Illegal off road roof lights...

[EMSJEEP]

So...I was stopped by a South Whitehall Township Cop (while sitting in the Applebees parking lot waiting for the pager to go off because there was no room to stand inside and it was 25 degrees out). He shoots into the two free parking spots in front of me and after a minute of staring at me and my girlfriend sitting in the warm and running Jeep, gets out and walks up to my window. License and proof of insurance please...oh you're from New York...what are you doing here...do you have a Pennsylvania drivers license?( Besides the NYS License I just gave him my Jeep has New York State Volunteer Ambulance Service tags, New York reg., Insurance and a NYS EMT patch on my front window and an NYPD PBA card) Hand it all over with my New PBA card which he nearly throws back at me through the window of my parked car. "I saw those lights up there on your roof when I drove past you before, I saw a reflection" he says. (this was at least 15 minutes ago down the road) That’s illegal in PA he informs me, to have the lights uncovered while on a public road (apparently opaque covers are required not just brush guards?). Anyway after threatening me with a $107 ticket and reciting some PA VTL codes that I should obviously have brushed up on before I came to visit the state (yeah for some reason he not only knows the code but the fine...go figure) he orders me to install opaque covers before he catches me again. Anyone know anything about this law in PA, any other states? Opinions?
:patriot:

[frankenstang57]

From my understanding any "non street leagl" lights need to be covered while the vehicle is operated on a public street. Was that way in Mi. when I was growing up. I've never had a problem with it here in Co., but I'm sure it's on the books somewhere. Pa. cops suck in general, especially if you are from out of state. I've got friends from there and have seen them in action myself, so I feel your pain. Good thing though, I live in Co. and I'm sure if I lived in Pa. 5-0 could find a lot more to violate my XJ on than lights! ;) Throw a set of covers on 'em and make 'em happy. Just be sure to take the covers off before use or you'll wind up with one melty mess. I too have experiance with this...

[EMSJEEP]

does that mean I have to cover my 190watt low beams too...oops...did I spill that?:angel:

[Ramsey]

just cover em and be happy he didnt give you the ticket ;)

[89Daytona]

..."I saw those lights up there on your roof when I drove past you before, I saw a reflection" he says. (this was at least 15 minutes ago down the road) That’s illegal in PA he informs me, to have the lights uncovered while on a public road. Anyway after threatening me with a $107 ticket and reciting some PA VTL codes that I should obviously have brushed up on before I came to visit the state (yeah for some reason he not only knows the code but the fine...go figure) he orders me to install opaque covers before he catches me again. Anyone know anything about this law in PA, any other states? Opinions?
He must not have much to do if it took him 15 minutes to decide to give you a ticket.

Its a $100 fine... he must of included tax.
"(f) Off-road lighting.--Off-road lighting lamps may be mounted on the roof or roll bar of a vehicle and shall be covered with an opaque covering that prohibits any light from being emitted when the vehicle is being operated on a highway or trafficway. Any person who illuminates an off-road lighting lamp while the vehicle is being operated on a highway or a trafficway commits a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of $100."
http://public.findlaw.com/traffic-ticket-violation-law/state-traffic-law/pennsylvania-traffic-law.html
http://www.dot10.state.pa.us/pdotforms/vehicle_code/chapter43.pdf

[Ray H]

The way that law reads, the $100 fine is only for illuminating the lights. It doesnt actually state a fine for just having them uncovered. Is it possible he was blowing smoke and threatening you because he could??? Or maybe he has a reading impairment and doesnt understand the laws very well himself.
At least you can have them in PA. In WV you cant even have a set of lights up on the roof, although Ive never heard of anyone ticketed for it. They had to actually make a special provision in the law so certain new vehicles that came from the factory with roof lights could be sold in WV and pass inspection.

[XJ Eric]

Well since you are NY registered the judge probly wouldn't even make you pay since you are out of state. But if NY has the same law then he may stick you with it anyway.

But yeah you gotta have those to run em in PA

[spcustoms]

had the same prob here in jersey, cop was goin the other way, saw me, pulled a dukes of hazard in front of traffic just to pull me over and give me warning.. he also said my lower fogs were the wrong color, they looked a little blue...

[UNCC_99XJ]

I know it's a law in several states that if you have off road lights, whether they be on the roof, front bumper, brush guard....etc, they must be covered when the vehicle is in operation, and cannot be illuminated on any public streets. The part about them being covered when on a public street is a little bogus IMO.

