Ditch light legality

This may have been touched on or answered here at some point but i can't seem to find it. Are the ditch lights many of us are running myself included road legal? Obviously this probably varries from state to state. I'm in Pennsylvania myself. I can assume they aren't legal to use on the road but how about just having them on your truck without covers. Is this something you could get pulled over for? I obviously wasn't to worried about it or I wouldn't have put them on my truck (Rigid Dually Side Shooters). I'm just curious.

 

With Amber covers

 

In my province B.C. they are not. Height is the problem. Legally they need opaque covers while on pavement.

 

They are not legal to have on on the roads anywhere in the states. They blind on coming traffic. Having them physically there with covers on or not varies state to state.

 

PA code

§ 175.66. Lighting and electrical systems.


(1) Auxiliary driving lamps may not be substituted for headlamps. Auxiliary driving lamps may only be used with high headlamp beams.


(3) Auxiliary driving lamps and fog lamps shall be mounted on the front, spaced at least 20 inches apart from center to center and at height not more than 42 inches above level surface upon which the vehicle stands nor lower than the lowest chassis part. Rear fog lamps, if originally installed or offered as optional equipment, are acceptable.

(5) A vehicle specified under this subchapter may have only one pair of approved auxiliary driving lamps and fog lamps.

(9) In accordance with 75 Pa.C.S. § 4303(f) (relating to general lighting requirements), roof or roll bar mounted off-road lights may be installed if they are not used on a highway or trafficway and are covered with an opaque covering at all times while operating on the highway or trafficway. Vehicles equipped with roof or roll bar mounted off-road lights shall have a switch that indicates to the driver, through the use of a pilot light, that the lights are on when so switched.

 

I know they're illegal here in California without covers. Hence the reason that I have mine. I have nothing but good things to say about Brute Force covers.

 

Might want to post it here and see if any LEOs from PA can answer your question.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/law-enforcement-officers.125/

 

In PA anything above the headlights needs to be covered and not used on the highway. That being said there are A LOT of people driving around the Commonwealth with uncovered off-road lighting. Most officers I worked with will not stop you for this unless you are using them on the roadway or they want to stop for other reasons(investigations). In my career I never stopped anyone for this.

 

I knew I could count on the tacomaworld detectives ! thanks

 

That's kinda What I figured. I did get pulled over when I was a teenager for uncovered lights on the rollbar of my old 86 Yota but I was a punk kid. Anyways I ordered some covers for mine just to be on the safe side. Only time I use them on the road is when I'm traveling really rural roads .

 

Remember the most important rule: LEOs not only have the inherent right of self-defense, they also have a super power - the power of DISCRETION. So....if you want to reduce the odds of getting cited, don't be a dick and try not to drive a Brocoma. AND most importantly, don't quote the "law" or the absence thereof when asked for your license and registration.

From someone smart than I - https://www.truck-lite.com/content/news/sae-vs-dot-truth-about-lighting-regulations

First, let's define some terms:

SAE – coordinates the development of technical standards based on best practices as identified and described by by experts in their fields.

DOT – responsible for the issuance of safety standards like the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 (FMVSS-108), which applies to lighting.

In the US and Canada, lighting products are certified by the lighting manufacturer as compliant, and unless the certification is "clearly erroneous," the certification will stand. The reputable manufacturer will state that its products are "designed to conform" to the elements of the FMVSS-108 requirements. USDOT has sternly warned manufacturers that claim that their products are "DOT approved;" the correct language is "DOT compliant."

Some of the misuse of terminology stems from the fact that there are only three lighting products that must be marked with the "DOT" symbol: headlights, replaceable bulbs for headlights and reflective tape.

SAE standards are often referred to as "recommended practices," which provide a basis for a particular function. The SAE standard can create a common method and performance level for a specific lighting function. SAE standards may be referenced and become part of the law in some cases, which also causes confusion.

The DOT or Federal Regulations will preempt or take precedence over the state regulations when both regulations exist. For example, there is no federal regulation for fog lamps, so the state regulations are in effect. Fortunately, the states have settled on calling out the SAE J583 Fog Lamp Recommended Practice, so that is why there is no federal standard.

The area of auxiliary lamps on vehicles is another confusing part of the regulations. The good news is that auxiliary lighting in general is allowed for installation on vehicles. The one important condition is found pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 30122: if equipment is installed by a manufacturer, distributor, dealer or motor vehicle repair business, that equipment, as installed, must not make inoperative any of the required safety equipment. If an item of equipment impairs the effectiveness of the lighting equipment required by FMVSS-108, we consider the installation of such equipment to have rendered the lighting systems partially inoperative.

 

What if i pull the fuse and the light is inoperable will i still get ticketed?

 

Yes, if it's still in violation visually.

 

Lol at the sacrifice to mall crawl

 

Yes. I had a kill switch on mine to make the lights "inoperable", but still got dinged on a safety inspection.

 

Thats ridiculous!
I guess ill tape them over with gaffers tape.

 

Installing mine this weekend and have seen Texans without them, along with never seen a lightbar covered. I shouldn't be, I'm sure, but now I'm mildly worried.

 

Me as well as many other vehicles (jeeps, tacos, 4runners etc) have light bars, light pods and the cops don't say anything here in new Jersey