Anyone get busted for running brights?

pdx954 · 06-22-2003, 9:01 AM

I am currently running PIAA Xtreme Whites in the two outside positions on my 954 as my normal running lights. I pulled the standard center light and just run my bright setting.

I've done some riding at night and have had cars flash their high beams at me trying to tell my that I'm an idiot and they're too bright. But in my opinion, it's just better to have them notice me.

My real concern is, will cops bust me for them? They were imported from Japan, and are not DOT approved. But I was wondering if anyone has had a run in with the cops for having their headlights be too bright?

NinerPilot · 06-22-2003, 9:35 AM

Yes, cops can pull you over for failing to dim... In TN if you are within 500 yards of another vehicle you are to use your low beams. Why not just dim them? I agree that being seen is crucial, but if they cant see anything because they are blind, then they may hit you... All of this is assuming you are talking about at night and not in the day..... During the day you should be fine with your brights on.
Chris

nhfirefighter13 · 06-22-2003, 10:27 AM

Technically, in NH you can get ticketed ($42, btw) for running your highs during the day and/or failing to dim them at night for oncoming traffic.
It really depends on the cop and the kind of mood he's in though as most of them don't want to deal with that sort of hassle for absolutely no reason.

pczach · 06-22-2003, 11:12 AM

Did you alter the lights to have the beams lowered to the height of your standard low beam, or did you leave them at the same level they came from the factory?

I know it's definitely a fine in PA, but only if the officer wants to bust your chops. I don't know anybody that has been ticketed for illegal use of high beams. If you could lower the beam of both highs to match the angle of your low beam, I don't think they can do anything to you. I just don't know if it's possible.

alexandra · 06-22-2003, 11:23 AM

I have never had a run in. I do get a lot of people flashing their lights at me to tell me I have my brights on.

I only run my brights during daylight hours. At night I only have them on if the road is empty.

ccwilli3 · 06-22-2003, 12:05 PM

brights at night would bother anyone, during the day it doesn't bother people and it does get you a little more noticed. At night, it blinds and is a disadvantage to you...

pdx954 · 06-22-2003, 12:48 PM

Quote Did you alter the lights to have the beams lowered to the height of your standard low beam, or did you leave them at the same level they came from the factory?

Not sure if you can change the angle on the high beams, it's definitely worth looking into.

I think the big issue is the overall brighness of the PIAA's, they're the closest bulb to HID's. *Needless to say, they're incredibly bright. *Total advantage to me, I can see everything. *But, to oncoming traffic, they may be too much.

fumbducker · 06-22-2003, 1:08 PM

Just curious why you disabled your low beam? Also, you could hook the low beam connector to one of your PIAAs so you could still turn one of them off when facing oncoming traffic.

J

deez · 06-22-2003, 1:19 PM

Just a note here, running your brights in the DAYTIME is legal in all 50 states

stegen · 06-22-2003, 1:46 PM

Quote:

ccwilli3 : At night, it blinds and is a disadvantage to you...

So just go without any.

ND4SPD · 06-22-2003, 3:28 PM

Quote:

pdx954 : Not sure if you can change the angle on the high beams, it's definitely worth looking into.

I think the big issue is the overall brighness of the PIAA's, they're the closest bulb to HID's. *Needless to say, they're incredibly bright. *Total advantage to me, I can see everything. *But, to oncoming traffic, they may be too much.

You can't, it's the way the reflectors are aimed, not the bulbs....

Mattress · 06-22-2003, 5:57 PM

Quote:

ccwilli3 : brights at night would bother anyone, during the day it doesn't bother people and it does get you a little more noticed. *At night, it blinds and is a disadvantage to you...

I know on many occasions I've cussed and flashed at people with brights on, because I literally couldn't see , it seems a little dangerous to me, if I was you I'd set up something to be able to dim them. Who knows, maybe one of the people that 'notice' you better is tired as hell, leaving work and gets target fixation and splats you.

fl-929 · 06-22-2003, 6:02 PM

MSF advocates running brights during daylight hours

-Also, try the phillips vision plus next time for near HID brightness (just got mine and DAMN)

nhfirefighter13 · 06-22-2003, 7:06 PM

Quote:

fl-929 : -Also, try the phillips vision plus next time for near HID brightness (just got mine and DAMN)

I just took an HID system out of my 929 (needed the $$$ not for any performance issues) and replaced it with the Vision Plus lamps... They are nice but apples to apples there is NO comparison.

pdx954 · 06-22-2003, 11:05 PM

Quote Just curious why you disabled your low beam? Also, you could hook the low beam connector to one of your PIAAs so you could still turn one of them off when facing oncoming traffic.