Sounds like the cop was just lookin for somethin to do, and you happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

[Bent]

Gotta cover them here too in mexico.

:twak:

[DrMoab]

Sounds like the cop was just lookin for somethin to do, and you happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Im suprised no one has brought up the point that he was parked...not driving in a private parking lot.

The cop should be fired.

I am not against cops but I feel they should have more to lose then the public by breaking the law themselfs.

[Ray H]

The part about them being covered when on a public street is a little bogus IMO.

.

I agree 100%. Laws like that irk me. Thats the same as ticketing you for speeding because you have a speedometer that reads higher then 55MPH. or ticketing you for violating noise laws just because you have an aftermarket audio system.
There are states (I think PA is one of them) where its illegal to carry a spot light in your vehicle because you "may" spot light deer with it.

Just for the record, I dont agree with open container laws either. You are either drinking or your not. Theres no public threat in driving around with an open can of beer in your car.

[UNCC_99XJ]

Im suprised no one has brought up the point that he was parked...not driving in a private parking lot.

The cop should be fired.

I am not against cops but I feel they should have more to lose then the public by breaking the law themselfs.
I agree. Just about every day I see cops doing things....little minor things, that I know damn well had I done it, they'd have my ass in a heart beat. Little things such as SPEEDING, failure to signal....hell i've even seen cops tailgating before.

I also have the most respect for them and the line of work they do. There's just a handful of them who have nothing else better to do than to boast about "hey i'm a cop and I can pull you for what ever the hell i feel like" attitude.

Speaking of which I had a state trooper pull me for "tailgating" back in november. When in reality I was going to change lanes, doing the speed limit and had a guy come up in the left lane that I was trying to get into, SPEEDING. I waited for him to go by, turned around and looked for more traffic one last time, and while I was doing that, the a**hole jumped on the brakes (because there was apparently a trooper sitting in the median). I almost ran into the back of the guy....had I hit the brakes any harder I would have slid into the back of him. Well right as we passed the trooper was when I was beginning to finally slow down and get away from the guy. Trooper pulled me THREE MILES down the highway (and again, I wasn't speeding). Didn't care about my side of the story...hell didn't even let me finish my story. Practicaly threw my license and registration back through the window after snatching it out of my hand, and promptly wrote me a $145 ticket. This was while I was on my way home from school for the weekend, on a highway I travel every weekend.

$350 and a good attorney later, and It was reduced to "improper equipment" last week....LOL. All I care is it's no points on my license or my insurance.

Sorry to get OT, but thats just my experience with some of the "rotten" cops that make them all look bad.

[ADVNTURR]

Not so sure about PA, but I know that when I used to live in VA it was any lights above the centerline of your factory lights had to have an opaque cover over them on the street. It was also illegal to have them operate with anything but the low beams. The legislators obviously had never learned about the appropriate function of lights, Fog w/ Low, Driving w/ High.

In NY when I was going to school there I believe they had a 100w limit or something but I was there for school and I had VA plates so i wasn't too concerned.

Now that I'm in CT, I have no idea what the laws are and don't really care, I have opaque covers for both sets of my lights in the vehicle at all times if some cop wants to raise a fuss. I typically find that unless you're doing something else wrong or the cop is a complete jerk (which in your case it sounds like he was) that if you're smart you'll be left alone.

[Ray H]

I grew up in a law enforcement family, I was a deputy for a period of time years ago. I can say that MOST of them break the law on a regular basis. Usually nothing big, but they do it. Then they turn around two minutes later and ticket someone for the very same thing.
Ive been out drinking with cops, we pretty much did whatever we wanted didnt worry about it. I got in a discussion with my cousin (MD state trooper) one time about the carry laws in MD. He basically told me he thought no one should be able to carry a firearm except cops, and then, when I asked him about it, he went on to tell me that his wife carries one, but thats ok. I knew to ask him about it because just about every cop wife I knew when I grew up carried one, including my own mom.
I dont agree with many laws we have today. That was my downfall when I was a cop. I couldnt, in good conscience, enforce laws I didnt agree with. I guess some people dont have a problem with that.

[HaleYes]

Be done with it and get some covers.
I'd go with these:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/pickoneallready/mountains099Small.jpg

[Ray H]

I want those. Where can they be had???

[RichP]

I want those. Where can they be had???

Second that, where'd those come from...I love em...

[HaleYes]

I want those. Where can they be had???

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=355895&highlight=light+covers

[UNCC_99XJ]

LOL that's cool as hell!

