I removed the break light on my TJ that was part of the spare tire carrier to accommodate a larger tire. Someone told me that it was illegal to drive around without a third higher break light. Is this true? Has anyone ever heard this before? Thanks.
Achillius
Laws can vary, state by state. There is an FAQ that has state by state laws. Might be worth a peek:
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=315249
For instance, here's CA 24603:
Stoplamps
24603. Every motor vehicle which is not in combination with any other vehicle and every vehicle at the end of a combination of vehicles shall at all times be equipped with stoplamps mounted on the rear as follows:
(a) Every such vehicle shall be equipped with one or more stoplamps.
(b) Every such vehicle, other than a motorcycle, manufactured and first registered on or after January 1, 1958, shall be equipped with two stoplamps, except that trailers and semitrailers manufactured after July 23, 1973, which are less than 30 inches wide, may be equipped with one stoplamp which shall be mounted at or near the vertical centerline of the trailer. If such vehicle is equipped with two stoplamps, they shall be mounted as specified in subdivision (d).
(c) Except as provided in subdivision (h), stoplamps on vehicles manufactured on or after January 1, 1969, shall be mounted not lower than 15 inches nor higher than 72 inches, except that a tow truck, in addition to being equipped with the required stoplamps, may also be equipped with two stoplamps which may be mounted not lower than 15 inches nor higher than the maximum allowable vehicle height and as far forward as the rearmost portion of the driver's seat in the rearmost position.
(d) Where two stoplamps are required, at least one shall be mounted at the left and one at the right side, respectively, at the same level.
(e) Stoplamps on vehicles manufactured on or after January 1, 1979, shall emit a red light. Stoplamps on vehicles manufactured before January 1, 1979, shall emit a red or yellow light. All stoplamps shall be plainly visible and understandable from a distance of 300 feet to the rear both during normal sunlight and at nighttime, except that stoplamps on a vehicle of a size required to be equipped with clearance lamps shall be visible from a distance of 500 feet during such times.
(f) Stoplamps shall be activated upon application of the service (foot) brake and the hand control head for air, vacuum, or electric brakes. In addition, all stoplamps may be activated by a mechanical device designed to function only upon sudden release of the accelerator while the vehicle is in motion. Stoplamps on vehicles equipped with a manual transmission may be manually activated by a mechanical device when the vehicle is downshifted if the device is automatically rendered inoperative while the vehicle is accelerating.
(g) Any vehicle may be equipped with supplemental stoplamps mounted to the rear of the rearmost portion of the driver's seat in its rearmost position in addition to the lamps required to be mounted on the rear of the vehicle. Supplemental stoplamps installed after January 1, 1979, shall be red in color and mounted not lower than 15 inches above the roadway. The supplemental stoplamp on that side of a vehicle toward which a turn will be made may flash as part of the supplemental turn signal lamp.
A supplemental stoplamp may be mounted inside the rear window of a vehicle, if it is mounted at the centerline of the vehicle and is constructed and mounted so as to prevent any light, other than a monitorial indicator emitted from the device, either direct or reflected, from being visible to the driver.
(h) Any supplemental stoplamp installed after January 1, 1987, shall comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108 (49 C.F.R. 571.108). Any vehicle equipped with a stoplamp which complies with the federal motor vehicle safety standards applicable to that make and model vehicle shall conform to that applicable safety standard unless modified to comply with the federal motor vehicle safety standard designated in this subdivision.
Amended Ch. 924, Stats. 1988. Effective January 1, 1989.
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=315249
For instance, here's CA 24603:
Stoplamps
24603. Every motor vehicle which is not in combination with any other vehicle and every vehicle at the end of a combination of vehicles shall at all times be equipped with stoplamps mounted on the rear as follows:
(a) Every such vehicle shall be equipped with one or more stoplamps.
(b) Every such vehicle, other than a motorcycle, manufactured and first registered on or after January 1, 1958, shall be equipped with two stoplamps, except that trailers and semitrailers manufactured after July 23, 1973, which are less than 30 inches wide, may be equipped with one stoplamp which shall be mounted at or near the vertical centerline of the trailer. If such vehicle is equipped with two stoplamps, they shall be mounted as specified in subdivision (d).
(c) Except as provided in subdivision (h), stoplamps on vehicles manufactured on or after January 1, 1969, shall be mounted not lower than 15 inches nor higher than 72 inches, except that a tow truck, in addition to being equipped with the required stoplamps, may also be equipped with two stoplamps which may be mounted not lower than 15 inches nor higher than the maximum allowable vehicle height and as far forward as the rearmost portion of the driver's seat in the rearmost position.
