Legality of modulating lights

Having a friendly discussion with another rider over modulating lights. He says they're legal. His main arguement is that he's not been stopped. I told him by that logic speeding is legal too, since he does that and hasn't been stopped. :biggrin:

Anyway, I'm pretty sure I've read/been told modulating lights are illegal.

If this is true, I'm looking for a reference. Federal law? State-specific?

I'm looking mainly at rear tail lights/brake lights, since that's what he has.

Thanks in advance.

Mac

By "modulating" do you mean the turn signals blink with the brake light? If so, semis, transit busses and most aftermarket run/turn/brake conversions have flashed the signal lights for years. I think the only legality for lights says that you can't have red lights on the front of the vehicle... then the next paragraph will say something to the effect of, the brake light must be working as intended - if it's intended to blink on braking, then it's working properly.

now for the fools that drive (cages) with their hazard lights on in the rain, they should be jailed for causing a traffic hazard

edit: linky

[image: View Post]Macs06VFR, on 26 July 2010 - 08:56 AM, said:

Having a friendly discussion with another rider over modulating lights. He says they're legal. His main arguement is that he's not been stopped. I told him by that logic speeding is legal too, since he does that and hasn't been stopped. :biggrin:

Anyway, I'm pretty sure I've read/been told modulating lights are illegal.

If this is true, I'm looking for a reference. Federal law? State-specific?

I'm looking mainly at rear tail lights/brake lights, since that's what he has.

Thanks in advance.

Mac

I don't know about every state, but they're legal in Cali. I have the headlight modulators and the brake light modulator. Both legal. You just can't have the headlight modulator working at night. That's why they come with sensors to shut off at night.

[image: View Post]thereisnospoon, on 26 July 2010 - 12:06 PM, said:

By "modulating" do you mean the turn signals blink with the brake light? If so, semis, transit busses and most aftermarket run/turn/brake conversions have flashed the signal lights for years. I think the only legality for lights says that you can't have red lights on the front of the vehicle... then the next paragraph will say something to the effect of, the brake light must be working as intended - if it's intended to blink on braking, then it's working properly.

now for the fools that drive (cages) with their hazard lights on in the rain, they should be jailed for causing a traffic hazard

edit: linky

[image: View Post]Macs06VFR, on 26 July 2010 - 08:56 AM, said:

Having a friendly discussion with another rider over modulating lights. He says they're legal. His main arguement is that he's not been stopped. I told him by that logic speeding is legal too, since he does that and hasn't been stopped. :biggrin:

Anyway, I'm pretty sure I've read/been told modulating lights are illegal.

If this is true, I'm looking for a reference. Federal law? State-specific?

I'm looking mainly at rear tail lights/brake lights, since that's what he has.

Thanks in advance.

Mac



I think he's talking about flashing head and tail lights, no turning signal modification.

http://www.webbikewo...ulator-regs.htm

According to federal law they are legal in all 50 states, as long as they meet certain specs.

I hear they go great with portable cellphone jammers. :goofy:

[image: View Post]Macs06VFR, on 26 July 2010 - 08:56 AM, said:

Having a friendly discussion with another rider over modulating lights. He says they're legal. His main arguement is that he's not been stopped. I told him by that logic speeding is legal too, since he does that and hasn't been stopped. :biggrin:

Anyway, I'm pretty sure I've read/been told modulating lights are illegal.

If this is true, I'm looking for a reference. Federal law? State-specific?

I'm looking mainly at rear tail lights/brake lights, since that's what he has.

Thanks in advance.

Mac

http://home.ama-cycl...lt.asp?state=de

Yes, I was talking about head/tail lights, not turn signals nor running lights. Should have been more specific.

Thanks guys, this sheds some light this. :laughing6-hehe:

Looks like I may have been in the dark just a bit. :laughing6-hehe:

Ok, I'll stop.

Monk, I hit the AMA's site already. Saw the part about 'legal in daytime', which would assume illegal at nighttime in regards to headlights.

Anyway, thanks again. Friend's cruiser looks to me like it just came out of a parade, but I guess it's visible.

[image: View Post]Macs06VFR, on 26 July 2010 - 01:21 PM, said:

Yes, I was talking about head/tail lights, not turn signals nor running lights. Should have been more specific.

