Was it admiration or violation?

NHLiberty · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2005 8:14 am

So, let me preface this story by saying the first thing I did when I brought my KJ Rene home in June is take the plastic covers off the roof lights - much to my hubby's dismay cuz he was told it was illegal to drive on-road with uncovered off-road lights. I said "meh - I've seen plenty of other Rene's with their lights uncovered - it's all good"...

So we're cruising down the interstate in NH when suddenly there are blue lights behind us. Naturally, I say; "OK - how fast were you going butthead?" and Dan says; "I was doing 58! WTF is he pulling me over for?"...tap, tap, tap on the window - "Sir, can I see your license and registration please? -- Did you know that it's illegal to run on the road with your roof lights uncovered?" -- of course Dan says; "why no - I didn't officer, I have the covers right here, I'll put them on at the next rest area" -- cut to Sue snickering to herself -- the officer leaves to run Dan's license and when he comes back he says; "I'm not going to issue a ticket or warning - just make sure you cover them up." -- then he says; "this is a Jeep Liberty right?" -- yes -- "How do you like it so far?" -- we love it -- "ok, thanks, have a nice day."

So - once the officer walked away and I got a hold of myself from laughing at my hubby - I said; "he didn't REALLY pull you over cuz of the lights, he was checkin' out the Libby!"

Well, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

Anyone else get bagged for having those lights uncovered?

the1jferg · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2005 9:34 am

Thats terrible, all the crime out there and you get zapped for that.

WV(0)IIIIIII(0) · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2005 9:54 am

I have been runiing around MD, PA, VA, WV, for the past year and had no problems.

valoflyby · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2005 10:02 am

They can't pull you over w/o a reason. The reason that they give may be BS, but they STILL need a reason. (I was once pulled over for "wearing headphones" when, in fact, it was just my sunglasses on my head!)

The point being: Had Dan been a $& to the officer... guess what?! Ticket time. Had the officer been in a real foul mood... again, ticket time.

The fact of the matter is that by running w/o the covers on your lights, you're giving them (officers) carte blanche to pull you over.

Note: I was once pulled over while riding my Honda Hawk in February. It was right after the moving "Biker Boyz" debuted. The officer wasn't able to get radar on me, wasn't able to pace me either, but pulled me over based on the fact that HE had to do twice the speed limit to catch up to me. (Yeah, makes no sense to me either.) He kept me for over an hour while we went round and round as to what speed I was actually going. (I WASN'T SPEEDING!!) I was consequently late for work. On my performance review (later that year) I was "docked" for "Punctuality". That's the only time I was ever late.... I got a below average raise. When all I was doing "wrong" was riding a motorcycle at the wrong time of the year after a stupid motorcycle movie came out.

That cost me money. Could I have prevented it? Unlikely. But if I *COULD* have....

Weigh it out for yourself. If the "look" outweighs the hassle...

- Jeff

Steakgoddess · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2005 12:08 pm

Each state has different laws. You might want to check up on them just in case.

Just because you havent had problems before, well that does not prevent problems in the future.

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2005 2:42 pm

In Mich (or at least based on my experience) you can run with your covers off as long as the lights are not on.

The patrolmen / women can pull us over without any reason what so ever also.

Ed · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2005 6:53 pm

I know it doesn't really apply to you guys, but I'll tell you the story from over here anyway!

There seems to be some confusion as to whether it's legal to have roof lights here or not. The are (as in the US) different laws per-state, but where I live (Victoria) it seems as though it's only legal to have 6 forward facing high-beam lights on your vehicle. There are mouting height limits for those lights, but they possibly don't apply to 4WDs. Also, it's possible that roof lights, if they're independently switched to normal high-beam lights, would be classed as "additional" lights and you can have as many as you like of them. Obviously it's illegal to actually use them on the road though! I've also been told that, because mine are mounted a bit further back to prevent glare on the windscreen, they're illegal because they're mounted behind the driver's seat. I can't find anything in the road rules and regulations that back up this claim though. Plus there are any number of pick-up trucks running around here with lights mounted on the roll-bar behind the cab. I know that just because other people do it doesn't make it legal, but it maybe makes it more acceptable.

