Amber strobe legal?

Hey guys

I'd like to install a rear facing 4 inch amber led strobe light with a momentary switch in the cab.

Do you think this would be legal?

I want it so that I could warn someone behind me to back off if they're tailgating or so that I could run it sustained as a rear light in the desert or on trails.

 

My guess is that it is illegal. You should check the calif vehicle code or ask a chp officer since they'd probably be getting the complaints on the highways from other motorists. I'd also be concerned about the reaction of the person you are trying to tell to back off. You never know what they may do Just my .02.

 

I wouldn't use it as you're driving to tell someone to back off. Any sort of lights used in such a manner, whether harmless or not, would be illegal. If the driver behind you got scared and over reacted, you would be at fault because you caused it.

The only on road practical use I could see is if you're on the side of the road, and you use it as an addition to your 4-way flashers. Like maintenance vehicles use.

 

Blah...

I've known about 5 people that have been rear ended in the last few months by people that just aren't paying attention. (ie the idiots were texting). I wish cars had something more effective than turn signal warning lights.

 

Nothing you do will be legal. That being said, I've always considered installing some cheap flood lights as back up lights? Just a thought... not saying anything else on that line.

As for running the strobes, there shouldn't be anything illegal to having them on your vehicle. The illegality comes when you use them.

 

I assumed the illegality would come when I used them. It would be nice to have if I ever got a flat or something.

I guess it's not worth it to do if it'll be illegal. A few times I've been awfully scared looking in my rear view mirror seeing people coming up behind me too quickly and looking down in their laps.

I'll check the vehicle code. Knowing Cali, I'm sure it's illegal

 

As for Cali law I can't help you. It would be illegal here, and most likely the same there. My suggestion if someone is tailgating you, be sure to leave plenty of space between you and the vehicles ahead of you. This provides you more time to slow smoothly if they hit their brakes, hence giving the moron tailgating you more opportunity to pull his/her head out of their rear and also slow down. As far as I know this is still taught in many drivers Ed classes. It has saved me in the past in my taco.

 

I have used temporary orange strobes on the roof of the cab while working on roads (water sampling from bridges) and my understanding is that only red and/or blue strobes are illegal (at least in TX), as they are reserved to emergency vehicles. Construction vehicles, rural mail carriers, they all use orange strobes, which just imply CAUTION.

That said, i don't know that they would be that effective while driving to tell someone to not tailgate. If they are not paying attention, then they probably wouldn't see the strobe either, and if they are just aggressive drivers, then they wouldn't care about the strobe anyway. Maybe one of those scrolling messages LED bars? But I'd be careful about the messages you use, people can have weird reactions...

Best thing you can do, I'm afraid, is drive defensively and carry a good insurance...

 

Unauthorized lights if used in NY. Amber light on top of a vehicle is only allowed for dedicated work/construction trucks including snow removal

 

I wouldn't do it either...

Just flash your brake lights at the idiot until they back off. There was this fucker one time who was literally following 10 feet behind me going 55 mph...after flashing my brake lights at the guy for a while he backed off

 

Texio is correct. Only red/blue lights are reserved for emergency vehicles. Anyone can have an orange strobe for whatever reason. I think we all know what is appropriate and considered the right way to use the lights.
With that being said, if you want something cool then install strobe lights inside your turn signals.(IMO)

 

Your best bet is to check your state code. Here it would be legal, but only if it faced the rear as you plan on doing. There is another option. Install a Back-off brake light controller that automatically flashes your brake lights as you apply them. This is popular in the motorcycle world and is an attention getter for HUA drivers.

http://www.signaldynamics.com/

I haven't installed one in my car or truck but on my bike it made a clear difference in people rushing up on me while stopped and they seemed to stop further back from me.

 

red/blue definitely illegal. yellow not sure, but probably shouldn't do it.

 

I have yellow turn signals and never had a problem. I think under the right circumstanses (trail ride with lots of dust,stopping to help disabled motorist or at an accident) you will be o.k.

 

Who cares if it's illegal, wait till you see my tailgate light...there gonna be wishing they didn't tailgate me. If they didn't crash already.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6sZg3iL5EY

 

I'm torn between "really cool" and "really obnoxious"...

Maybe you could do that to a Tacoma with one of those red led strips that mount under the tailgate?

 

I'd just install a rear facing train horn. A little more expensive, but way more effective, AND less likely to get you in trouble with the police. In California aux lights are supposed to be covered while on the road. If you're caught using them, especially like you describe you will get a ticket for unsafe/reckless driving.

 

Air horn FTW!

 

dont guys with snow plows have flashing ambers all the time