TexasCHLforum.com

srothstein wrote:

LikesShinyThings wrote:Maybe it's the programmer in me, but the way I'm reading this is "If you wouldn't be using high beams, it is illegal to use your driving lights (aka, headlights)".

What he meant was auxiliary driving lights, which are a special type of supplemental light in Texas, as opposed to headlights. When you see a Jeep or truck that has those extra lights on it by the winch or on the roll ball (or other places), they may be driving lights and not just fog lights.

Texas allows up to four headlights (and requires two), plus up to two fog lights, two auxiliary driving lights, two auxiliary passing lamps, and two spotlights. There are limits on where you can mount them and how the light may be distributed. There are even limits on how you can use them when approaching other cars (in either direction). All of this is in chapter 547, subchapter E of the Transportation code at: http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/D ... .547.htm#E" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

See, I knew I couldn't be interpreting the statement correctly.
Thank you for the clarification.

KD5NRH wrote:

mkosmo wrote:Not exactly... It's a violation to use parking lights instead of headlights, but nothing in the traffic code makes driving with parking lights on illegal.

IIRC, it's legal to use fog lights + parking lights without headlights if the fog lights meet the low-beam requirements for placement and illumination pattern. Driving lights, OTOH, should be off anytime you wouldn't use high beams.

Maybe it's the programmer in me, but the way I'm reading this is "If you wouldn't be using high beams, it is illegal to use your driving lights (aka, headlights)". I know that can't be what you mean, because seems like 50% of the time I'm driving at night, I have oncoming traffic, and I need my headlights (nighttime) but the oncoming drivers would be swearing a blue streak about me blinding them if I had my high beams on. But I'm not sure I can make out exactly what your intent was.

BTW: before I bought a car with DRLs (daytime running lights), I would turn my headlights on immediately after starting my engine, day or night, and not turn them off until the car was parked and I was turning the engine off. Granted, that was before I moved to this wonderful state, but I can't imagine being ticketed for doing what I considered enhancing the visibility and safety of my vehicle.