I doubt that your average cop has studied the traffic rules and regulations in as much depth as many 4WDers, I know of one of our club members who carries a copy of them around with him so that if the cops start giving him a hard time he can ask them to point out which sections he's in violation of. Whether that's a good idea or not, or whether it'll just make you look like a smart-a$$ and rile up the cops more is anyone's guess.

Like valoflyby says, they do technically need a reason to pull you over. But they can make up any old c0ck-and-bull story as an excuse. I've been pulled over because the cops thought I wasn't wearing my seatbelt. Turns out the seatbelt was black and so was my jacket so they just couldn't see it!

Having roof lights uncovered is just one more excuse they've got to pull you up. Which is why I got covers for mine. Plus I was fed up with various people telling me they're illegal, even though they mostly didn't know what they were talking about. Also, over here, not having mud-flaps on the back of your car is an offence. I know several people who've been pulled over for that! Which is why I've just got some put on mine.

If you're like me and teetering on the edge of legality (tyres too big, lift too high, lights/number plates covered in mud, etc) then you really don't want John Q. Law snooping round your rig with his beady eyes of "justice".

priell3 · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2005 11:43 pm

I haven't had my covers on for over 2 years and haven't had any problems even though the PA vehicle code states they should be covered.

Blue KJ in PA · **Posted:** Tue Nov 15, 2005 7:27 am

Depends where you are and what mood the officer is in. I had a neon license plate light back in the college days on my Olds. Drove around home in the 'burbs near Philly for months including many passes by officers and even State Troopers on the turnpike going to school no problem. One day near college, a country bumpkin area, officer 1 of the 3 officers the town passed me going in the opposite direction on a twisty road. I got up to the stop sign, 1/2 mile down road and he comes flying up over the hill so fast he almost rear ended me. I quickly pulled off the road in a driveway 'cause I thought he was going somewhere, nope it was me and my light. Spits out some code stating it was extra lighting, non-standard, wrong color, on all the time, VIOLATION. I had to go to an inspection station to verify it's removal within 2 days, the whole 9 yards. It's all in what kind of day they are having and how they want to try and pass time.

NHLiberty · **Posted:** Tue Nov 15, 2005 8:12 am

hmm, so no one thinks he was just wanting to check out one hot Libby?! I'm SHOCKED :shock:

LMAO!
Sue

valoflyby · **Posted:** Tue Nov 15, 2005 9:27 am

Naw... I think that what we're saying here is that he'd been looking to pull over a Liberty for weeks. You just gave him the excuse he needed.

ShoreRenegade · **Posted:** Mon Nov 28, 2005 11:02 am

I work with an ex-cop from Virginia. In VA, you are allowed to have a maximum of four headlights (basically any clear headlight, foglight, drivinglight, or roof bar) uncovered at any time on a public roadway. Any lights over four must be covered.

Not sure what the rule is here in MD, but I haven't gotten stopped yet. Unfortunately I don't have the covers. I bought it used and the covers were not with the vehicle. I checked into getting replacements at the Jeep dealer and the only way to do that is to buy the whole "kit" which costs $200. Yikes :shock:

I hope I don't get stopped.

rocketjocky · **Posted:** Mon Nov 28, 2005 3:37 pm

I had two of the covers break and the only place to find them (as stated above) was the Jeep dealer. I thought it was high but they were 20 something each.

Guyute1210 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 29, 2005 1:42 pm

ShoreRenegade wrote:

Unfortunately I don't have the covers. I bought it used and the covers were not with the vehicle. I checked into getting replacements at the Jeep dealer and the only way to do that is to buy the whole "kit" which costs $200. Yikes :shock:

I hope I don't get stopped.

Ok ShoreRenegade and any others that are looking for replacement covers. I called my trusty Sales Rep (wierd trusty and Sales rep in the same sentence :wink:

) and he got me the part number for these Light bar covers: 5HZ07RXFAF and they list for $18.60 a piece.

dog_party · **Posted:** Tue Nov 29, 2005 3:02 pm

Well, I think he stopped you just to check out an awesome black Liberty!

Was it admiration or violation?

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