[G.Q. Jeeper]

I thought you would be exempt from "equipment laws" if you are out of your registered State? Thats the way it works here in Canada, if you have a NWT Licence Plate and are in Alberta, the laws are different and since that is not your place of residence you are just visiting and those laws do not apply to you.

If its not the case, what do you do if you live in a State with no front licence plate and travel to a state that does have them? You get a ticket for no front plate? I mean lets use a little common sense now, the real problem is that we are over-governed with stupied laws, its time to start electing automotive loving politicians!

Jeff

[WB9YZU]

It is the operators responisibility to know, and understand the rules of the road and equipment requirements of the places they plan on traveling to, or through. That includes lights, lifts, exhaust or anything else we may "get away with" at home.

For example:
If your LEO let's you get away with playing it so loud that the trim rattles, but another communities LEO enforces the law in their area, that's the breaks, too bad, you got caught; and yes, you should have known.

It sounds like the officer was a bit less than casual, be we were not there to hear what transpired.

* The original poster admitted he should have known.
* The Officer was within his rights, moving or unmoving to let him know the requirements for Off-Road equipment.
* He now has a source for said equipment.

[89Daytona]

I thought you would be exempt from "equipment laws" if you are out of your registered State?

I mean lets use a little common sense now, the real problem is that we are over-governed with stupied laws, its time to start electing automotive loving politicians!
Ideally you would be exempt in another state, but some cops are just stupid and mean so they will ticket out-of-staters for anything they can because they figure its easy money.

There are some automotive loving politicians, but the lobyers get to them and make them go along with stupid laws or even beter unenforcable laws... like driving while using a non-handsfree cellphone or driving with headlights on while your wipers are on (the taillights are as important if not more than the headlights when its raining/snowing)

[RichP]

I thought you would be exempt from "equipment laws" if you are out of your registered State? Thats the way it works here in Canada, if you have a NWT Licence Plate and are in Alberta, the laws are different and since that is not your place of residence you are just visiting and those laws do not apply to you.

If its not the case, what do you do if you live in a State with no front licence plate and travel to a state that does have them? You get a ticket for no front plate? I mean lets use a little common sense now, the real problem is that we are over-governed with stupied laws, its time to start electing automotive loving politicians!

Jeff

It is very selective in that respect, PA just repealed their helmet laws, NJ requires helmets, go over the border from PA to NJ without a helmet and you get a ticket. South carolina I think does not put plates on small trailers, one of the members here came up to to PA to pick up the YJ we were selling, no plates but he never got stopped. Like I said, it's selective on the cops part. To my way of thinking and the ICC I believe, if you meet YOUR home state requirements they should not have a foot to stand on with reguards to meeting local out of state requirements but that can get expensive to fight in court. While we here in the US pride ourselves on a 'fair and just' system it's only fair and just if you have the money to insure it's fair and just, the more you can afford the more 'just' it is. Cops love out of staters, they are a good source of revenue for the state as they generally won't fight it. While there is no 'quota' system here in PA as long as they include 'projected ticket revenue' in the yearly state budget they can deny the 'quota's' all they want, until that 'projected' revenue comes off it's there whether they admit it or not.

[Ray H]

It is very selective in that respect, PA just repealed their helmet laws, NJ requires helmets, go over the border from PA to NJ without a helmet and you get a ticket. South carolina I think does not put plates on small trailers, one of the members here came up to to PA to pick up the YJ we were selling, no plates but he never got stopped. Like I said, it's selective on the cops part. To my way of thinking and the ICC I believe, if you meet YOUR home state requirements they should not have a foot to stand on with reguards to meeting local out of state requirements but that can get expensive to fight in court. While we here in the US pride ourselves on a 'fair and just' system it's only fair and just if you have the money to insure it's fair and just, the more you can afford the more 'just' it is. Cops love out of staters, they are a good source of revenue for the state as they generally won't fight it. While there is no 'quota' system here in PA as long as they include 'projected ticket revenue' in the yearly state budget they can deny the 'quota's' all they want, until that 'projected' revenue comes off it's there whether they admit it or not.

While ignorance of the law is no excuse, there are some equipment laws that its just impractical or impossible to adhere to. The example you gave of the SC resident coming to PA with an unlicensed trailer is a good one. Theres no possible way he could meet PA laws in that case. Its a catch 22 because PA wouldnt let him register it with an out of state address even if he wanted to. Thats why most states have reciprical agreements to honor other states vehicle and license requirements, this is also why if you were to fight it in court, you could probably win. The same goes for lift laws, door laws, tire laws. Being an out of stater and legal in your home state, you may still get ticketed but if you choose to have your day in court, you would most likely walk away a winner. No judge would like to be the one responsible for the breakdown of a long standing reciprical agreement between states.

