I made the mistake of telling my "know-it-all" neighbor that I was going to install amber fog lights and he droned on all types of related things.

He told me about stone guards being the same as covers (I posed this in the NorCal section) and he said that ANY 55 watt light if below the regular headlights are legal - including 35 watt HID's. Is that accurate?

 

I believe you can only have 1 set of fog lights uncovered above/below your head lights.

 

I think it varies by state...say in CA, you can run amber on all the time (high or low), but driving lights must shut off with high beams. Some states let you run light bar lights, others only let you run them off road.

Never really heard of watt limitations...but I never really looked either. I figure if they are illegal, the manufacturer would have to put "NOT DOT APPROVED" or "FOR OFF ROAD USE ONLY", and I've seen fog lights HID and 55watt here in Ca with no warnings (and living in CA, you KNOW someone would have sued someone else for not telling them they were illegal).

 

Found the CA headlight law:

V C Section 24400 Headlamps on Motor Vehicles

Headlamps on Motor Vehicles

24400.**(a) A motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, shall be equipped with at least two headlamps, with at least one on each side of the front of the vehicle, and, except as to vehicles registered prior to January 1, 1930, they shall be located directly above or in advance of the front axle of the vehicle. The headlamps and every light source in any headlamp unit shall be located at a height of not more than 54 inches nor less than 22 inches.

(b) A motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, shall be operated during darkness, or inclement weather, or both, with at least two lighted headlamps that comply with subdivision (a).

(c) As used in subdivision (b), “inclement weather” is a weather condition that is either of the following:

(1) A condition that prevents a driver of a motor vehicle from clearly discerning a person or another motor vehicle on the highway from a distance of 1,000 feet.

(2) A condition requiring the windshield wipers to be in continuous use due to rain, mist, snow, fog, or other precipitation or atmospheric moisture.

Added Sec. 2, Ch. 415, Stats. 2004. Effectve January 1, 2005. Operative July 1, 2005.
Amended Sec. 9, Ch. 311, Stats. 2006. Effective January 1, 2007.
Amended Sec. 43, Ch. 491, Stats. 2010. Effective January 1, 2011.

 

Stumbled on this...a site for officers to discuss officer stuff...someone asked about "purple" lights:
Legal headlights in CA

...might be a good site to hit to see if the average officer even knows vs cares on topics.

 

I actually called the CHP office in Redwood City and was basically told if you do not **** anyone off, you will have no problem with lights that are at headlight height or below and that they do not even bother with covers. He did mention though that their might be the off CHP/PD/Sheriff who is "old school" and I quote him, who will see you and throw the book at you.

Thanks for all the great advice and info Robert!

Angelo

p.s. I am thinking of adding (to my 55w amber fogs) either a 55w driving light or 35w HID driving light in the center places on my bumper bar. Just have not decided. I am installing the ambers tomorrow, fingers crossed!!

 

Have you checked out the Rigid Industries led lights? I have a set mounted in the factory fog location, and I'm loving the output...you can see reflectors coming before they are installed.

 

They look like good quality heavy duty lights; aviation/marine/military!

 

Sweet, I am looking at them now. . .

 

They are CRAZY bright...doesn't look like much looking at the lights, but something about the light against reflectors is amazing. I can see reflective signs, lane markers, license plates, etc. from a LOOOOONG way off!

 

Rigid has been one of the top companies in off-road lighting for quite some time now. An industry leader.

Stewart