(d) Where two stoplamps are required, at least one shall be mounted at the left and one at the right side, respectively, at the same level.
(e) Stoplamps on vehicles manufactured on or after January 1, 1979, shall emit a red light. Stoplamps on vehicles manufactured before January 1, 1979, shall emit a red or yellow light. All stoplamps shall be plainly visible and understandable from a distance of 300 feet to the rear both during normal sunlight and at nighttime, except that stoplamps on a vehicle of a size required to be equipped with clearance lamps shall be visible from a distance of 500 feet during such times.
(f) Stoplamps shall be activated upon application of the service (foot) brake and the hand control head for air, vacuum, or electric brakes. In addition, all stoplamps may be activated by a mechanical device designed to function only upon sudden release of the accelerator while the vehicle is in motion. Stoplamps on vehicles equipped with a manual transmission may be manually activated by a mechanical device when the vehicle is downshifted if the device is automatically rendered inoperative while the vehicle is accelerating.
(g) Any vehicle may be equipped with supplemental stoplamps mounted to the rear of the rearmost portion of the driver's seat in its rearmost position in addition to the lamps required to be mounted on the rear of the vehicle. Supplemental stoplamps installed after January 1, 1979, shall be red in color and mounted not lower than 15 inches above the roadway. The supplemental stoplamp on that side of a vehicle toward which a turn will be made may flash as part of the supplemental turn signal lamp.
A supplemental stoplamp may be mounted inside the rear window of a vehicle, if it is mounted at the centerline of the vehicle and is constructed and mounted so as to prevent any light, other than a monitorial indicator emitted from the device, either direct or reflected, from being visible to the driver.
(h) Any supplemental stoplamp installed after January 1, 1987, shall comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108 (49 C.F.R. 571.108). Any vehicle equipped with a stoplamp which complies with the federal motor vehicle safety standards applicable to that make and model vehicle shall conform to that applicable safety standard unless modified to comply with the federal motor vehicle safety standard designated in this subdivision.
Amended Ch. 924, Stats. 1988. Effective January 1, 1989.
i think you need them in most states if they came equipped with one from the factory, you do in north carolina and it's pretty lax here concerning modified vehicles.
you could just put a round led in the center cap or a few washers to space up the third brake light
you could just put a round led in the center cap or a few washers to space up the third brake light
In Va they won't ticket you for it,but you need it to pass inspection at most places.I just did this for $6.
(WTF sticker is optional
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(WTF sticker is optional
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Yeah, in NC it's illegal - but I haven't met anyone in my relatively small town who cares enough to give me a ticket.
That includes the time I got pulled for accidently running a redlight(I followed a semi through an intersection) and got THREE TICKETS. I was ready to jump out and choke that creep by the time he was done.
That includes the time I got pulled for accidently running a redlight(I followed a semi through an intersection) and got THREE TICKETS. I was ready to jump out and choke that creep by the time he was done.
Course it was, if he'd been in the donut shop like he was supposed to, he wouldn't have written him upDavejb said:Yeah, I'm sure it was the cops fault that you got 3 tickets
Yea it all depends, but most cops aren't going to notice or care. I have been going without mine for almost 2 years now with no problems.
New York Vehicle and traffic law states you must have more than one brake lamp for vehicles manufactured after 01/01/52 section 375 40(b) like the others said I'm sure PD aint worried about it!!
NY law does not require a 3rd brake light. However, usually if it's equipped with one, it has to work (least what I've heard when you get it inspected). So if you remove the third brake light completely, you're good. I haven't had one for about a year and it's been inspected during that time.
Sometimes the LEO has nothing to do...and I didn't want him (or her) doing it with me...so I raised the 3rd brake lamp above the larger tire.Achillius said:
I like the brake light being in the spare - but I'm much too lazy to do that kind of fabrication. :laugh: .
I used a riser available at Q'Tech - but a homemade piece would have done as well...if I weren't so lazy.
Laws vary by state, and I've never spoken with anyone in Michigan that has been stopped by a failure to sport a brake light; I just didn't want to be bothered by the police on such a small issue. (Also, of course, it might keep someone from hitting my TJ in the gas can :laugh: ).
My state is not to worried about it. I take my doors off in the summer and don't use any side mirrors either.
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