HALO's / HID's

[Beyond Limits]

I know that there are a couple of officers on this forum so I have a question that hopefully someone has an answer to... What is the legality of installing aftermarket HID (Xenon) lights on vehicles that they did not come with stock from the factory.

My understanding is that it is one of those goofy laws where they are legal for the OEM to install on a vehicle. However the law (at least my understanding of it) states that it is illegal to fundamentally change the method of operation of the headlights on a vehicle and since changing from traditional halogen lights to HID lights requires fundamentally changing how the lighting system works these aftermarket kits are actually illegal.

The only reason I ask is that the Halo is something that is unique to a HID setup as far as I know, and I know that a lot of people have been saying that they would go aftermarket if Halo's are not available but I am not sure if that is even a possibility.

It would be nice to be wrong here but does anyone have any insight into this one? (And yes I know what Scott has said, however perhaps I am posing this more as a question in general then one that is specific to the 5th gen I suppose).

[The_Beast_]

whether theyre illegal or not theyre cool and the cops just have to deal woth that. No offense.

[09'Z28]

Originally Posted by The_Beast_

whether theyre illegal or not theyre cool and the cops just have to deal woth that. No offense.

if you follow that philosophy this could be your car (a very sad thought i know)

[brantley847]

As an officer I am not aware of such lights being "illegal" or are you inquiring about the act of changing the lamps?...

If your concern is the legality of actually CHANGING the lights...How can I prove you did them yourself? We can't...and I wouldn't expect you to admit to it, but when your car lights on fire....well thats your own problem...haha

I was in a hurry and quickly skimmed over your question, so I apologize if that was not what you were asking.

[Dragoneye]

Originally Posted by brantley847

As an officer I am not aware of such lights being "illegal" or are you inquiring about the act of changing the lamps?...

Aren't there beam intensity and # of lumens 'laws'? IIRC, here in NY, the intensity of the aftermarket lamps cannot exceed that of the factory lamps. Now, obviously, they'd have to be pretty darn bright to draw attention from officers...but I believe there are such regulations around here; I wonder if any other states have 'em.........

[Congoman775]

i know a friend of mine runs his jetta with illegal lights from germany, but how is a cop going to tell the difference?

[diarmadhi]

Legality is state based.

Federal limits are inline with brightness (lumens), height from ground, and direction of reflection/projection. A after-market replacement kit will 90% of the time fall within these limits.

Some states have laws against ANY non-OEM hid's. Others have 0 laws on them. Its just going to take some digging with your local LEO's and DOT's to get your answer.

[Fandango]

I never knew of such a regulation. I just like the halogen type glow. I think it's softer and you can adjust where the beam goes on the ones on my Jetter. No one has said anything about my lights or anything as of late. Hmmm..

On another note. I'd like to see those Halos that I saw on the production Vert on the SS. Wonder what dealler info is comming. But that's on another post.

[TAG UR IT]

Depends on your state laws. Check out the California traffic code. And, if you still aren't sure, go ask an officer on the street.

But if you do it, and you get stopped, don't have this attitude....

whether theyre illegal or not theyre cool and the cops just have to deal woth that. No offense.

That will probably get you more tickets.
And no, I didn't take offense to that. I'm being very serious.
If they are illegal, you will get a ticket....or maybe a warning-depends on officer
If GM makes the Camaro with halos, they will be legal throughout the US...with no worries to Cali state law. Now, you go put some German headlights that are bright as crap in there and you might have problems!

[brantley847]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

Aren't there beam intensity and # of lumens 'laws'? IIRC, here in NY, the intensity of the aftermarket lamps cannot exceed that of the factory lamps.

Well, for us the statutory definition is simply failure to dim high beams...

How would you measure that as on officer on scene if your statute requirements need a physical number? I am sure I sound like an idiot saying this, but I have never come across a Florida Statute that defines the restrictions. I am sure they are out there, however....we dont have mandatory vehicle checks or yearly inspections like such states as NJ.

Originally Posted by Fandango

I never knew of such a regulation.

I dont believe we have such regulations, unless your lights are SO bright that it gives an officer the impression your high beams are on.....my rule of thumb is if your vehicle is coming towards me and I have to cover my eyes in any way shape or form because it is so damn bright then you will be stopped.

