Motorcycle Lighting Question for LEO

[E.Marquez]

Although not specifically spelled out as illegal by state law, some cities may have adopted specific ordanances against them.

I do have them on my bike but only use them when parked. Got stopped a while back, no ticket just a warning.

Where were you, and did the officer tell you they were illegal, or he just didn't like your bike (J/K)? Like, maybe he is
burning rice and is jealous of a beautiful V-Twin?

So much for your stereotype



V twin, burns rice

[WildBill]

So much for your stereotype
V twin, burns rice

[C-dub]

I'm really torn on this one. I have thought about putting some type of lighting like this on my bike because I think it looks cool and it would make me more visible at night. However, from a cage's viewpoint, well, at least mine, whenever I have been been out at night and seen a bike with these lights it is a little distracting. They are not bright or blinding and don't bother my eyes, but they do draw my eyes away from everything else.

[gemini]

Although not specifically spelled out as illegal by state law, some cities may have adopted specific ordanances against them.

I do have them on my bike but only use them when parked. Got stopped a while back, no ticket just a warning.

Where were you, and did the officer tell you they were illegal, or he just didn't like your bike (J/K)? Like, maybe he is
burning rice and is jealous of a beautiful V-Twin?

So much for your stereotype



V twin, burns rice

(J/K) = Just Kidding. Nice bike. I don't quibble over what someone rides. Just glad to see them ride.

[gemini]

I'm really torn on this one. I have thought about putting some type of lighting like this on my bike because I think it looks cool and it would make me more visible at night. However, from a cage's viewpoint, well, at least mine, whenever I have been been out at night and seen a bike with these lights it is a little distracting. They are not bright or blinding and don't bother my eyes, but they do draw my eyes away from everything else.

Then they served their purpose. You weren't bothered or blinded but you did notice the bike. I'm sure you didn't continue staring, but glanced, and then resumed
driving in a safe manner, checking rear view mirrors every few seconds, staying in your lane, not impeding traffic flow and obeying all traffic laws to the best of your ability like every red blooded American and Texas resident.

[RPBrown]

Although not specifically spelled out as illegal by state law, some cities may have adopted specific ordanances against them.

I do have them on my bike but only use them when parked. Got stopped a while back, no ticket just a warning.

Where were you, and did the officer tell you they were illegal, or he just didn't like your bike (J/K)? Like, maybe he is
burning rice and is jealous of a beautiful V-Twin?

I was in Dallas. I ride with a christian motorcycle group and we had just left a homeless shelter in downtown Dallas. We all did have vests on (with Fellowship Riders patches) and 3 of the 8 bikes had under lights on (all of us were stopped) and 1 of them was a rice burner, er, ah, Yamaha sport bike. The first officer stopped us but waited until backup arrived to get out of his car. He never said it was illegal, just that we were not supposed to be running with them on.

I did check with some Irving officers I know and was told that it is a very gray area of the law. He did say that it can be and has been used as a probable cause to stop someone in some cases.

With that said, some of my group still ride with them on. I just prefer to not push the issue since it is such a gray area. Personal choice I guess.

By the way Gemini, you got everything right except the long hair. It's almost no hair.

Oh yeah, almost forgot. I ride a Harley Ultra Classic, Dyna and a Road Glide all of which have the under lighting. The wife also hs a Fatboy with underlighting as well Just realized that I may have the same problems with motorcycles that I do with guns.

[E.Marquez]

Previous to this thread it had never occurred to me to install LED under body lighting on my bike.
I find myself wanting a set now........ Just to see what the ticket will say when I politely decline to turn them off..


I won't clutter up my bike, so lights are out.... But like a no plastic gas tank on street bikes issue we had in the Pacific North West years ago where a few select LEO's were making up the rules as they went based on personal opinion (not maliciously, just allowed a personal opinion to guide there ticket writing) When we finally got a real citation in hand vs warning, threatened impoundments, the quoted violation was was not actually covered in the code cited.. Two trips to court later (LEO did not show up to the first one) and it was all over. Citation dismissed and the group of LEO's involved were admonished to not cite riders for this non existent infraction.

