quick question, just wondering would cops stop you if youre driving with neon lights on?

 

if it is a color that is illegal in your state yes, unless it is illegal in your state all together. that is something you will have to research in your states general statutes.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 96 hatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">quick question, just wondering would cops stop you if youre driving with neon lights on? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Careful answering this one.

My reading of California law, implies that neon should be legal, if the bulbs themselves are not directly visible. Additionally, the law does state that no red light can be visible from the front of the vehicle, so red under body lighting of any kind should be illegal.

However, that certainly won't stop the cops from pulling you over regardless of the (questionable) legality, because they certainly will.

From the California Vehicle Code
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc25400.htm &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
25400. (a) Any vehicle may be equipped with a lamp or device on the exterior of the vehicle that emits a diffused nonglaring light of not more than 0.05 candela per square inch of area.

(b) Any diffused nonglaring light shall not display red to the front, but may display other colors. A diffused nonglaring light shall not resemble nor be installed within 12 inches or in such position as to interfere with the visibility or effectiveness of any required lamp, reflector, or other device upon the vehicle.

(c) A diffused nonglaring lamp or device, other than a display sign authorized by subdivision (d), shall be limited in size to an area of 720 square inches and where any lease, rental, or donation is involved the installation of the lamp or device shall be limited to those vehicles operated either primarily within business or residential districts or municipalities, or between business districts, residential districts, and municipalities in close proximity.

(d) An internally illuminated sign emitting not more than 0.25 candela per square inch and possessing copy which does not contain a white background may be displayed on each side, but not on the front or rear, of a trolley coach or of a bus being operated in urban or suburban service as described in Section 35107 of this code.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

bump

 

The only light allowed by law on a moving vehicle is white, yellow, or amber in the front, and white, red, and amber in the rear.

If you have blue or red, you might risk an 'impersonating an emergency vehicle' if the cop is pissed off enough.

Local laws should be more helpful. I know it's against the law here because it is considered a distraction for other drivers, so neons are legal when the car is off only.

Plus, what is this, 1998?

 

what about white..?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by accordselux &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The only light allowed by law on a moving vehicle is white, yellow, or amber in the front, and white, red, and amber in the rear.

If you have blue or red, you might risk an 'impersonating an emergency vehicle' if the cop is pissed off enough.

Local laws should be more helpful. I know it's against the law here because it is considered a distraction for other drivers, so neons are legal when the car is off only.

Plus, what is this, 1998? </TD></TR></TABLE>

As much as I dislike under car neon (and I really do), I dislike false information even more.

There is no California law in the books concerning light color being "impersonating an emergency vehicle". There is also no law concerning blue as a reserved color, or requiring non mandated (auxiliary) lighting to stick to the required colors for mandated lights. However, the common opinion is that blue is reserved, because it is only used on such vehicles.

If I am mistaken, please post a link to the exact wording of a law declaring blue (or any other color) lighting illegal.

I've even had this argument with police officers, and they were unable to produce anything from their copy of the vehicle code that limited colors of non-required lights. Common knowledge or understanding does not make a law, it has to be written in the vehicle code. Even had a cop state, "Well, I've always thought blue lights were illegal, but since I can't find a law about it, I can't write a ticket."

I have provided the one section of the CVC that explicitly mentions color, and only red is singled out. Granted, thats California law, but I have never seen any other state actually single out color (other than red) for non-required lighting.

Lets please keep this thread free of opinions, and start linking actual laws instead. Please post up laws from other states that contradict or support what I have provided, as my knowledge is mostly limited to what I found while looking up what applies to California, and the US as a whole.

Of course, as the OP asked
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 96 hatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">quick question, just wondering would cops stop you if youre driving with neon lights on? </TD></TR></TABLE>
The answer is, yes, they probably would stop you. Doesn't mean you'll get a ticket, and it certainly doesn't mean you'll be illegal. But they probably will stop you just the same.

 

Well, this is EXACTLY why I said:

But since i'm not in his state, my state laws don't apply. Anyways, due to demand, here they are, from Ask-a-Trooper, Minnesota State Highway Patrol:

Neon lights are ILLEGAL in Minnesota! You can’t have underbody, Tireflies or lights around the license plates on your vehicle.

The color of the lights has nothing to do with it; they are illegal no matter what. Depending on the County, that you’re stopped in will determine the fine, which can be up to one hundred and thirty dollars. Below I have listed the laws for you so you can read through them.

Thanks for writing and take care!


169.64 Subd. 2. Colored light. Unless otherwise authorized by the commissioner of public safety, no vehicle shall be equipped, nor shall any person drive or move any vehicle or equipment upon any highway with any lamp or device displaying a red light or any colored light other than those required or permitted in this chapter.

169.01 Subd. 29. Street or highway. "Street or highway" means the entire width between boundary lines of any way or place when any part thereof is open to the use of the public, as a matter of right, for the purposes of vehicular traffic.

169.01 Subd. 31. Roadway. "Roadway" means that portion of a highway improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the sidewalk or shoulder. In the event a highway includes two or more separate roadways, the term "roadway" as used herein shall refer to any such roadway separately but not to all such roadways collectively.

This site is very helpful to me, hopefully every state has a similar type of site. Ask-a-trooper has always come in handy.