[Txturbo]

The HID conversion kits I've seen aren't DOT approved. In fact, any kit that just replaces the bulb, and still uses the original housing, is illegal. Kinda like running non-DOT drag slicks on the street. The OEM HIDs are DOT approved because they have a special housing that disperses and focuses the light correctly. There are some DOT approved kits now that come with the correct housing, but they are expensive.If its not DOT approved, its "only for Off-Road use only" and its illegal equipment on public roadways. Its a Federal law, not state by state.

copied from the USDOT website........
NHTSA 43-04
Contact: Rae Tyson, Telephone: (202) 366-9550
Tuesday, October 19, 2004

NHTSA ILLEGAL LIGHTING CRACKDOWN CONTINUES

Continuing its crackdown against manufacturers and suppliers of illegal lighting equipment, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today announced its decision that high intensity discharge (HID) conversion kits produced by a Texas company do not comply with federal safety standards.

The owner of ASTEX USA, a supplier of aftermarket HID kits, was ordered to conduct a recall campaign and provide a no-cost solution to the customer. The company is based in Dayton, TX. When installed in a motor vehicle, the HID kits “can be expected to produce excessive glare to oncoming motorists and others,” NHTSA said in its decision.

To date, NHTSA has investigated 24 HID conversion kit suppliers; all investigations have resulted in recalls or termination of sales.

“These illegal lights are a potential hazard to those who share the road,” said NHTSA Administrator Jeffrey Runge, MD. “And we will continue to pursue those offering them for sale and violating the law.”

Companies that sell, import or manufacture non-compliant equipment could face substantial civil penalties, NHTSA said.

[GTAHVIT]

On the tahoe forum I rarely participate on. They have a few post that refer to the color of the bulbs. I'll have to go and look at it. Mostly the legal issues surround the blueish tint from HID's if you go too blue you are illegal.

the 4300, 6000 and 12000 is not the power, but the color. 4300 is pure white, but as you go up you go from blue to purple.

[The_Beast_]

Originally Posted by 09'Z28

if you follow that philosophy this could be your car (a very sad thought i know)

how is a lamp setup going to total my car again??

EDIT: wasnt refering to some crazy bright light setup. as far as I've seen on other cars an other kits halos arent very bright. they look cool. Oh and again 2 of my cousins are cops.(well ones a sheriff) so no offense but I doubt a crown vic could catch my Maro.

[boxmonkeyracing]

Originally Posted by The_Beast_

.(well ones a sheriff) so no offense but I doubt a crown vic could catch my Maro.

yea but you can't out run motorola.

[carsismeZ06]

If the halo's are the lights on the concept, then I don't really like them.

[brantley847]

Originally Posted by The_Beast_

how is a lamp setup going to total my car again??

EDIT: wasnt refering to some crazy bright light setup. as far as I've seen on other cars an other kits halos arent very bright. they look cool. Oh and again 2 of my cousins are cops.(well ones a sheriff) so no offense but I doubt a crown vic could catch my Maro.

As stated above me...no one can out run the Motorola. Just cause you got away from me, doesn't mean you will get away from 5 of my buddies down the road with spikes..

or the 4th Gen State Trooper's Camaro that roams the area for just such an event. Keep him on quick dial.

[5thGenAnyone?]

What exactly are halo's?

[The_Beast_]

their head lights from the concept. you know that little ring of light? thats it.

[sterlingnotes]

Originally Posted by brantley847

As stated above me...no one can out run the Motorola. Just cause you got away from me, doesn't mean you will get away from 5 of my buddies down the road with spikes..

or the 4th Gen State Trooper's Camaro that roams the area for just such an event. Keep him on quick dial.

Didn't you hear? The Camaro will come standard with a radio jammer and run flats.

[The_Beast_]

^ I cant believe I forgot about that option. Getting that for sure.

[lafountain]

OK, I have read a few things talking about installing the halos for the first time that it was kind of tricky.

When it comes to replacement it is just a swap job like most headlights or is it tricky also?

[TheCaptain]

Depends if you are replacing the whole unit, or if the unit was designed to have "rechargable" bulbs.

[Camaro Lives On]

Originally Posted by The_Beast_

how is a lamp setup going to total my car again??

EDIT: wasnt refering to some crazy bright light setup. as far as I've seen on other cars an other kits halos arent very bright. they look cool. Oh and again 2 of my cousins are cops.(well ones a sheriff) so no offense but I doubt a crown vic could catch my Maro.

That also is not a picture of a crashed car, that is a crushed car, as in, ''the crusher.''