[RichP]

While ignorance of the law is no excuse, there are some equipment laws that its just impractical or impossible to adhere to. The example you gave of the SC resident coming to PA with an unlicensed trailer is a good one. Theres no possible way he could meet PA laws in that case. Its a catch 22 because PA wouldnt let him register it with an out of state address even if he wanted to. Thats why most states have reciprical agreements to honor other states vehicle and license requirements, this is also why if you were to fight it in court, you could probably win. The same goes for lift laws, door laws, tire laws. Being an out of stater and legal in your home state, you may still get ticketed but if you choose to have your day in court, you would most likely walk away a winner. No judge would like to be the one responsible for the breakdown of a long standing reciprical agreement between states.

Ignorance of the law has nothing to do with it, Unless there is a FEDERAL law standardizing requirements there is no way everyone can be legal in every state. Unfortunately they don't have a discretion class for police or don't enforce it. A ticket for having uncoverd roof lights on your vehicle if YOUR state does not require them should be thrown out by the cops supervisor and if it gets past him it should be thrown out by the JP or Judge and the cop and supervisor told to 'get the stick out of your *ss', but as long as it generates income by not being contested [gee, maybe reimbursement of the out of state ticketee should be an incentive to the state to clamp down on BS tickets] it will continue. If they had to reimburse expenses that would be a negative cash flow to the state which would be unacceptable.
I won't even go into the cash cow that DUI and 'The war on drugs' has turned into in many states where a 17yo HS kid gets wacked with a $1500-$5000 fine, you cannot watch a 17yo 24/7 and if you have a large sum of cash you can almost guarantee that it will be taken away by the police. Enough, I have two systems I need to finish today..

[Ray H]

Ignorance of the law has nothing to do with it, Unless there is a FEDERAL law standardizing requirements..

One should know the laws of the state they are traveling in and should also be assured that their home state will and should stick up for them in the event that a state does not uphold their end of a reciprical agreement. Wouldnt that be nice if your home state went to bat for you if another state oversteps its bounds. Thats the way it should be.

[88rockxj]

i find it rather funny that cops/people love to use the excuse that YOU should know all the lil gay laws they have in each different place you travel when they offer little to no help in displaying these laws to you. we have speed signs, exit signs, all these other signs so the drivers know whats going on but they make no effort to display anything else. it should not be the duty of an american to go spend hours researching on the internet laws of all the states, what if you dont have the internet? you live in cali and are going to texas to drop your mom off at her new house and in order to you drive through several states, every american doing this expected to request by mail code books for each state hes passing through?


bunch of crap , our gov spends countless millions of dollars to make american life faster paced yet not when it comes to them taking your money. in this case its from tickets

ignorance of the law is a scape goat for cops, it should be thier duty to make the public aware of these laws that are hidden away among hundreads of pages and thousands of laws in some office building on some bookshelf. our gov has no problems spending our money so they can get more of it, but they wont spend our money to save us money.

[EMSJEEP]

Well, ok I was being sarcastic about reading up on the VTLs before coming to PA. They guy was just trying to be a jerk though...I mean its not as if he pulled me over, he happened upon me in a parking lot 15 minutes or more later, after I had gone inside, reserved a table and had been sitting in the warm Jeep for about 10+ minutes. He claimed he saw me as I was sitting at a red light on an incline diagonally across 6 lanes where he was making a downhill right turn on a green light. I know because being the buff/whacker/whatever that I am, I usually take note of reflective vehicles. It so happens that I do have the opaque covers for them (the white Hella ones) but they are at home, and I have to venture up there next weekend and will not have them here by then...then again I've been going up there every weekend for nearly 2 years without incident... none of my PO friends from NY have ever said anything about them, so who knows, does anyone know the NYS VTL? By the way those white covers don't really look too great, anyone paint them black?

[Ray H]

i find it rather funny that cops/people love to use the excuse that YOU should know all the lil gay laws they have in each different place you travel when they offer little to no help in displaying these laws to you. we have speed signs, exit signs, all these other signs so the drivers know whats going on but they make no effort to display anything else. it should not be the duty of an american to go spend hours researching on the internet laws of all the states, what if you dont have the internet? you live in cali and are going to texas to drop your mom off at her new house and in order to you drive through several states, every american doing this expected to request by mail code books for each state hes passing through?


bunch of crap , our gov spends countless millions of dollars to make american life faster paced yet not when it comes to them taking your money. in this case its from tickets

ignorance of the law is a scape goat for cops, it should be thier duty to make the public aware of these laws that are hidden away among hundreads of pages and thousands of laws in some office building on some bookshelf. our gov has no problems spending our money so they can get more of it, but they wont spend our money to save us money.

