Legality of Light Bar

callaway · **Posted:** Tue Jul 18, 2006 9:17 pm

I ordered a Liberty light bar and have a question - I know that the light bar can't be used on city streets... but will I get a ticket/in trouble for not having the light covers over the lights (I live near chicago) ?

priell3 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 18, 2006 9:30 pm

Check the vehicle code for your state if you can find it online.

Pennsylvania requires them to be covered, but I've had mine uncovered for 3 years without a problem.

callaway · **Posted:** Tue Jul 18, 2006 10:13 pm

i looked here, which is the portion of the illinois vehicle code dealing with lighting and only found a few references to not using more than the normal amount of vehicle light.

Quote:

Any motor vehicle may be equipped with one or more back‑up lamps either separately or in combination with other lamps; but any such back‑up lamp or lamps shall not be lighted when the motor vehicle is in forward motion.

i'm sure nothing will happen if i drive around without the covers, but all the liberty's around here that have the lightbar have covers on them and i was just curious as to the 'official' rules

auggy · **Posted:** Tue Jul 18, 2006 11:01 pm

Same with Ohio: It's legal to have them but you cannot have them uncovered on public roads. That being said, I've driven around with mine uncovered for nearly two years without a single problem.

KJ-BOL · **Posted:** Tue Jul 18, 2006 11:05 pm

callaway wrote:

I ordered a Liberty light bar and have a question - I know that the light bar can't be used on city streets... but will I get a ticket/in trouble for not having the light covers over the lights (I live near chicago) ?

I've been driving in Chicago & the burbs for the last two years with the covers off - no probs
I don't think I'm "just getting lucky" -

05JeepKJ · **Posted:** Wed Jul 19, 2006 2:51 am

It depends where you go. Some police officers in little towns like lockport care about that because they have nothing else to do. I got caught speeding in lockport and they had 3 officers come down for one speeding ticket. I dont know about chicago but i see a lot of people running them without the covers on.

meduncan · **Posted:** Wed Jul 19, 2006 6:48 am

I've had my KJ for about 2 years here in Ohio and never had the covers on. I've sat beside, behind, facing, and passing police officers and they haven't even batted an eye. As 05JeepKJ said though, that doesn't mean that the small town cops won't jump at the opportunity to add a fee to your ticket if you get pulled over for speeding.

FarmDiesel · **Joined:** Thu Sep 15, 2005 8:49 am **Posts:** 132

The answer: Technically, in IL, it is illegal to drive with the Renegade lights uncovered.

The practical answer: You'd have to really tee off the PD to get a citation for not having them covered.

callaway · **Posted:** Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:02 am

its simple, stupid questions that actually get helpful answers that make newbies feel welcome

i'm gonna leave the covers off then

thanks for all the input

sqliberty · **Joined:** Sun Mar 19, 2006 3:08 pm **Posts:** 207

I am in the chicago suburbs as well, I run the light bar and the sd210 warns on the brush guard all un covered with no issues

Sean · **Posted:** Wed Jul 19, 2006 1:27 pm

I have found something interesting in the michigan 'passenger vehicle equipment requirements'
it says that "Auxiliary Lights: May be equipped with not more than two fog lamps,
mounted not less than 12", nor higher than 30". No more
than a total of four lamps, including headlamps, lit at one
time. White or amber beam."
what determines a "fog lamp" and does that mean if i have my headlights and fog lights off, i can use my aux. lights?

some more requirments from that page:

Quote:

