Anyone else seen this brake light?

I saw this 3rd brake light at the local trail head today. Talked to the guy and he said his buddy designed and fabbed it and used his truck for testing and fitting. Is machined billet aluminum and powder coated and holds 2 Baja Designs S2 lights with a cargo light in the center. He did have to splice into his existing wiring so its not plug and play but sounded like a simple install. He said he's had it for about 8 months and no issues or water ingress. I think it looks sweet and definitely different than anything else i've seen. He has the ambers wired to a switch so he can use them when he wants. Obviously not while driving on the road but would be cool for back up lights or chase lights in the dust or snow.

 

like this?
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-brake-light-chase-light.823677/

 

thats it!! thanks!! I might have to get me one of those.

 

Be careful if your state has stringent inspection rules, that chase light setup may not pass as a brake light.

 

I don’t think it would pass as one anywhere since there’s no red light

 

The maker says there are three red LED to operate as brake lights, though some states, if it’s not OEM DOT, you ain’t passing’.

 

Ohhh those little dots on the bottom are red LEDs. Got it. They look like hardware at first glance!

 

The sickness… begins.

 

also, officially, if someone were to rear-end a truck with an altered third brake light installed, and aware of national lighting laws, there's a distinct possibility that they can claim the non-compliant light was the cause for their lack of understanding of the vehicles actions, which lead to the accident, making the lead vehicle at fault.


it's an extremely gray area in terms of lighting and insurance laws that hasn't been fully tried through the official legal system. but given the NHTSA's official stance (and plenty of documentation) on semi trucks not being allowed to have flashing or pulsing tail light systems, there is a strong precedent to lose the case against it.

 

do you have a link to these laws?

 

Look through your states laws.
In Colorado, a bicycle rack with or without bicycles loaded is not legal unless the rack has the license plate relocated, DOT certified lights attached and working. Loosely, the bikes and rack “block the plate and lights”.

 

Both of my states I frequent just say third high mount lamp with brake lighting visible at 300ft.

 

Long ago in MA my friend's brother owned an Olds Delta 88, 1983 or 1984. When the third brake light came on the market he purchased one and installed it himself, it worked correctly and was a GM part. He failed MA inspection for it.

So, the fed think it's so wise that they mandated it starting in 1986 but he fails inspection because he added it to his pre-1986 vehicle. Yup.

 

I've seen this in other states as well. Tough one but I can understand it I suppose.

 

FWIW, they all just follow FMVSS108 regulations: https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/chmsl_complete.pdf

 

It's the same in Europe. That is why Thule sells hitch racks with lights and a license plate relocation kit.

 

True, but that rule at least makes sense..regardless if it's intentional or not, there's a problem being caused. The other example I mentioned is just asinine.

 

yeah, it's all contained within FMVSS108, which is a very lengthy legalese document, but specifies every vehicle lights output pattern, light output, and minimum surface area for the light output, as well as very specific environmental tests that each assembly must pass to be road-legal.

at one point, i was working towards building 100% road-legal lighting, so i deep-dove into the official government requirements. environmental and output testing for a single light assembly was quoted around $10,000, and that was about 12 years ago. i wouldn't be shocked if that same testing cost upwards of $20,000 now...