I would love to see any actual ticket given for under body lights on a motorcycle and the code violated referenced. I don't want to antagonize law enforcement, but like any other code or law being misinterpreted and wrongly enforced (if it is, I'm still not sure it may not be a Grey enough area for the citation to be written and left to a judge to decide)... It only changes if someone makes the effort.

Transportation code in hand as we speak.... I have to go see DPS on another issue today.. I'll solicit opinions of a trooper or two while I'm there.

[gemini]

bronco78: "Transportation code in hand as we speak.... I have to go see DPS on another issue today.. I'll solicit opinions of a trooper or two while I'm there."

I'm very interested in what they will say. Let us know.
The next local motorcop I see running radar, I'll stop and ask them too.

[sugar land dave]

I think you could almost use the same argument made for chl: I'd rather be judged by 12 then carried by 6. If a motorcycle is unseen by an auto driver, bad things can happen. The motorcycle ALWAYS loses in such an event. The motorcycle driver almost always dies or is badly injured in such an event. Quite frankly, if the entire motorcycle had a low intensity ufo glow, I still could understand the rider's desire to be seen, not so much for pride, but for eagerness to not die. Being a 500 pound vehicle amongst 5000 pound vehicles gives you a quick respect for your place in the universe.

As another thought, I cannot imagine any experienced LEO wanting to write tickets which would lead to more time spent overseeing fatality accident scenes. Turning a blind eye (pun intended) might be the truly right move in such situations.

Not my call, but I do understand all of the dynamics.

[gemini]

I have 52 LED's on my bike.. some are in pods of 4. I have them on the front forks, pointing down to the chrome, in the engine area, shining down on chrome.. behind the breather cap, under saddlebags..

Mine are UV LED and i seriously doubt that my combined total output comes close to 100 candlepower.

the Ultra Violet LED emits a purple glow that is very eerie and ghostly on chrome..

Only time an officer said anything about mine was that it was cool and he couldn't focus on the bike because of the lighting..

I also have a Knight Rider LED (12) brake light that is mounted above my LP.. this is not a flashing light, but it's a 'chasing' or sequential light that moves like the light bar on the car "KIT" .. when you hit the brakes, this flashes several times before going solid. Really gets the attention of the cager behind you..
http://www.customdynamics.com/knight_ri ... ht_bar.htm

That's my understanding, the purple LED's are about a 1/3 as bright as the white, red, blue.
If you have a night time picture post it. Sounds like a nice job on the lighting.

[quote = "sugar land dave"] As another thought, I cannot imagine any experienced LEO wanting to write tickets which would lead to more time spent overseeing fatality accident scenes. Turning a blind eye (pun intended) might be the truly right move in such situations.

I can't imagine it either, but it happens. In LEO work, as in other occupations, experience, wise discretion and knowledge = superior officer/employee.

[gemini]

I finally got to speak with a veteran DPD motorcop at a school fund raiser last night. He said the LED lighting
that lights the engine, frame etc is NOT against the law. But, you want to stay away from a red & blue
combination or anything that could be seen easily from the front of the bike (as in the rear view mirror of a
vehicle in front of you) imitating a police or emergency vehicle. His only other comment was that he has
quit riding his personal bike at night.

[randolph]

In mt vernon tx I asked a police officer on duty if there would be a problem with the blue lights on the bike ive purchased less than one year back.....I'm knew to the law and figured I would ask an officer himself.....I was told in this county no officer would have a problem with my blue lights.....3 months later another county officer fr the same county as the previous officer, pulls me over and issues a situation......the county ask me to pay the ticket....I requested a bench trial.....woild anyone have any great advise for myself to bring to court.....as far as I know.....a beacon or flashing light is illegal and besides...I figured a warning would be issued since this is my first violation......

[cb1000rider]

What were you cited for exactly? What is the arrangement of lights on your motorcycle?

My advice: Figure out if you were breaking the law first. If not, get a jury trial and be able to cite the exactly as it is written.

[MMac]

If it's dark I ride with my LED lights on. They are blue, under my tank and hard bags. I feel they are a safety visibility issue riding at night. I've never been stopped but have ridden by may LEO's.

I'll be heading out very early tomorrow morning to escort the Wreaths Across America ride to Houston National Cemetery - and I'll be riding with my lights on as it will be dark when I leave to join up with others in Porter.