The following equipment requirements are in abbreviated form.
For detailed information, refer to the Michigan Vehicle Code.
PASSENGER VEHICLE EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS
Michigan State Police
Traffic Services Section, Sergeant Tim Heideman
October 1997
ITEM CONDITIONS
CODE
SECTION
Headlights Two or more, white, equipped with one on each side.
Minimum 24 inches, maximum 54 inches from ground.
Adjustable for upper and lower beam. Upper beam to reveal
persons 350 feet, lower beam to reveal persons 100 feet.
Beam indicator showing when upper beams are on; visible to
driver. No more than four lamps lighted at the same time.
685
699
Tail Lights Shall be equipped with at least one on rear, red; visible from
500 feet; if equipped with two, then shall at all times be
maintained in good working condition.
686
697
Stop Lights One on rear (two after January 1, 1965), red or amber;
visible day or night for 100 feet. Actuated upon application
of service brake.
689
697
697b
Registration
Light
Illuminates rear registration plate, white; sufficient to
illuminate plate to be clearly visible from 50 feet.
686
689
Turn Signals Required after January 1, 1955. Red or amber on rear;
white or amber on front. Visible 100 feet, day or night.
689
697
697a
Auxiliary Lights May be equipped with not more than two fog lamps,
mounted not less than 12", nor higher than 30". No more
than a total of four lamps, including headlamps, lit at one
time. White or amber beam.
696b
685d
699a
Brakes Adequate to stop and hold vehicle. Two means of applying
brakes to at least two wheels. Capable of stopping vehicle
in 30 feet from 20 mph.
705
Horn Working condition, audible for 200 feet. No whistle or
harsh sound.
706
Exhaust Muffler in good working order and constant operation. Tail
pipe and resonator if originally equipped, maximum 83
DBA.
707
The following equipment requirements are in abbreviated form.
For detailed information, refer to the Michigan Vehicle Code.
PASSENGER VEHICLE EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS
ITEM CONDITIONS
CODE
SECTION
Mirrors Outside rear view mirror on driver's side, properly adjusted.
Outside rear view mirror on each side if view through rear
window obscured.
708
Windshield Sufficient size to protect driver and occupants. No sign,
poster, non-transparent material, window application,
reflective or non-reflective film. Safety glass required.
708a
711
Glass No sign, posters, non-transparent material, window
application, reflective or non-reflective film on driver or
front passenger glass. Rear or side windows to rear of
driver cannot be composed of, covered by, or treated with a
material that creates a total solar reflectance of 35% or
more, including gold or silver reflective film. Wherever
glass is used, it must be safety glass.
709
711
Windshield
Washers
Required after January 1, 1956. Operational at all times. 709
Windshield
Wipers
Driver controlled. Operational at all times. 709
Tires 2/32 of an inch tread. No part of belting material, tire cords
or ply exposed. No evidence of ply or tread separation.
Not restricted from highway use.
710
Safety Belts Required for driver and one front seat passenger after
January 1, 1965. Conforms to rules and regulations.
710a
710b
Bumpers Required on passenger vehicle, including 4-wheel drive and
pickups. No more than 22 inches from ground.
710c
Suspension Not modified to defeat safe operation of vehicle. 710c

FreeJeep · **Posted:** Wed Jul 19, 2006 3:56 pm

Your chances of getting pulled over will depend on the town, day of the week, initiative of the week, officer's wife's(or husband) mental stability and the quality of the coffee and donuts in the area: in other words, you never can tell.

My old t-bird had tinted windows which are "illegal" in IL. I got pulled over the same time every year in my town, sometimes 4-5 days in a row. Not once the rest of the year. Figured it was the law of the week on their annual schedule. :roll:

Just remember, you are driving around with an open invitation to get pulled over at any time.

DonC

MikeD0106 · **Posted:** Wed Jul 19, 2006 8:39 pm

I suggest calling your local highway patrol substation and asking someone down there. I know AZ is like a lot of other states in that the lights are supposed to be covered, but there is not a lot of enforcement with it that I've seen.

Jeep Dawg · **Posted:** Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:56 pm

Here in NEW YORK, you can not use the lights on any streets. only off road. It does not matter if the lights are covered or not in new york.

Cacher123 · **Posted:** Thu Jul 20, 2006 12:11 am

Quote:

Auxiliary Lights May be equipped with not more than two fog lamps,
mounted not less than 12", nor higher than 30". No more
than a total of four lamps, including headlamps, lit at one
time. White or amber beam.

According to that, the Rennie light bar is illegal because it is more than 30" off the ground! I can't believe that DC produced a vehicle which would be illegal in some states w/o adding a disclaimer in the owner's man. or saying "not legal for sale in XX state." So, do the Rennie aux lights not count as "fog lights"? And if not, what law covers them?

Legality of Light Bar

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