I wana get a pair of them but I never use my high beams cause i blind people... Could I aim the 500's so they dont blind people and wire them with my normal headlights?
willcherokeexj
The answer to your question is COMPLETELY dependent on the STATE motor vehicle code.
If I had to GUESS as to an answer, the police will NOT think that running around with Hella 500's turned on (even if aimed away from oncoming vehicles) meets state lighting codes, particularly if you use them in urban or suburban areas. Out in the total boonies, they might be more lenient.
I would suggest you review Illinois state motor vehicle regulations related to lighting of non-commercial vehicles.
If I had to GUESS as to an answer, the police will NOT think that running around with Hella 500's turned on (even if aimed away from oncoming vehicles) meets state lighting codes, particularly if you use them in urban or suburban areas. Out in the total boonies, they might be more lenient.
I would suggest you review Illinois state motor vehicle regulations related to lighting of non-commercial vehicles.
also in most states they cannot be mounted above 36" from the ground i think if they are going to be used on public streets
Without the DOT stampings on them (mine are stamped as european e-codes) you will most likely find that your state will not allow you to have them on while on public roadways. Here in NJ we have to keep any non-DOT lights covered while on public roadways.
- Justin
- Justin
I have a set of 500 driving lights on the front of my XJ that are wired in to come on with my high beams and its awesome, great pattern and fills everything in very nicely with the E-Codes I have.
I've only been stopped once by a state trooper on a back road, I think he was more or less pissed that I lit him up from as far away as I did, but once he saw that they were wired in with the high beams he didn't say to much. Just told me to make sure I dim my lights for on coming traffic and let me go.
Kyle
I've only been stopped once by a state trooper on a back road, I think he was more or less pissed that I lit him up from as far away as I did, but once he saw that they were wired in with the high beams he didn't say to much. Just told me to make sure I dim my lights for on coming traffic and let me go.
Kyle
i got stopped in illinois by joliet police for running 2 hella 500's at dawn. forgot they were on. if you are having trouble seeing you may want to try adjusting the stock headlights height, chech to make sure your wire connector on the back of the light isnt corroded and that the grounds are good. sealed beam lights usually get weak before they burn out so you could try replacing them. after all that if they are still dim, check out jc whitney for composite conversion lights. they mimick your sealed beams but you can replace the bulbs with out replacing the whole lens which would allow to run any kind of bulb (xenon's, blue gas, h3's , h4's)
I have OEM fog's located in the traditional spots, but I wired them to parking lights power. I did this so they stay on when I switch to high beams. So they are lit all the time with the lights on.
I can't recall the exact federal statute on it, I believe it's RCW 15 (part there of) that states that within 1,500 feet of another moving vehicle you are only allowed to have two white and two amber lights forward facing illuminated on any road vehicle.
So in other words, fog lights, driving lights or any form of lighting other than head lights and parking lights are illegal. And that's FEDERAL, not state. So that's nation wide. The only exception are clearance lights (amber markers across the top of a semi truck).
It's not something that's readily enforced, though. Much to my dismay. I've even asked cops why they don't enforce that law. Haven't gotten a decent answer back yet. Would make them a boatload of money if they pulled over all the morons driving around in town with their blinding fog lights on...
So in other words, fog lights, driving lights or any form of lighting other than head lights and parking lights are illegal. And that's FEDERAL, not state. So that's nation wide. The only exception are clearance lights (amber markers across the top of a semi truck).
It's not something that's readily enforced, though. Much to my dismay. I've even asked cops why they don't enforce that law. Haven't gotten a decent answer back yet. Would make them a boatload of money if they pulled over all the morons driving around in town with their blinding fog lights on...
I'm reading very interested. We have in Europe asymmetrical lights, that mean oncoming traffic is not blinded under any circumstances when adjusted properly.
Every car imported from the US has to switch their symmetrical lights to asym lights. DOT is not approved in Europe, only E- numbers. weird, hu?
Every car imported from the US has to switch their symmetrical lights to asym lights. DOT is not approved in Europe, only E- numbers. weird, hu?
It is illegal to run high beams something like 200 yards from oncoming, and 300 yards from traffic in the same direction... On that note most places you can only run extra lights as high beams. And most places roof mounted lights are illegal unless covered when on public roads.
Yea I think thats really the thing, I doubt cops will bother you about it unless your bothering other people with them. Just click them off for oncoming traffic and you probably wont have any issues. Sounds like you need to aim your headlights properly as well. Ive always thought the jeep had pretty decent lighting with the stock lights and even better when I added the silverstar lamps. Every vehicle Ive owned with composite headlight housings has had lousy lighting mostly due to they lenses getting hazed from road debris over the years, some of them have odd shapes too which probably doesnt help any.
The bottom line on the OP's question is it will likely depend on the cop. Laws vary and so do cop moods. You'll be risking getting pulled for sure if you habitually run the 500s with your low beams.
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