Is there a legal limit on how bright your headlights can be???

So i got pulled over last night for my headlights being too bright
I didnt get a ticket but im a lil nervous that i might next time
I installed some after market HIDS and I have the 55watt 10k high/low beam lights with a 35watt 8k fog lights
Are these too bright?? Can i actually get a ticket for just having bright lights??

 

Is it DOT approved?

 

55watt should be used for offroad only. Purchase some 35 watt so you aren't fucking with other drivers eyes on the road.

We all like our HIDs but please use them courteously.

 

HIDs are already illegal but I run 35w on both headlights and fogs bit 55w is alot...only way I'd ever run 55w is on some off road lighting...but u should check ur state laws

Plus ur blinding the crap out of ppl

 

I agree. Some people have hids that can burn a hole through safe.lol no need. Maybe have crazy hid fog lights that you can shut off??

 

if anything,your fog lights should be the 55w and the headlights are 35..i have a 35w headlight and fog light..even stringent California hasnt said anything to me the past 3 years

 

Alrite thanks guys....Jerez what level of 35watt are you running?

 

6k on both fog and headlights

 

5k heads 4.5k fogs and I've never had a problem but I don't use fog lights in town, also anything over 6k will cause more glare with less out put

 

Thanks man! Ill prob end up switching out the headlights for some 35watt 6ks....a buddy helped me with the lights i curently have and he said he has never had a problem with them being too bright for the last 2 years....maybe its just the tacoma housing that makes them a little brighter than his chevy trailblazer

 

Doesn't matter if they are DOT approved. Putting a HID bulb in a halogen housing is not legal.

 

In Texas... HID's conversion kits are not illegal. You can have up to 8000k and up to 35 watts, but all states are different on auto regulations.

 

This is in the stock headlights I assume? Either 35w or 55w will blind folks, the reflector just scatters light all over, for HIDs you'll need projectors, and real ones, not the EBay crap.

 

at 10k and 8k you are losing light anyway with all that blue hue. youd be better off and safer with 35w 4300-6000k anyway

 

I know what you mean but i like the blue tint
Is there possibly a way to aim the headlights down a little more? that might help me from getting pulled again???

 

Talking about headlight beams. Have you guys seen people out there with cheap bulbs that imitate HIDs. Those bulbs are bright to eye, but you notice there's no beams, instead the light scatters everywhere. Beware of cheap imitation bulbs.

 

With HID light's its not the brightness persay its how the bulb's are aimed.
Read this and watch the Film for an explination.

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/conversions/conversions.html

 

100% not true. I write HID tickets all the time. Texas law says all reflectors and lights must conform to DOT spec. HID kits by definition do not comply with DOT specs.

Ticket is for "use of equipment not approved (headlights, etc.)"

8K is also illegal as it does not meet DOT specs. You will note no illegal HID bulbs say DOT approved becasue the federal govt will go after the companies that sell them.

So basically every part of your post is false... and HID coversions that reuse the halogen housing are illegal in all 50 states.

Where did you get these "facts" about color temp and wattage legality?

 

I believe its a state thing in wa there are no laws against to bright buthere are laws to the an gle of the light if they are brighter than stock you have to change the angle of the beam

 

I'm not sure about SC but California state law states something like any HID installed headlight that does not come from the factory is ILLEGAL.....But it is a vehicle code and just like all the other silly vehicle codes it depends on the cop and/or how obnoxious your modification is. The HID thing is just like the law on no window tint on the front windows if its not from factory, not having mud flaps on the rear of your truck, or modifying your exhaust....Technically its a law but everyone even cops breaks them thats why it depends on the cop issuing the ticket. As long as you are not blinding the crap out of everyone on the road you will be ok.