Thanks guys, this sheds some light this. :laughing6-hehe:

Looks like I may have been in the dark just a bit. :laughing6-hehe:

Ok, I'll stop.

Monk, I hit the AMA's site already. Saw the part about 'legal in daytime', which would assume illegal at nighttime in regards to headlights.

Anyway, thanks again. Friend's cruiser looks to me like it just came out of a parade, but I guess it's visible.


If you're interested in auxiliary brake lights you might take a look at one of the flashing LED auxiliary setups.


I've had a set of Hyper-Lights on my VFR for a number of years and they seem to make a difference. Folks definately seem to notice when I hit the brakes.

I recently installed one of these: http://www.strobesnm...-super-led.html

on my KLR. It is truly the mother-of-all led brake lights. 3 one watt LEDs. It (or something like it) offers the choice of 6 or more patterns ranging from constant on to a millisecond burst mode that will wake the dead.

I can't testify to the legality. However, I've had a couple of *ahem* "interviews" with Texas DPS personnel since I installed it and none has commented on the light beyond something like, "You really don't wanna get rearended, do you?"

The plan is run this for while and, if everything works out, replace the hyperlights on the VFR with one of these.

I've almost killed 4 or 5 motocycle riders, cause the strobe effect is like a magnet and I head right for them.

[image: View Post]spud786, on 26 July 2010 - 06:45 PM, said:

I've almost killed 4 or 5 motocycle riders, cause the strobe effect is like a magnet and I head right for them.


Good one!! Just don't ride up my azz, puleze, 'cause I have a modulating brake light...... :laughing6-hehe:

[image: View Post]spud786, on 26 July 2010 - 06:45 PM, said:

I've almost killed 4 or 5 motocycle riders, cause the strobe effect is like a magnet and I head right for them.

Interesting. A few years ago, I had my son make up a circuit that plugged into my taillight that when I put the brakes on made the brakelights flash in a decaying fashion (i.e., the flashing got slower, the time on longer, until after 8 or 10 flashes, the stoplight stayed on). It failed its six-monthly Warrant of Fitness check. The reason given was that pulsing/flashing stoplights were illegal in NZ because they could cause target fixation.
Interestingly, a few months after that, the Land Transport Safety organisation here (the same organisation that banned them) were looking at making them compulsory for bikes.

Your safe Bent its only the strobe that makes me a zombie misquito to the light >G<

[image: View Post]spud786, on 26 July 2010 - 07:22 PM, said:

Your safe Bent its only the strobe that makes me a zombie misquito to the light >G<


They are legal and they do work. I have them installed on my bike and use them on bright days when I commute or in town and specially if I'm going to split lanes. I get some interesting results and every day something new. Just today the passenger in a car two cars in front of me rolled down his window and shot the bird at me. The way I look at it is that not only did he see me but he saw me with two cars between us and that is the point. Typically people will slow down (annoying), move over to the right (cool). When splitting people see me coming and typically move over so I can get by without any fuss. They really work well in town as well. I have had many left hand Larrys pull out in front of me in the past. Now they actually see me coming and don't do it. It is pretty amazing how well it works in situations like that. I did a little test the other day and drove my bike down an area where people in the past have pulled out in front of me. Within 5 minutes with the modulator off I had not one but two people pull out. One was a left hand Larry and the other was someone pulling from a side street. Nether ever saw me coming. I drive that same stretch all the time with the modulator on and have yet to have someone do that while I had them on. This does not mean I will ever let my guard down, but it does give me one more tool to use to avoid a T-Bone that I can't grill.

However, there are the ones that will throw their hands in the air like "WTF". They don't move over or slow down they just sit there cruising. That I don't understand. If you don't know what I'm doing with flashing lights behind you, then play it smart and move over and let me pass. Sometimes I simply don't get people.

But like I said above, I really don't care how they react as long as they see me coming.

Flashing lights do attract drunks....Im sure you have seen the numerous videos of cops cars getting slammed into when they are at a traffic stop... I dont think the flashing lights help except the headlights to get slower drivers to move over.

[image: View Post]SLO97VFR, on 26 July 2010 - 08:05 PM, said:

Flashing lights do attract drunks....Im sure you have seen the numerous videos of cops cars getting slammed into when they are at a traffic stop... I dont think the flashing lights help except the headlights to get slower drivers to move over.



