dummy red lights

[AutobahnSHO]

This picture doesn't show up well, but on I-95 Monday saw a truck with BRIGHT RED LED accents around the headlights and foglights.

Seriously, it would have been simple to mistake the accents as rear markers.... 

[Byteme]

This picture doesn't show up well, but on I-95 Monday saw a truck with BRIGHT RED LED accents around the headlights and foglights.

Seriously, it would have been simple to mistake the accents as rear markers....

IIRC, in most, if not all states, it's illegal for a private vehicle displaying red lights on the front.

[AutobahnSHO]

IIRC, in most, if not all states, it's illegal for a private vehicle displaying red lights on the front.

TOTALLY was tempted to call highway patrol but I'm sure he'll get pulled over soon.

I was just so surprised that someone would do that I was like "whuuuuuuuuuuuuuut?" for an hour....

[bing_oh]

Would be illegal in Ohio. Only white and amber allowed to the front...red only to the rear except for fire and LE vehicles.

[Soup DeVille]

I've always wondered why people do things that seem to have no other purpose than giving Officer Friendly a reason to have a roadside chat.

[MX793]

I used to see an F150 with red "demon eyes" halos around the projectors.  To my knowledge, red lights on the front of a vehicle are prohibited nation-wide.

[AutobahnSHO]

To my knowledge, red lights on the front of a vehicle are prohibited nation-wide.

+1

[Mustangfan2003]

I know some volunteer fire fighters that put red lights in the grill of their vehicle.  As far as it being legal or not I think it's a bit of a grey area.  I don't think most local police care. 

[MX793]

I know some volunteer fire fighters that put red lights in the grill of their vehicle.  As far as it being legal or not I think it's a bit of a grey area.  I don't think most local police care. 

Emergency vehicle flashers/strobes are obviously excluded.  Most states also make allowances for lights on personal vehicles belonging to volunteer firefighters.

[Rupert]

Most states also make allowances for lights on personal vehicles belonging to volunteer firefighters.

OK, yeah, I think that's probably right, but how do you know this kind of obscure stuff? Are you just always Googling, or are you making it up?

[MX793]

OK, yeah, I think that's probably right, but how do you know this kind of obscure stuff? Are you just always Googling, or are you making it up?

A little googling and some educated guessing.  The volunteer firefighter thing is an educated guess based on regulations I've seen for a handful of states.  I didn't actually look up the majority of state vehicle codes to confirm that's the case, but it's one of those common-sense things.  Here in NY, volunteer firefighters are permitted to fit blue flashers/strobes on their vehicles.  Some states use green (Indiana is one).  Some red.

[bing_oh]

Actually, the red lights for volunteer firefighters is correct. Of course, they can't use them except when responding for a fire run...as well as having a siren. Then there are the ones who don't have lights and siren but still run "hot" going to a run...I had a rather heated discussion with a volunteer hosepuller who decided to run "hot" (including running red lights and passing another volunteer firefighter) just using his horn and regular amber emergency on his vehicle.

[Secret Chimp]

It's gotta be legal somewhere. My latest Summit catalog has a Camaro with red rings around the headlights.

[Soup DeVille]

It's gotta be legal somewhere. My latest Summit catalog has a Camaro with red rings around the headlights.

No, it really doesn't. I can sell you pretty much anything for your car: its your responsibility to make sure its used legally.

Besides, that' sa Summit Racing catalog, isn' tit?

[CALL_911]

I've seen Camaros with red angel eyes and countless older BMWs with the same deal. Shit, I've begun to see them on E9x models

[bing_oh]

I've seen lots of different lighting systems on cars, but that doesn't make them legal. Strobes in headlights and turn signals, flashing/spinning/pulsing lights on pretty much every part of the car imaginable, etc, etc, etc. Many of them are sold "for show purposes only" or even with no warning that they are illegal for street use. They make bulbs of different colors for probably every light in your car. Yes, chances are high that they are illegal pretty much everywhere you go. There are legitimate reasons why light colors on cars are standardized and flashing lights are restricted.

[MX793]

It's gotta be legal somewhere. My latest Summit catalog has a Camaro with red rings around the headlights.

Read the fine print on a lot of those products and they'll say "not DOT approved" or "not for highway use" or similar.

[Raza]

Emergency vehicle flashers/strobes are obviously excluded.  Most states also make allowances for lights on personal vehicles belonging to volunteer firefighters.

I've only ever seen firefighter cars with blue lights in PA.  I've never seen red lights on a car that was not a police car.

[MX793]

I've only ever seen firefighter cars with blue lights in PA.  I've never seen red lights on a car that was not a police car.

Different states use different colored lights for volunteer firefighters.  Some mandate blue, some green, and some allow red.  Use of lights not colored white or amber on the front of a vehicle (excluding emergency vehicles and volunteer responders) is illegal pretty much everywhere in the US.

[AutobahnSHO]

There are legitimate reasons why light colors on cars are standardized and flashing lights are restricted.

yup

[bing_oh]

I've only ever seen firefighter cars with blue lights in PA.  I've never seen red lights on a car that was not a police car.

Exact opposite in Ohio...blue is restricted to LE use, while red and white are used for any public safety vehicle.