Are regular fog lights illegal? Got pulled over!

[Fantasymon]

I got pulled over last night for my fog lights. They are just regular sized after market fog lights which fit in the holes provided by my 2000 explorer (didnt come with any fog lights). These are the only auxillary lights I have.
Last night I got pulled over for these and was told to keep them off or the next time will get a big ticket. Its college police so the odds are somewhat good I may see this cop again. Where can I find out if these are illegal or not? I have heard that in many states you cant have more than 2 sets of total lights but I cant imagine it being illegal to have a set of lights on other than your head lights. I'm almost positive that I always see people driving around with their fogs on. You can check the picture in my signiture to see where the fog lights are. Doesn't make any since to me. Oh and I am in Oklahoma.
Thanks a lot.
Grant-P

 

[Anime]

Uhhh security guards, rent-a-cops, college police, etc. cant give you a ticket except for parking and stuff like that. Probably someone on a power trip or they had nothing else to do.

You are correct about the 2 sets of lights. As long as you're just using the headlights and one set of fogs you're fine.

About all I can think of is either your fog lights are actually DRIVING lights, which have a very bright beam, and should not be used around town, only on the highway or off-road, with no other vehicles in front of you, or they are fog lights, but were aimed wrong and glared right in this persons eyes. Perhaps you have blue-beam (fake "superwhite") lights which this person just happens to object to. Blue lights ARE illegal in most cities/states. Most fog lights are clear or yellow/amber.

If youre sure they're fog lamps and they're not blue (except the lens, some of the blue tinted lenses these days make amber beams) just check to make sure they're aimed correctly and you're set. I doubt any real cop would pull you over unless they saw your beams were a funny color or were aimed at oncoming traffic, since vehicles do come with factory fog lamps.

If anyone harasses you again, just tell them they are factory, thats how they came on the vehicle, etc.

 

[Kontrol-Trak]

I hate people that always drive around with their fog lights on...they are really blinding sometimes, especially when combined with HID lighting.

 

[RFR2212]

Originally posted by Anime4x4
Uhhh security guards, rent-a-cops, college police, etc. cant give you a ticket except for parking and stuff like that. Probably someone on a power trip or they had nothing else to do.

Don't be to sure on that one... Depending on state laws they may be able to do alot. At Western ILL, we've got good Ol OPS.. Office of Public Safety. As I learned this week, not only are they sworn officers, and have all the power of an officer, their juristdiction is in any county in the state of IL where Western IL owns property. Translation, over 45 counties in IL western owns property. That was the last figure my law enforcement teacher knew of. So, this almost fer sure varies state by state... But alot think they're just rent a cops, and they're not.
Pete

 

[Alec]

Actually, UT campus cops are part of the TX State Troopers, so they can give you any ticket they please, they almost never do though.

As for the fogs, check to make sure they are in-fact fogs, and aimed kinda at the ground, not up as to blind other drivers. There are many J**pers around here who use their 6" Hella fogs in the city and even though they're fogs, they're still not very nice to traffic. But smaller fogs in the stock location are perfectly legal (as long as they don't know they're not DOT approved). Just tell him they're stock from Ford.

 

[aldive]

Many University Police are sworn dupities and have full arrest power.

 

[NoBoundaries]

Yeah, I'll have to disagree with the statement that campus police are the equivalent of rent-a-cops. I know in the state of MD that campus police are a division of the Maryland State Police.

I work for the department of security and police for my school and know that they are in fact, police. Granted they may be under the power of the school administration, in many cases they are also police for the county. So, if you want to question them thinking you have the upper hand, I'd pay money to see your face when they take off their campus badge and put on their deputy's badge.

I wanted to add to the information by saying, check your wattage. If you have something like a 100 W or more light, it's going to be for off highway use only. If it's a regular 55 W, it is no brighter than your low beams and if you state allows for the use of auxilary lights, these shouldn't be a problem. But don't quote me as I do not know the specifics of your state.

Check and make sure that the lights are DOT approved and check with your local police regarding statues on auxilary lights.

In MD for instance, you can have 2 fog lights to a certain height off the ground, 2 driving lights to a certain height off the ground, and 1 rear back-up light to a certain height off the ground. (This is from what I recall, laws could have changed since then)

Bottom line, feel free to call and ask, it can only help. Good luck and let us know how everything works out.

 

[TSTONE]

here the ticket is called: to many forward lights, how do i know? i got one:fire:

the maximum in michigan is technically 4forward lights, however if 4 of foward light are factory installed ie: twin headlamp assemblies - OO[\\\\^////]OO - you technically can get away with an additional set of fogs or spots as long as they are adjusted so as not to affect an oncoming drivers vision (i've had to read this one in court, once to beat a ticket - cause the cop was arguing that 2 twin fact. HL set-ups constituted 4 forward lights vs. each pair constituing a unit of light production) my argument - one bezzle - one light, i don't know if i was truly right but the judge said he was impressed with my agrument and let it go out of principle.

 

[Bill Kemp]

The MSC are bright lights. You probably should check the adjustment. There is a write up on the PIAA site about how to adjust lights.