In my limited experience I have been rear ended once at a light at night and had a couple of other near misses both during the day and after dark. The maroon that hit me pulled the standard "I didn't see you" defense. The hyper-lights make that excuse harder to rationalize. The 1 watt strobes make it harder still. If they last I'll stick with 'em for the same reason I always turned on the strobes when I was flying. All things considered I'd rather be seen than not seen. Don't trust 'em don't use 'em.

I suspect the reason you see videos of cop cars getting hit is because cop cars have video cameras. You miss all the unrecorded collisions. :cool:

I had the "BACK OFF" brand brake light modulator on my Concours and several people mentioned how it did grab their attention. If I remember correctly, it flashed 3 times before staying on solid and had an option to adjust to other patterns. Our LEOs and fire/rescues around here have something similar but hooked to LEDs. Man - You have to be Ray Charles to miss those things.

I've got them on the front and rear, anything to help being seen. With more and more cars coming with day time running lights it seems logical that cagers will become more desensitized to headlights on during the day which will make bikes less 'visible.'

Not sure about the rear but I always thought the modulating front was legal but had a CHP (motorcyle type) tell me they were illegal but he didn't know any CHP'ie who would pull a biker over for it.

I take it you guys have never been ran off the road by a dumb hillbilly in blue van comming strait at you in your own lane?

Well I have and I have a pile of junk sitting in Baileyrocks shop to prove it. Not once - no - I cant ride my street legal XR650r 300 feet from my garage without some jack ass in a car failing to stop at the stop sign at the end of my block either, three times now I have been forced to take evasive action to keep from getting hit on the very street I live on!

If putting modulating headlights on my vfr1200 makes me a geek go ahead and laugh but I am telling you these darned people are out to kill us!!!! I want them to freaking see me, for the few moments they are actually looking at the road between cell phone calls and eating that drive thru cheesburger I want them to say - man look at that silly looking bike headlight - I THOUGHT IT WAS A COP AT FIRST. I love it when they pull the F over to let me by too! THANK YOU ASSHAT WITH THE CELL PHONE TO YOUR EAR! THANKS FOR NOT KILLING ME TODAY!

[image: View Post]HispanicSlammer, on 27 July 2010 - 05:55 AM, said:

THANK YOU ASSHAT WITH THE CELL PHONE TO YOUR EAR! THANKS FOR NOT KILLING ME TODAY!


I'm getting a sticker made for my helmet with that quote, and that's all there is to it. :fing02:

[image: View Post]spud786, on 26 July 2010 - 07:22 PM, said:

Your safe Bent its only the strobe that makes me a zombie misquito to the light >G<


Thanks, not used to kamikaze attacks!! This country needs to make it harder to get a driver's license but that won't happen in my lifetime. We don't need cell phone jammers, we need idiot jammers...... :biggrin:

Not a deal killer, but the strobing/flashing does attract alien spacecraft and contributes to alien abductions and anal probing. I wouldn't mind being abducted by aliens, but the probing shite is not on my menu.

Seriously, though, I have the BackOff module and many have mentioned how effective it is. When a car is approaching me from behind when I'm stopped, I apply the brakes to get their attention and so far they have always stopped well behind me.

I also have lighted mirrors that are both running lights and turn signals, and many have commented just how visible they make me from the front at night.

[image: View Post]Knife, on 27 July 2010 - 10:51 AM, said:

I also have lighted mirrors that are both running lights and turn signals, and many have commented just how visible they make me from the front at night.


Do you know if there is a way to do this with single filament bulbs (or leds)?

[image: View Post]WIN6, on 27 July 2010 - 12:36 PM, said:

[image: View Post]Knife, on 27 July 2010 - 10:51 AM, said:

I also have lighted mirrors that are both running lights and turn signals, and many have commented just how visible they make me from the front at night.


Do you know if there is a way to do this with single filament bulbs (or leds)?

Sorry, but I'm electrically challenged. Someone else here will likely chime in, though, and answer your question.

:+1: :fing02:

[image: View Post]carlitos92, on 27 July 2010 - 07:18 AM, said:

[image: View Post]HispanicSlammer, on 27 July 2010 - 05:55 AM, said:

THANK YOU ASSHAT WITH THE CELL PHONE TO YOUR EAR! THANKS FOR NOT KILLING ME TODAY!


I'm getting a sticker made for my helmet with that quote, and that's all there is to it. :fing02: