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RTG
Dodge Dakota
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1/21/2005
23:30:34

Subject: Illegal????
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I recently bought new headlights (whole housing) with clear lenses, i was wondering if its illegal to have clear parking light bulbs instead of amber bulbs. Also, has anyone tried the LED parking lightbulbs (3157)???

Thanks a lot guys



Mr Knowitall
Dodge Dakota
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1/22/2005
00:25:56

RE: Illegal????
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what state/city do you live in?



RTG
Dodge Dakota
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1/22/2005
00:32:32

RE: Illegal????
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Fort Myers, FL



Kota01
Dodge Dakota
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1/22/2005
01:49:26

RE: Illegal????
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Ask a cop...I did. They are illegal in Nevada. They have to be amber.



Mr Knowitall
Dodge Dakota
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1/22/2005
02:01:41

RE: Illegal????
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here in cali, the front reflectors and turn indicators must be amber if the truck was originally equipped as such.



RTG
Dodge Dakota
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1/22/2005
10:11:24

RE: Illegal????
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k thanks



Jecht X
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1/22/2005
14:50:06

RE: Illegal????
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what about using an amber bulb in the clear housing? I just thought as long as it was the correct color bulb you could use that?



Dan D
Dodge Dakota
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1/22/2005
16:17:58

RE: Illegal????
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I remember reading about this very thing, but I couldn't find the link to it. It was about the "Forteza" style aftermarket clear tail lights, and they don't meet DOT standards (meaning illegal for on-road use), because they are required to have a red reflector either to the rear or side or both.
It also touched on the aftermarket clear front housings as well, for the same missing reflector section (amber in the front). There was mention of the trend to want to use clear bulbs behind that clear turn signal housing, and how that was not legal for street use, because of the requirement for amber turn signals and side marker lights in front.
Now, the legality may all depend on your particular state laws, so Kota01 has the right idea: ask a cop.




korey
Dodge Dakota
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1/22/2005
17:18:43

RE: Illegal????
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Yeah asking a cop is a good idea. I know here in oklahoma they dont focus on looking at bulbs everyone has em but i was told they had to be amber because thats was oem bulb..i was going to put bed of fire led in and take tail lights out but its illegal glad i asked...just my .02cents



GraphiteDak
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1/22/2005
19:11:28

RE: Illegal????
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Dan D is 100%

Those clear lens are marketed with the disclaimer as "for show use ONLY" etc. They are NOT DOT approved. a cop could (if he wanted to) look for the DOT number which is on every lens and if it's not there he'd give you a repeair order or whatever.

By law you should have reflective lens and the correct color for front/rear

Here it is rediculous. the Ricers run clear lens, BLUE turn signal bulbs and flahsers that flash TOO fast. They usually get away with it until a cop who's not so busy comes along :-P



DonK
Dodge Dakota
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1/23/2005
01:42:10

RE: Illegal????
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korey:
"but i was told they had to be amber because thats was oem bulb."

Partially true. The bulb, or housing, must be amber, but not solely because that was the OEM color, but because the laws that govern what color signals go where on any motor vehicle sold in the good old US of A says so. That's why the OEM puts those colors where they are: the OEM gets to decide how to implement the color, but the color is pre-determined by law.
Next time you're out and about, notice the front turn signal colors on stock vehicles. You'll find either the nice, high visibility amber lenses, such as our Dakotas, or the harder to see amber bulbs behind clear lenses.



G man
Dodge Dakota
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1/23/2005
02:19:55

RE: Illegal????
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DonK is refering to Federal Motor Vehicle Standards.




peedee
Dodge Dakota
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1/23/2005
06:28:06

RE: Illegal????
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not only is it a violation to use non-oem style lights, but it would be a moving violation if cited by an official. That means that you pay for 6 years on your insurance after you pay the fine. Even a light that is burnt-out is a mv -which is ridiculous in that it could have just burnt out minutes before the official noticed it. A fix-it ticket would be more appropriate, but that is what happens when the people do not pay attention to what our elected officials are doing up there in the state house. By the way, elected officials are exempt from most of those laws that they enact for autos, because the insurance and registration is supplemented by the state -most.



GraphiteDak
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1/23/2005
11:20:01

RE: Illegal????
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exempt


That word can sometimes be so unfair.



two cent
Dodge Dakota
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1/23/2005
11:23:52

RE: Illegal????
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Use the amber bulb in the clear housing, at least it will look cool with the lights off...and you won't get a citation.



Mr Knowitall
Dodge Dakota
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1/23/2005
12:55:26

RE: Illegal????
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using an amber bulb in a clear housing is ILLEGAL IN CALI for a 99 dakota. i say this not because my buddy told me, not because i overheard someone say it in the bank line, but because i persoally got a ticket for it a year ago. i dont know what the laws are for other states, but in cali, it MUST HAVE A YELLOW REFLECTOR on the front corners.



Different
Dodge Dakota
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1/23/2005
20:18:10

RE: Illegal????
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Well. We all know California is different, anyway.
We kinda accept California being different as the norm.



Mr Knowitall
Dodge Dakota
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1/23/2005
21:27:24

RE: Illegal????
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CALI SUCKS!!! emissions, lights, suspension, you name it, we get tagged for it.



RTG
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1/23/2005
21:51:53

RE: Illegal????
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I ordered some LED parking lights(3157)which most of you know are clear untill they light up, so if i get pulled over for that ill let you guys know.





Question
Dodge Dakota
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1/24/2005
22:00:59

RE: Illegal????
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I have a 88 LeSabre T-type the front turn signal lenses are clear and the bulbs are amber OE's Do they know what was OE and what wasn't.?



peedee
Dodge Dakota
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1/25/2005
07:01:33

RE: Illegal????
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CA is so regulated because it was controlled by liberals for so many years. Look at the most regulated citizen un-friendly states, and the states that have had a history of financial woes surpassing others and you will find that they had a majority liberal house and senate. They also are responsible for the appointments of liberal judges in the system. -In Massachusetts those liberal judges are the ones who decided to do away with the constitution and enact law themselves with the 'gay marriage' situation-. Liberals love the unlimited resource of tax-base to further thier careers. The legislation is only good in theory, and has no practical applicability. The M.O. is give away millions to the -mostly- underserving, they will vote us back into office, legislate and enact useless-feel-good legislation and eventually believe thier own crap they spew from their mouths. Massachusetts has the same problems as CA.



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