HID "drop in" headlights illegal??

[Rafa]

Searched and couldn't a thread on it. Buddy of mine sent me this. I've never heard of this law. I have HID bulbs w/ballast in same assembly, but I aimed mine of course. No complaints or issues at all.

This is from another board...

http://www.tbssowners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=77878

"If you have HID lights in a halogen housing... get ready.

I would't worry about our fog lights due to the "factory style" projector.

The ticket will be for: §Unaproved Equipment (HID lamp in improper housing)§

And for your reading pleasure:

§ 547.305. RESTRICTIONS ON USE OF LIGHTS. (a) A motor
vehicle lamp or illuminating device, other than a headlamp,
spotlamp, auxiliary lamp, turn signal lamp, or emergency vehicle or
school bus warning lamp, that projects a beam with an intensity
brighter than 300 candlepower shall be directed so that no part of
the high-intensity portion of the beam strikes the roadway at a
distance of more than 75 feet from the vehicle.


§ 547.333. MULTIPLE-BEAM LIGHTING EQUIPMENT
REQUIRED. (a) Unless provided otherwise, a headlamp, auxiliary
driving lamp, auxiliary passing lamp, or combination of those lamps
mounted on a motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle or motor-driven
cycle:
(1) shall be arranged so that the operator can select
at will between distributions of light projected at different
elevations; and
(2) may be arranged so that the operator can select the
distribution automatically.
(b) A lamp identified by Subsection (a) shall produce:
(1) an uppermost distribution of light or composite
beam that is aimed and emits light sufficient to reveal a person or
vehicle at a distance of at least 450 feet ahead during all
conditions of loading; and
(2) a lowermost distribution of light or composite
beam that:
(A) is aimed and emits light sufficient to reveal
a person or vehicle at a distance of at least 150 feet ahead; and
(B) is aimed so that no part of the
high-intensity portion of the beam on a vehicle that is operated on
a straight, level road under any condition of loading projects into
the eyes of an approaching vehicle operator."

[Rick Modena]

Oh noes, da police is coming to get our lights yo!!!1111!!

Man, the gustapo also want to see a front plate and catalytic exhaust as to not harm our selves or the planet.

[Ted]

Oh noes, da police is coming to get our lights yo!!!1111!!

Man, the gustapo also want to see a front plate and catalytic exhuast as to harm our selves or the planet.

When i had my 03 GT, It didn't have cats for more than a few months, and every cop i ever came in contact with looked like they were too lazy to crawl up under the car. Of course, i didn't really piss them off.

[Rafa]

Ftp!!!!!

[Z06killinsbf]

'Cause all them brothers, whities and vatos out there with those $59.99 HIDs be blindin' peoples. That shit does get annoying and blinds on coming traffic. I think the only time you'll have a problem is with the blue and purple color ranges.

[347Mike]

Some of the lights are brighter than they need to be. I was going down my side street, which is a two lane road and a car washeading in my direction. His lights were so damn bright I couldn't see shit. I had literally slow down it was so bad...

[Rick Modena]

Yeah, you also have to adjust your bulbs and not use the 55w HID's. I'm about to get some 35w/4500K, thats what mose MFGs use and it has hardly any blue.

[joes01bullitt]

Yes sir, i received mine about a month ago my a constable off of the toll way and GB. not that big of a deal, took a pic of my car with HID's and my low beams are my regular halogen bulb therefore i took a picture of it that way. Showed up on my court date and had it dismissed and just paid $12.00 for court fees.

Its honestly just another reason for them to pull you over....

[03mustangdude]

from my understanding they are only illegal if you do not have the lense in front to direct the light

[Osiris]

I've never stopped for this. In fact, none of the statutes posted above say anything about hid lighting. I heard about this when I was in the academy in '04, but have been unable to find anything in this lately.

[CJ]

Yes I've been telling people this for years that it is technically illegal. To my knowledge DOT requires HID light housings to meet minimum standards. If I'm not mistaken the requirements are a refractor lense, automatic beam adjustment (for heavy loads), and washer nozzles for the housing. Some of these may have changed but I do believe the first requirement is the primary. They are not suppose to be used without a refractor lens.

[Chili]

When i had my 03 GT, It didn't have cats for more than a few months, and every cop i ever came in contact with looked like they were too lazy to crawl up under the car. Of course, i didn't really piss them off.

I had offroad pipes on my 04 for like 5 years. Never failed inspection and never ticketed. And that was without a "hookup".

Got pulled over once because of the volume but he didn't even ask about exhaust, just asked why I was "getting on it".

[4eyedwillie]

HID's in Halogen housings are supposed to be a no pass for a vehicle inspection. Same with painted taillights and aftermarket front lights that don't have the DOT symbol on them. Depends on the inspector if they care or not. Same with the car or truck being to low or jacked up to high. 24" and 54" to the center of the headlight.

[71chevellejohn]

My brother does inspections and was told by his DPS agent that he needed to start failing cars for aftermarket HID's. He walked her out to his Avalanche and showed her the ones that were in there (5000k - white) and she said she didn't see anything wrong with those. She said what they mainly have complaints/problems with the Blues, pinks, and Purples.

I'll wait to change mine - I actually used to get people flashing their hi-beams at me more when I had the original bulbs installed.

[JJs89lx]

I've been pulled over by two state troopers for this... Given warnings each time. They've told me that the "white" light is blinding, but when I explain that the light is put through a projector, that the light now becomes directional and is aimed properly. Then when questioned about the projector I explain that they come in most newer cars and most of them have "white" lights. Most recently explained this to a state trooper in San Marcos, Warned him that the light has a sharp cut line and not to look below the top of the projector that the light is bright. Needless to say once he looked below the cut line he took what I said serious.

They are also looking for tinted lights. I got hit for that till I explained that when I had them apart for the install I painted the inside flat black and that the lens its self is clear.

In all honesty, I wouldn't do this again. Attracts way to much attention to the truck. Then being asked why I have two radars and that they don't always work and having to explain everything... Eh, Just isn't worth the hassle anymore. They seem to be really getting onto it though.

Only thing I like about having them is I can light the road how I want it, and that anyone on coming that refuses to turn their brights off get a nice source of light thrown their way.