Third brake light

[longshot]

Pulled over tonight in carrollton for my third brake light not working. Is this legit or was I just another victim of a bored cop . Oh and btw ...FTP

[jefehbk]

I always thought third brake light was just added feature as long as your other two brake lights are working. But I'm not 100% sure. And FTP.

[Tremor14]

fight teh police

[longshot]

Then I was asked : we're are you coming from? We're are you going to? Do you have your weapon on you tonight? Damn you wanna know my life story too.. Oh and did I mention FTP

[Unicorn Jeff]

Yes, it's required by law. And those are standard questions that are asked at a traffic stop.

[jefehbk]

Then I was asked : we're are you coming from? We're are you going to? Do you have your weapon on you tonight? Damn you wanna know my life story too.. Oh and did I mention FTP

Are you required to answer those questions about whers you going and coming from? If you have a chl I understand answering that question.

[longshot]

It passed inspection without it , so go figure. And why does it make any difference were I'm coming from or going too, last time I check I wasn't living in nazi germany .

[03mustangdude]

Usually answer all the questions nicely and say sir hoping he would let me go with a warning. If that doesn't work I become a dick.

Third brake lights are required but most new cars are either a breeze to change it out or a royal pain

[longshot]

95 ranger so it's probably a breeze up until tonight I had no idea it wasn't working or that it was a federal requirement as explained to me by the officer. So I guess a state inspection don't hold water on federal requirements.

[Tremor14]

are you black, mexican, or other?

[dsrtuckteezy]

Usually answer all the questions nicely and say sir hoping he would let me go with a warning. If that doesn't work I become a dick.

Third brake lights are required but most new cars are either a breeze to change it out or a royal pain

Lol yep, I'm friendly until I realize I'm getting a ticket for sure.

I don't act like a dick, but my attitude becomes "alright fuck you hurry up and let me be on my way then."

Also, if the car is equipped with a third brake, it has to work. I was pissed when I saw that the guy who tinted my windows left a blank area where the third brake light is

[kingjason]

Z law states two rear facing red lights at equal height or something long and drawn out similar to that. Sooooooo if the third light is out, it is not PC.

[BMCSean]

So, you're saying FTP?

[kingjason]

Oddly enough, tail lamps says same height, as well as turn signal. However it doesn't specify anymore on the brake lights. Sooooo I am going to have to say even if one of your normal lights is out and the third brake light is working you should be fine.

Sec. 547.322. TAILLAMPS REQUIRED. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or vehicle that is towed at the end of a combination of vehicles shall be equipped with at least two taillamps.

(b) A passenger car or truck that was manufactured or assembled before the model year 1960 shall be equipped with at least one taillamp.

(c) Taillamps shall be mounted on the rear of the vehicle:

(1) at a height from 15 to 72 inches; and

(2) at the same level and spaced as widely apart as practicable if a vehicle is equipped with more than one lamp.

(d) A taillamp shall emit a red light plainly visible at a distance of 1,000 feet from the rear of the vehicle.

(e) If vehicles are traveling in combination, only the taillamps on the rearmost vehicle are required to emit a light for the distance specified in Subsection (d).

(f) A taillamp or a separate lamp shall be constructed and mounted to emit a white light that:

(1) illuminates the rear license plate; and

(2) makes the plate clearly legible at a distance of 50 feet from the rear.

(g) A taillamp, including a separate lamp used to illuminate a rear license plate, must emit a light when a headlamp or auxiliary driving lamp is lighted.


Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.





Sec. 547.323. STOPLAMPS REQUIRED. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer shall be equipped with at least two stoplamps.

(b) A passenger car manufactured or assembled before the model year 1960 shall be equipped with at least one stoplamp.

(c) A stoplamp shall be mounted on the rear of the vehicle.

(d) A stoplamp shall emit a red or amber light, or a color between red and amber, that is:

(1) visible in normal sunlight at a distance of at least 300 feet from the rear of the vehicle; and

(2) displayed when the vehicle service brake is applied.

(e) If vehicles are traveling in combination, only the stoplamps on the rearmost vehicle are required to emit a light for the distance specified in Subsection (d).

(f) A stoplamp may be included as a part of another rear lamp.


Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.





Sec. 547.324. TURN SIGNAL LAMPS REQUIRED. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer shall be equipped with electric turn signal lamps that indicate the operator's intent to turn by displaying flashing lights to the front and rear of a vehicle or combination of vehicles and on that side of the vehicle or combination toward which the turn is to be made.

(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to a passenger car or truck less than 80 inches wide manufactured or assembled before the model year 1960.

(c) Turn signal lamps:

(1) shall be mounted at the same level and spaced as widely apart as practicable on the front and on the rear of the vehicle; and

(2) may be included as a part of another lamp on the vehicle.

(d) A turn signal lamp shall emit:

(1) a white or amber light, or a color between white and amber, if the lamp is mounted on the front of the vehicle; or

(2) a red or amber light, or a color between red and amber, if the lamp is mounted on the rear of the vehicle.

(e) A turn signal lamp must be visible in normal sunlight at a distance of:

(1) at least 500 feet from the front and rear of the vehicle if the vehicle is at least 80 inches wide; and

(2) at least 300 feet from the front and rear of the vehicle if the vehicle is less than 80 inches wide.

[FastFord19]

Federal law, not state. Has to be functional if equipped.