- i.e. observing the majority of the rules, like speed, stopping completely, the basics -- can let you get away with lots of little things.

Worst case, call your local LEO office -- be it city or highway patrol, donno how y'all work things down there -- and ask 'em. A polite inquiry from a responsible citizen will make their day!

-- A

 

[Polski-Chevy]

I did a quick read thru on Texas transportation statue title 7, chapter 547 (vehicle equipment) and I did not come across anything stating a requirement to cover any auxiliary lighting.

I did notice under subchapter E, 547.330 Auxilary Driving Lamps Permitted, allowed for the use of no more than 2 aux lights other than headlights, so your lights on the grill should be fine if they are between 16-42 inches of vehicle height.

Here is the link http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/

Good luck and double check me to be sure

 

[crawlink5]

With all my gray hair I don't think they'll bother me other than the letter of the law. Age haseth it's rewards. And the 4bt my be a great engine but I can't act up with it. My new radio bumps pretty good though, but you can't hear it over the engine outside.

Thanks for the link. I'll delve into that one shortly and also give my interpretation.

 

[crawlink5]

This may be the closest but it seems that the use of the spotlamps are permitted on the road during normal driving as long as no more than two are used. No where was there mention of covering lights.

======================================================

By this one here I am illegal because I have four Spots up top. The two lower ones could be considered aux driving lights.

Sec. 547.327. SPOTLAMPS PERMITTED.

(a) A motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than

two spotlamps.
(b) A spotlamp shall be aimed so that no part of the

high-intensity portion of the beam strikes the

windshield, window, mirror, or occupant of another

vehicle in use.
==========================================================

This one depends on definitions and specs

Sec. 547.305. RESTRICTIONS ON USE OF LIGHTS.
(a) A motor vehicle lamp or illuminating device, other
than a headlamp, spotlamp, auxiliary lamp, turn signal
lamp, or emergency vehicle or school bus warning lamp,
that projects a beam with an intensity brighter than 300
candlepower shall be directed so that no part of the
high-intensity portion of the beam strikes the roadway
at a distance of more than 75 feet from the vehicle.

=============================================================

these are lights intended for all the time usage.


Sec. 547.330. AUXILIARY DRIVING LAMPS PERMITTED.
(a) A motor vehicle may be equipped with no more than

two auxiliary driving lamps.
(b) An auxiliary driving lamp shall be mounted on the

front of the vehicle at a height from 16 to 42 inches.
(c) Auxiliary driving lamps may be used with headlamps

as specified by Section 547.333.

 

[British Slave]

Don't turn them on while on the highway. DPS will nail you on equipment violations if they catch you.