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I work from 6pm till 5pm just out of Fairfield.(bout a hundred miles south of Dallas on I-45).Coming home about a year ago I wasnt watching my speed and got caught by the city police doing 57 in a 45. I had just passed the 45 speed limit sign. I pulled over and turned the inside "dome light" on so he could see me. Showed him my drivers license and my CHL.He asked where the weapon was and I told him. He said to watch the speed limit signs, and to be careful. He was very polite and professonal. Also he did not give me a ticket. A very positive experience all around.
Too-Tall

Welcome back. It has been a long time & we are glad you are back. Good stop & handled it well. Have a great day & dont stay gone so long.

Thanks for the welcome back Longtooth. I got a new computer and lost this web-site for awhile. I am glad to be back. Too-Tall

Good idea about the dome light, I hadn't thought of doing that were I stopped. Today with the tinted glasses
if I was a LEO I would be afraid to approach a vehicle at night. I'll try to remember this if I were to get stopped.

The dome light is recomended on the DPS web site.

A warning about the dome light in certain vehicles, namely pickup trucks: If you turn on the dome light inside (not the map lights), it may also turn on the white light that lights the bed area, thus blinding the oncoming police officer trying to see what you're doing through the window. Be sure you know your vehicle.

Glockamolie wrote:A warning about the dome light in certain vehicles, namely pickup trucks: If you turn on the dome light inside (not the map lights), it may also turn on the white light that lights the bed area, thus blinding the oncoming police officer trying to see what you're doing through the window. Be sure you know your vehicle.

Hmm, I didn't know they were that bright at night. I may have to try an experiment when the sun goes down to see it from the officer's perspective.

JLaw

JLaw wrote:

Glockamolie wrote:A warning about the dome light in certain vehicles, namely pickup trucks: If you turn on the dome light inside (not the map lights), it may also turn on the white light that lights the bed area, thus blinding the oncoming police officer trying to see what you're doing through the window. Be sure you know your vehicle.

Hmm, I didn't know they were that bright at night. I may have to try an experiment when the sun goes down to see it from the officer's perspective.

JLaw

Most lights that illuminate the bed are pointed downward, so its not necessarily directly "in the officers eyes". The real problem is: They usually create a glare on the rear glass, and the interior light is not strong enough to overcome it. The occupants are therefore hard to see.

Good idea to check yours.

I have an old 70s custom van that has a red light as the main interior light on the ceiling for the front area, as well as other red lights that light up the area below the dash. As red light allows illumination without considerable restriction of the pupil, it allows you to turn on the lights and make things visible without making it difficult to see elsewhere (outside the vehicle, low-lit areas, etc). I've noticed the backlit keyboards in the APD cars use red illumination for this same reason. If I ever get pulled over at night, that's what I'd use.

Glockamolie wrote:A warning about the dome light in certain vehicles, namely pickup trucks: If you turn on the dome light inside (not the map lights), it may also turn on the white light that lights the bed area, thus blinding the oncoming police officer trying to see what you're doing through the window. Be sure you know your vehicle.

I have never understood that way of turning on the bed lite. It needs its own switch. I have never been able to use it as the dome lite glares off the window too much. I am considering rewiring mine to a seperate switch.

Yea, I'm in the habit of rolling all four windows down, and turning on the map lights, in my crew cab truck. Never know which side the leo will approach on.

Dan

ETA: I agree there needs to be a separate switch for the bed lights.

mah truck has that.