Knowing the laws of the state you are traveling in is not a "scape goat". I agree that its not possible though. We've gotten used to traveling between states so we forget that each state is a seperate government in itself. It has its own government, its own constitution, its own militia and so forth. The federal government unites states for a common purpose but other than that, they are seperate inities. Sorta like traveling between countries in Europe. States actually have the right to not allow residents of other states access. They can close their state off to other states. They dont do that, instead they open their states up to travelers by providing reciprical agreements to honor the licenses and vehicle registrations and regulations of other states.

[XJoshua]

I find that LEOs and their attitude can usually be determined by your age, your vehicle, marking on the vehicle, and the phase of the moon.

I got pulled over three times on new years eve and new years after work between 11:20PM-12:15AM. First was for rolling away from a green light to fast. Which I called bullshit on because I had to idle away from the light so I didnt spin the tires on the ice. Well he gave me a warning after having a conversation about my life history. Then I continued on to go pick up some grub across town. No problem there. Im heading back and get pulled over by a state trooper. I dont think he liked my "HUMMERS are for dicks" sticker because he said that phrase in a question after pulling me over and saying I was going 65 in a 55 which cant be true, because I have bigger tires and stock speedo gear which means my speedo reads 5MPH slower so when Im going 55 Im really going 50, and I was going 55 acording to my speedo because I was in no rush to get home. Then pulling onto my street a county cop pulls me over saying I looked like I was out past curfew. Im 6'6'' and he thinks I look young? So I was pissed being pulled over this many times and all warning, so the county says he'll follow me home so I said "Better keep up" which probally wasnt the smartest thing, but I left the scene before he was even in his car and was going to speed limit of 30 but I had a block on him, and he passes me when he catches up.

Many of the laws do need to be re-written to suit the people and the community. Getting pulled over for having a loud system during the day is homo, getting pulled over for having a loud system at night I believe is a good reason to be pulled over. Drinking, smoking, and recruiting laws need changed aswell. Some people want to drink at 18 and smoke at 18, well then if you do that I believe kids shouldnt be able to join the army/navy/etc until they are 21. Window tinting laws also need fixed. If you have limo tint you should be able to have it, but I believe you should turn off your engine, roll down your window and stick your arms out before the cop approaches, and out of common sence ask to reach into your glove box or under you ass for your wallet.

Remember 90% of the law is common sence.

[matt6669]

Ahhh the wonderful world of individual state laws which in my opinion is complete and utter bullshit. I see no reason that one state should have lays different from another state. This country is one country and were united by many states theres no reason that each state should have their own laws we should follow a set of rules set out by the govt and thats it.

Another thing is they should stop having lawyer right the laws and have people with common sense write laws. Ever try to look up a law on a state website and after a few hours of searching get NO WHERE. For ex. I am planning to do a spring over lift for one of my buddies in NJ and I wanted to find in writting whether or not it would be legal or not, i didn't care about hear say. Well i searched many nights and have come up with nothing. It's crap like this that pisses me off. Then you call the dmv and ask and one person tells you one thing and the next person tells you something COMPLETELY different its total bs.

But to the original poster, just be glad you didn't get a ticket and have to go through the trouble of fighting it. The problem is more and more people are becoming cops that don't deserve it and shouldn't be a cop b/c they abuse the system. I know many people that went to my HS that are now cops in my surrounding area and I see them abusing the system each and every day. So take it with a grain of salt and just be glad you didn't get a ticket

off my soap box before i type a story about how the laws in this crappy state i live in suck

[EMSJEEP]

I dunno its almost worth the $100 to fight something like this and win...esp. the way the VTL reads and the fact I'm from out of state ...not that I'm asking for trouble but stuff like this is BS plain and simple. I mean if he wants to pull me over for a moving violation, fine at least I would have earned it, but theres no cause to make trouble over this in an Applebees parking lot, and in a vehicle that is basically marked....
on another note I asked my girlfriend if she would wink at him as he walked away from the window for a minute...but she was no help...I was all alone there :-(

[RichP]

Ahhh the wonderful world of individual state laws which in my opinion is complete and utter bullshit. I see no reason that one state should have lays different from another state. This country is one country and were united by many states theres no reason that each state should have their own laws we should follow a set of rules set out by the govt and thats it.

Another thing is they should stop having lawyer right the laws and have people with common sense write laws.

You need to remember something, the legal system in this country is a business, an industry and it makes people money, big money, millions to lawyers. Same with the tax structure, you have people who go to school with the intent and purpose to learn the complexities of the legal and tax systems and to continue on in the same manner, not to simplify it so a normal person can read and understand it. Consider the basic UCMJ, it's pretty simple and straightforward, only when you get into particulars does it get confusing but nowhere near as confusing as the civil legal system. Laws are writtne by special interest groups, money changes hands to get laws written in a particular way for those special interest people. Unfortunately there is no real way to get laws removed, they are much harder to delete than create and there is no incentive for legislators to do that, not when they are constantly bombarded by interest groups to create more.

[matt6669]

You need to remember something, the legal system in this country is a business, an industry and it makes people money, big money, millions to lawyers. Same with the tax structure, you have people who go to school with the intent and purpose to learn the complexities of the legal and tax systems and to continue on in the same manner, not to simplify it so a normal person can read and understand it. Consider the basic UCMJ, it's pretty simple and straightforward, only when you get into particulars does it get confusing but nowhere near as confusing as the civil legal system. Laws are writtne by special interest groups, money changes hands to get laws written in a particular way for those special interest people. Unfortunately there is no real way to get laws removed, they are much harder to delete than create and there is no incentive for legislators to do that, not when they are constantly bombarded by interest groups to create more.



And thats the problem with the system. there is SO much wasted money out there its ridiculous and it all trickles down to use the tax payers. The cost of living is becoming outrageous and stuff like this all contributes to it. I don't believe there is a way to fix the system now as its too far gone and its only going to get worse as the years go on unfortunetly. It's sad that everything has turned into a business these days, even college has gone from a service industry to a we don't care were just here to make money now industry its ridic.

[Zuki-Ron2]

We are way OT by now, but I enjoyed this little gem :)


Remember 90% of the law is common sence.
My response? That is such a load of crap.
The law is not common sence, it is in actuallity enforced morality...

There are laws against fudging animals, because some sick fudger did it, and his neighbors were horrified.

There is a rule mandating covering Off-Road lights because some azzhat shined drivers infront of them. Someone else thought that was a bit much and proposed a rule to stop it.

There are DB limits on your sound system because folks got sick and tired of impolite people rattling their windows at stop signs and in residential districts and people got (rightously) annoyed.

Who decided this morality? Your neighbors, the legislature and the courts. You don't like the rules? Go change them and QYB. You have the power.

[89Daytona]

...after pulling me over and saying I was going 65 in a 55 which cant be true, because I have bigger tires and stock speedo gear which means my speedo reads 5MPH slower so when Im going 55 Im really going 50, and I was going 55 acording to my speedo because I was in no rush to get home.
If you have bigger tires and stock speedo you are going faster than what your speedo says. A bigger tire has a larger circumference, a larger circumference means the tire travels farther per revolution than a stock tire which means you were going faster than 55 if thats what your speedo read.
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

[Plays For Jeeps]

I was just informed from a fellow forum the same thing.

Except I plan to stop at wal-mart and pick up a set of black tube socks to cut up into sleeves. :)

$4 covers.

[HeavyMetal]

If you have bigger tires and stock speedo you are going faster than what your speedo says. A bigger tire has a larger circumference, a larger circumference means the tire travels farther per revolution than a stock tire which means you were going faster than 55 if thats what your speedo read.
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

that changes with axle gear ratio changes

[camarors8992]

I have a set of 6" 100w fogs on my front bumper that I use at dusk rather than my headlights and I haven't had any trouble. I would think the bright yellow light would draw some attention as well.

[wishihad1]

same law here..any clear lensed roof lights must have covers if on public roads. only time ive been hassled for them was when i was driving down route 29 (4 lane highway) with all 6 on top on. it was the night i had installed them and wanted to see how much light they gave me. it figures as soon as i turn them on at a stoplight the car stopped going in the opposite direction is a cop..lol

but really me and all my friends have roof lights, and none of them are ever covered. and none of us have ever been hassled for them

[VAwheeler]

This whole reciprical agreement thing is BS. The state in which you get your ticket can do what ever they want. I live in Virginia and have all of my life. We have some of the most BS laws that I know of or have ever heard of. I have live both near the Va/Nc border and the Va/Wv border. IMO it depends on the city imparticular that you get the ticket. When I lived near Wv I would see cops on a regular basis sit ON the state line and watch for vehicles that passed into Virginia that were breaking the Hieght Resrtiction that Virginia imposes on its residents. Every single person that I know from Wv that got a ticket for thier vehicle being to high was not able to beat the ticket, lawyer or not. The town I lived in was just some small middle of nowhere podunk town. The town had no care for the income the "tourist" brought in. Only because no one in thier right mind would visit a place like that. The cops knew that the out of staters were only passing through.

Now I live near Va Beach. The cops at the Beach are horrible for bust people from Nc on thier window tint. But any of them that I know that have gone to court all get off. I believe it is because the judges/cops know that it will affect the tourism revenue.

Long story short: There may be a "reciprical agreement" but it is only honored if the city/state that issued the ticket has something to lose by not honoring it.

[GrimmJeeper]

Pa. cops suck in general, especially if you are from out of state.

x2

i got a ticket on i-80 for doing 3 mph over the speed limit while visiting my grandma in 04 (back when i was an ohio res.) . 2 days later on the way home i got another ticket for doing 4 over. the worst part was i couldnt fight the tickets because i cant just take off work and drive all the way back out there to sit in court all day, so they had me bent over. hooray justice system. :(

[WaXJ_Skier]

Ive been lucky. I work @ ight some I'm driving around my rig in wierd hours of the night. in the past month Ive been followed 10+ blocks at least twice a week. They havn't pulled me over yet. It makes me nervous though I have to keep the rpms in check due to the flomaster. The cops around here like to write bs secondary tickets also (no trash bag in the car). My mom was married to one for 15 years and he used to brag about how he could write @ least two extra tickets on almost any traffic stop.

[Prowler]

Cop pulled me over for broken tail light, then asked if he could search my vehical for suspesion of weapons because of the NRA sticker on the hatch.

[EMSJEEP]

Cop pulled me over for broken tail light, then asked if he could search my vehical for suspesion of weapons because of the NRA sticker on the hatch.

And you said "No" right?

[Prowler]

And you said "No" right?
I was thinking about it but then I said ahhh wth, Might get out of a tail light ticket. And I did.

[EMSJEEP]

Probly a good choice there, unless you have a kilo of cocaine under your back seat, I love watching the drug dealers on Cops agree to searches that they didn't have to, wound up getting caught with guns, drugs, both, on what started out as a VTL stop. We have very good Police in my county (Nassau, NY), they tend to be no BS, and don't bother you much unless you are really acting stupid, or its a bad night (ie. New Years, Thanksgiving), the local Cops are a different story, but then again they drive Chargers, so they are allowed to act cool, right? I took the lights off my roof, the headlight upgrade made up for them and it was too much trouble to have to worry about them getting me a ticket.

[WaXJ_Skier]

Probly a good choice there, unless you have a kilo of cocaine under your back seat, I love watching the drug dealers on Cops agree to searches that they didn't have to, wound up getting caught with guns, drugs, both, on what started out as a VTL stop. We have very good Police in my county (Nassau, NY), they tend to be no BS, and don't bother you much unless you are really acting stupid, or its a bad night (ie. New Years, Thanksgiving), the local Cops are a different story, but then again they drive Chargers, so they are allowed to act cool, right? I took the lights off my roof, the headlight upgrade made up for them and it was too much trouble to have to worry about them getting me a ticket.

why? just cover them

[EMSJEEP]

eh, it saves me 33 Amps, some air resistance and with the H4 IPF fatboys they don't really add too much, maybe the pencil beams, and maybe I'll put those back at some point but for now I don't really need them.

[ChiXJeff]

why? just cover them
IIRC, in one of the Virginias (don't remember whether it's Virginia or West Virginia,) it's just plain illegal to have lights more than 48" from the ground, covered or not. Seeing as EMSJeep isn't telling us where he's at......

[WaXJ_Skier]

states like that need to go Fawk themselves and worry about issues that matter

[Prowler]

states like that need to go Fawk themselves and worry about issues that matter

But then who will save the states broke ass from building to much? Someones got to help get them out of debt! Heaven forbid it has to be the folks that have no say so!

[EMSJEEP]

Long Island NY, College in Eastern PA....theres another forum user I am trying to avoid...:gag:

[Cipey]

[quote=G.Q. Jeeper] I thought you would be exempt from "equipment laws" if you are out of your registered State? /quote]


I second and third and fourth that u have to understand and know the laws of the state u r visiting, ignorance of the law is no exscuse. here in Mass you r required to have a min amount of auto ins. coverage. New Hampshire doesn't require or at one time didn't require folks up there to have insurance on vehicles and staties would sit at the state line and just pull cars over. Then u couldn't even pick up the car until it was insured or have it towed out back to the Granite State.


There doesn't seem to be any specific roof light law here in Mass, except for beacons for emergency vehicles, red, blue ect. without a permit.

here IS what I did find....

Chapter 90: Section 16. Offensive or illegal operation of motor vehicles

....No person shall use on or in connection with any motor vehicle a spot light, so called, the rays from which shine more than two feet above the road at a distance of thirty feet from the vehicle, except that such a spot light may be used for the purpose of reading signs, and as an auxiliary light in cases of necessity when the other lights required by law fail to operate. Whoever violates the provisions of this paragraph shall be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars.

WOW! An advantage here is Mass! I can't believe it!

I keep 'em covered anyway, 'Cuz thats what the cool people do!!!

I will be sure to use my "LIGHT CONDOMS" when I head to PA in the future!

Cipey

[Ray H]

[quote=G.Q. Jeeper] I thought you would be exempt from "equipment laws" if you are out of your registered State? /quote]


I second and third and fourth that u have to understand and know the laws of the state u r visiting, ignorance of the law is no exscuse. here in Mass you r required to have a min amount of auto ins. coverage. New Hampshire doesn't require or at one time didn't require folks up there to have insurance on vehicles and staties would sit at the state line and just pull cars over. Then u couldn't even pick up the car until it was insured or have it towed out back to the Granite State.


There doesn't seem to be any specific roof light law here in Mass, except for beacons for emergency vehicles, red, blue ect. without a permit.

here IS what I did find....

Chapter 90: Section 16. Offensive or illegal operation of motor vehicles

....No person shall use on or in connection with any motor vehicle a spot light, so called, the rays from which shine more than two feet above the road at a distance of thirty feet from the vehicle, except that such a spot light may be used for the purpose of reading signs, and as an auxiliary light in cases of necessity when the other lights required by law fail to operate. Whoever violates the provisions of this paragraph shall be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars.

WOW! An advantage here is Mass! I can't believe it!

I keep 'em covered anyway, 'Cuz thats what the cool people do!!!

I will be sure to use my "LIGHT CONDOMS" when I head to PA in the future!

Cipey

Sorry, I gotta call BS.
This is straight from Mass motor vehicle law.
"Chapter 90: Section 3. Operation of motor vehicles owned by non-residents; liability insurance; vehicles used in connection with place of business; suspension or revocation of right to operate vehicle; registration.

Section 3. Subject to the provisions of section three A and except as otherwise provided in this section and in section ten, a motor vehicle or trailer owned by a non-resident who has complied with the laws relative to motor vehicles and trailers, and the registration and operation thereof, of the state or country of registration, may be operated on the ways of this commonwealth without registration under this chapter."
For those who dont speak legaleze, It basically says that if you comply with your home state's laws, you are good to go in MA.

[streetpirate]

Cop pulled me over for broken tail light, then asked if he could search my vehical for suspesion of weapons because of the NRA sticker on the hatch.


been asked that once, well once and a half.

first time pulled over for speeding, cop asks me if i have any drigs or firearms in the vehicle. so, i look around the back seat, dont see any drugs or firearms, and tell the cop No. :)
(bad move right?)
that time i had to whip out the trusty (sir, i do not consent to any searches)
and they will always ask you to repeat that one.



second time pulled over for improper lane change, (which I did)
pulled over into a parking lot, (safer for the cop IMO)
then to my suprise, i got the cop SCREAMING at me to get my hands where he can see them, and he walks up all tough with his gun unclipped and half drawn, gets my information, comes up to hand me back my stuff on the passenger side, wich there is barely enough room for him to squeeze between the jeep and the concrete wall next to me, and trys to open my door.
WTF!
glad it was locked. so i roll down the window just enough for him to pass through my papers.
i just got hassled for my insurance card having conflicting dates, like it was effective on 8/06 but expired in febuary.
still no ticket

[luvme88xj]

OINK OINK

[SeansBlueXJ]

that changes with axle gear ratio changes

no it doesnt, well not in the way you mean anyway.

http://www.go.jeep-xj.info/HowtoSpeedoGears.htm