Due to my laziness of setting up some sort of wiring daisy chain, I disabled the low beam so that I could just get two outside lights to run on the high beam setting.

Looks like I need to get motivated and figure out another system. It looks so hella sweet though.

fumbducker · 06-22-2003, 11:34 PM

Again, I bet the connector for the low beam will reach one of the high beams...give you kind of an RC looking set up and give opposing night drivers a break.

J

ND4SPD · 06-22-2003, 11:36 PM

Quote:

fumbducker : Again, I bet the connector for the low beam will reach one of the high beams...give you kind of an RC looking set up and give opposing night drivers a break. *

J

It does, I've mixed up the wires before

SlvrSurfr · 06-23-2003, 12:08 AM

Quote:

pdx954 : I am currently running PIAA Xtreme Whites in the two outside positions on my 954 as my normal running lights. *I pulled the standard center light and just run my bright setting.

I've done some riding at night and have had cars flash their high beams at me trying to tell my that I'm an idiot and they're too bright. *But in my opinion, it's just better to have them notice me.

My real concern is, will cops bust me for them? *They were imported from Japan, and are not DOT approved. *But I was wondering if anyone has had a run in with the cops for having their headlights be too bright?

where did you get those PIAA H7 bulbs at ?

I didnt know PIAA made H7s !

SS

pdx954 · 06-23-2003, 1:36 AM

They do make them, but only distrubte them in Asia; they're not commonly found in the US. But if you search them out on the web, you can find a couple of places that import the H7's; especially Canadian sites. I'll look for the link from where I've gotten mine and post it.

RacerCutie · 06-23-2003, 1:41 AM

Quote:

booth23 : Just a note here, running your brights in the DAYTIME is legal in all 50 states

It's legal, however I heard something if it's obstructing someone's view (i.e. youre behind a cage and the driver cannot see because of your brights) you could get sited for the obstruction.

??

pdx954 · 06-23-2003, 1:45 AM

Quote where did you get those PIAA H7 bulbs at ?

I didnt know PIAA made H7s !

SS

Here's a couple of sites that I've found:

http://www.autothing.com/Products/pr...bulbs-list.htm

http://www.hitechimportlighting.com/piaa.htm

http://www.eautoworks.com/html/ord-L...lbs-1-2109.htm

They're a little spendy, but in my opinion they're worth it. I run them on my '01 Jag S-Type. I was too cheap to put on HID's, but they're almost just as good for a fraction of the price.

AsianImage · 06-23-2003, 1:16 PM

I run my brights all day all night. If I am in an UNSUAL spot where I am behind a cage for longer then the few seconds it takes to pass them...I turn them off to be courteous. But as soon as I pass or move over I turn them on again.

I think COMMON SENSE is the key here. I your tooling around at night a car catches your brights for what a second?? GREAT! they saw me, by the time they notice I am NO LONGER in their rear....but as stated above...if I am stuck behind them and I can see I am clearly blinding them, then I obviously turn them off. duh.

Holeshot · 06-23-2003, 1:35 PM

I used to run bringhts all day long. Never got hassled by the MANY MANY cops that saw me doing it. Even the ones that wrote me speeding tickets never mentioned it (mabye bacause they all made of point of mentioning they ride bikes too.. so why give me a ticket.. ugh.. anyway).

The new ride has such pathetic lighting I could run high/low all/none and it makes narry a difference.

- DH (w/Euro switchgear with off/running/low/high options + the super-cool passing switch that will soon power my garage opener! - woo hoo!&#33

SlvrSurfr · 06-23-2003, 9:29 PM

Quote:

pdx954 : Quote where did you get those PIAA H7 bulbs at ?

I didnt know PIAA made H7s !

SS

Here's a couple of sites that I've found:

http://www.autothing.com/Products/pr...bulbs-list.htm

http://www.hitechimportlighting.com/piaa.htm

http://www.eautoworks.com/html/ord-L...lbs-1-2109.htm

They're a little spendy, but in my opinion they're worth it. *I run them on my '01 Jag S-Type. *I was too cheap to put on HID's, but they're almost just as good for a fraction of the price.
Cool thanks for the link !

SS

Jay · 06-24-2003, 1:05 AM

I think that my 929 has seen the low beam 10-15x max. in 3yrs / 12k.

No one flashes me and cops dont care. At least around here.