 

[tbomb]

just for reference, i know a lot of people said that some college cops are real cops, but at penn state, theyre all rent-a-cops. its funny as hell to watch (usually a student or a really old guy) go running through campus with his whistle and pepper spray. most of the problems around here dont happen on campus though, they happen in town (im sure many of you know of the riots of the past 5-6 years), which is a totally different story, and most of the time theres tons of state cops around; hell, its central pennsylvania, nothing but state cops and cows

 

[Anime]

sorry

I wasn't bashing cops or trying to make a broad statement about campus police all over the cournty or anything...I just figured the problem may have been the person instead of the lights- someone having a bad day or something you know?

I also forgot to mention, with some of your other mods, you may have been calling attention to yourself or your vehicle with the radio on, bass booming, etc. and mentioning your fog lights were bright was just an excuse for the officer to do a quick check- some cops figure if you have chrome wheels and bass boomin', you must be a drug dealer/user, or know one, or be up to some sort of mischief. However, even if thats the case and they were just checking to be sure you weren't driving a party wagon around under the influence of anything, they were doing their job keeping the campus safe.

 

[Sandy]

Contact the local divison of Motor Vehicles, ask them the requirements and law.
If these lights are Department of Transportation,DOT, approved and you have a statement from the manufacturer stating so, keep it handy.
Make sure that the lights are FOG type and that they meet the requirements of the state and DOT.

Some states have a height requirement for fog lighting.

Oh ya, biggy, as stated above if they are approved lights then make sure they are aimed correctly. Go to a Inspection shop and have them checked out for correct positioning.

Good Luck,

 

[JDraper]

Originally posted by tbomb
just for reference, i know a lot of people said that some college cops are real cops, but at penn state, theyre all rent-a-cops. its funny as hell to watch (usually a student or a really old guy) go running through campus with his whistle and pepper spray. most of the problems around here dont happen on campus though, they happen in town (im sure many of you know of the riots of the past 5-6 years), which is a totally different story, and most of the time theres tons of state cops around; hell, its central pennsylvania, nothing but state cops and cows

Hey TBomb, Penn State cops are not all rent-a-cops. They have 4 different types at PSU. They have Student Auxiliary (rent-a cops), Cadet's (glorified rent-a-cops that are part of the Administration of Justice undergrad program), CSO's (community service officers, the really old guys) which are real cops, but no guns (they have arrest powers), and PSO's (REAL cops) with full police powers. Last I knew, there were around 100 Student Auxilary, 25-30 Cadet's, 15 CSO's and about 40 PSO's. They are phasing out the CSO's as they retire from service.

How do I know this??? I spent 3 years as part of the Student Auxilary when I was there . Actually it was a great job. I got paid $7/hour (Mid 1980's) to watch football games, concerts, etc., got to pick my own hours, and our parties never got busted!!!:mattmoon:

 

[BigDave]

Since everyone else did...

...I'll throw in my two cents...


Cop Issue: I too went to WIU, and I know for a fact that they can issue state tickets. (I got a couple of them). They have jurisdiction across the state of Illinois, with full arrest powers, blah, blah blah...you get the point. Moral of the story, don't argue with them.

Lights: It is my understanding that you cannot have more that one set of white driving lights on when on the street/highway. If you have fog lights on they should be that ugly yellow/amber color. Remember the point of fog lights are <gasp> to improve your visibility when it is foggy out (Imagine that). I believe that is why they are placed lower to the ground as well (reduce the amount of glare that comes back to you off of the fog). Moral of the story: If it ain't foggy and your driving around your college campus, leave em off. Save yourself the headache and don't draw the attention of the cops. If this happened on a weekend he was probably looking for a reason to stop you to make sure you weren't driving drunk.

Again just my two cents, take it as you will...

Dave

 

[93Eplorer320hp]

I drive around normaly with HID blue-white headlights, very, very bright amber foglights mouted in the front bumper (the chrome one) and my other lights like tail lights and turn signel light have been brighted. Even my backup lights are blue and i have never been botherd by is. I live in the suburbs but am always in the city. most cops have seen my X and never cared. I backed up infront of one cop in the city and he didn't say a word. campus cops are just dicks.

 

[STiCKS]

most cops are c***s atleast in SE Wisconsin. I got pulled over for superwhite's. My fog's weren't even on and still the officer gave me a warning about too many lights some BS like that. Written warning and in the box where it says the warning is for "Too many bright lights" I think he was just being an a** cause I young. I always get hassled for my lights but they DOT approved so there's nothing they can do but they still try.

 

[Naga Sadow]

One time my dad borrowed my explorer and used my hella 4000's in the city. A cop coming from the other direction told him to turn them off. No ticket, i was surprised because these lights are quite blinding.

 

[hornz2000]

I'll have to disagree with the college cop no jurisdiction issue. I know here in Dallas at SMU those cops give out MIPS all the time and I have seen them arrest kids for assault, etc. I have seen a few chases too. I just know they are the same as any other cops.

 

[DocVijay]

At UF (go Gators) the cops are...

real gun toting, badge wearing, ticket writing, arrest making cops. They can do anything any other cop can. Only they seem to be much cooler. Guess dealing with drunken colege students 7 days a week kinda mellows you out. If they weren't so tolerant, they'd be way too overworked from all the tickets/arrests. Heh.

 

[Dan Whitaker]

I replaced the 25 watt bulbs in my factory fog lights with 50 watt bulbs and they still barely light up the pavement. As low as they are on my 97 Mountaineer i dont see how the could blind anyone. I also have a set of Hella 500 driving lights. I don't run them in the city but when I went to Omaha in December I used for the whole 200 mile trip. The only person that flashed thier brights at me was a semi-truck driver. Figure that one out.