I am curious if anyone happens to know if a vehicle in ohio must have working FACTORY tail lights? I am wondering on my 78 bronco if I can cover up the area around the tail light and mount a pair of big rig oblong style led tail lights on each end of my rear bumper, along with a matching oblong big rig style reverse light. Or I was just thinking about using a pair of round 6" untility lights for reverse lights.

Anyone know the laws in ohio?

On my '99 I am also buying aftermaket projector style headlights off ebay that are dot stamped and altezza tail lights that are dot stamped.

 

I see alot of trucks running around that way up here in the Cleveland area. If they work like the OEMs I think you will be good. The only thing might be the heith off the road, but I do see some old hot rods that have them pretty low. Erv

 

As long as they work as factory I think you are good. There is a guy I know that took his lights from his 78 ford and moutned round ones in the tailgate since he kept knocking the others out on the trail.

If factory was needed I dont think anyone could run a flatbed truck could they?

 

I just got my bed back on my 79 ford.
I drove for a year with a peice of plywood bolted on my frame.For tailights I made a frame on the back And mounted my taillights.I drove like this for a year.Never got stopped so must have been alright.
Laws must not be to stict

 

True, but I wouldnt put it past them to have tougher laws on regular non-comercial vehicles of a certain weight class or less. I guess the part I was most worried about is removing the facotry lights al together and covering up the hole. I figured the DOT stamped lights are fine but I didnt know if you needed to retain the factory style lights too.

I suppose it depends on how you treat the law officers too. **** em off and they throw the book at you. Be nice and they let a few things slide. Dont do anything illegal is probably the best way to avoid tickets though...

 

heres the ford I mentioned.

If you watch the mini trucks most of thos remove the factory lgiths and put other tail lights in the rollpan.

Wether its technically legel or not I dont know, but I have never heard of it being an issue.

 

Wow, that muds a little deep under them there leaves isnt it? SO did you get er stuck or did you get out of that ok?

Anyhoo, thanks for all the advice guys. I know you can usually get away with alot, but I just like to know the way the actual law reads. Unfortunatley finding that info is sometimes next too impossible, yet ignorance isnt an acceptable excuse.

 

here you go guys, this should contain any and all the laws on motor vehical, took alittle searching...

http://onlinedocs.andersonpublishing...-h.htm&cp=PORC

Then click this subject, TITLE XLV MOTOR VEHICLES - AERONAUTICS - WATERCRAFT you should be able to find out what the law is on tail lights, IMO I think it would legal to do what you want to do..

 

§ 4513.05. Tail lights and illumination of rear license plate.






(A) Every motor vehicle, trackless trolley, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or vehicle which is being drawn at the end of a train of vehicles shall be equipped with at least one tail light mounted on the rear which, when lighted, shall emit a red light visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear, provided that in the case of a train of vehicles only the tail light on the rearmost vehicle need be visible from the distance specified.






Either a tail light or a separate light shall be so constructed and placed as to illuminate with a white light the rear registration plate, when such registration plate is required, and render it legible from a distance of fifty feet to the rear. Any tail light, together with any separate light for illuminating the rear registration plate, shall be so wired as to be lighted whenever the headlights or auxiliary driving lights are lighted, except where separate lighting systems are provided for trailers for the purpose of illuminating such registration plate.





(B) Whoever violates this section shall be punished as provided in section 4513.99 of the Revised Code.

 

more info



[§ 4513.07.1] § 4513.071. Stop lights.






(A) Every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer when operated upon a highway shall be equipped with two or more stop lights, except that passenger cars manufactured or assembled prior to January 1, 1967, motorcycles, and motor-driven cycles shall be equipped with at least one stop light. Stop lights shall be mounted on the rear of the vehicle, actuated upon application of the service brake, and may be incorporated with other rear lights. Such stop lights when actuated shall emit a red light visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear, provided that in the case of a train of vehicles only the stop lights on the rear-most vehicle need be visible from the distance specified.






Such stop lights when actuated shall give a steady warning light to the rear of a vehicle or train of vehicles to indicate the intention of the operator to diminish the speed of or stop a vehicle or train of vehicles.






When stop lights are used as required by this section, they shall be constructed or installed so as to provide adequate and reliable illumination and shall conform to the appropriate rules and regulations established under section 4513.19 of the Revised Code.






Historical motor vehicles as defined in section 4503.181 of the Revised Code, not originally manufactured with stop lights, are not subject to this section.





(B) Whoever violates this section shall be punished as provided in section 4513.99 of the Revised Code.

 

Thats a fellow 4x4club members truck on 42's and dual lockers. We winched him out.

 

Hmmm, thanks for the actual revised code quotes. I guess currently I am not legal because my liscence plate does not have any illumination. Doesnt sound that stingent though... so long as there is two of them, thier red, and visible from 500 feet. I would have though there would be a bit more to it than that. So then they dont even have to be D.O.T. stamped?

I was also thinking about making my own custom LED lights as well. I currently have 100 super bright red led's that I am toying with the idea.

 

one of the most common offences to get pulled over for is the license plate light and then tail lights.

 

Fortunatly I have been pulled over for speeding in the Bronco, with purple headlights, no turn signal (I used hand signal when the cop was following me), and no liscense plate lights, and I only got the ticket for speeding. Not to mention the exhaust is pretty loud (it was 10:30 at night at the time) and I didnt have any dash lights either but I dont know if there is a law for dash illumination or not. I try to be polite and curtious with the officers though.