Blue lens illegal?

[KerTiZ]

What a crappy day today.. got a speeding ticket this morning and while the cop was looking at my car he came up to me and told me my fog lights were illegal and he wants them off the car. I told him it meets the SAE requirements and that at night the light emmited is white with NO tint of blue whatsoever... but he said if the housing of the light has blue then its illegal. Anyways.. i go home and look at the lights and notice that the back housing is not blue, the bulb is not blue.. the only blue part is the glass for the lens. Would that still be illegal?

[DrewsCam]

what did the box say, dot approved or for off road use only?

[SmokingTires]

It doesn't mater what color anything is on your car. As long as the lights show as either red (brakes), white or amber(headlights) your fine.

[KerTiZ]

ahhh ok.. we'll.. the box doesn't have a DOT approved thing but it has a MEETS SAE requirements statement. Perhaps i'll put a dark film on my lights to make it so they dont look blue? ... but that would prob affect the lighting quality... wah.. i dont wanna get pulled over again

[SmokingTires]

OK, here is the standard test that Police do when testing your lights. Hold up a white piece of paper in front of the light. If the light shows white on the paper, your fine. That's all the matters. That's why Chryslers and BMWs can have lights that show blue and purple, but they are really white.

[']['R][) camry]

Originally posted by KerTiZ
ahhh ok.. we'll.. the box doesn't have a DOT approved thing but it has a MEETS SAE requirements statement. Perhaps i'll put a dark film on my lights to make it so they dont look blue? ... but that would prob affect the lighting quality... wah.. i dont wanna get pulled over again

In BC it has to say DOT approved... idk if SAE is enough

I guess I didn't help at all

[SmokingTires]

A Cop isn't going to be able to tell if they are legal just by looking at them. Mine are have blue lenses and are pertfectly legal.

Where they on at the time?

[KerTiZ]

nope.. they were off... but then they told me to turn th em on.. but it was 9:15 AM.. u can't see the light.. of course u'll still see the blue lens... man... i dunno what to do

[knightbr]

Did some searching, I am in Ontario so not sure were you are Kertiz. But in Ontario here is the link to the highway traffic act:

http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/DBLaws/S...sh/90h08_e.htm

Here is the definition for lights:

Lamps required on all motor vehicles except motorcycles

62. (1) When on a highway at any time from one-half hour before sunset to one-half hour after sunrise and at any other time when, due to insufficient light or unfavourable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of 150 metres or less, every motor vehicle other than a motorcycle shall carry three lighted lamps in a conspicuous position, one on each side of the front of the vehicle which shall display a white or amber light only, and one on the rear of the vehicle which shall display a red light only. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 62 (1).

Other interesting part is:

Attachment that affects lamps prohibited

(7) No person shall drive upon a highway a motor vehicle if either or both of the lamps that are required on the front of the vehicle by subsections (1), (2) and (3),

(a) are coated or covered with a coloured material; or

(b) have been modified by the attachment to the lamps or the motor vehicle of any device that reduces the effective area of the lenses or the intensity of the beam of the lamps. 2002, c. 18, Sched. P, s. 19 (1).

This is interesting the next time someone is blinding you from behind:

Strength of front lamps

(9) No motor vehicle shall carry on the front thereof more than four lighted lamps that project a beam having an intensity of over 300 candela. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 62 (9).

In my opinion and I am not a lawyer which most of the highway act requires a back ground in to translate, the cop was likely being a jerk. As best as I can tell as long as the standard lighting system is in working condition and you have not added lights that increase the intensity or take away from the intensity of the standard lighting system then it is likely not an issue. If you get a ticket I recommend fighting it but make sure you have the highway act on hand for that conversation with the judge.

[Silver Streak]

KerTiZ, where are you in Canada? Sounds like you're outta the GTA area, as I see no less than 20 cars with blue foglight lenses, myself included.

I'm sure he wouldn't have ticketed you for your foglights if you weren't speeding.

[KerTiZ]

I'm from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan =/

He didn't ticket me for my fog lights but warned me.. cuz i was in a BIG rush.. i was late for a meeting.... he said ticket is 80 dollars a light.. i was like .. WAHHHHHHHHH... but he told me to take them off... i want to leave them on tho.. so i'm thinking of perhaps painting the lens a lil to eliminate the blue? any suggestions anyone?

[SmokingTires]

Don't bother. He was bull shitting you man. Leave them on. Chances are, he won't stop you again. And no court would hold that up.

[CamNub]

Just print out what knightbr said.
THen, you can show it to the cop if you are not in a hurry.
OR...
If you are in a hurry, show the law to the judge, and he'll see you aren't violating any laws..Therefore you'll get off.

[mykngdom4avvti]

Check your local regulations, but SAE-Society of Automotive Engineers is only a quality control group. They conduct tests on different products and put there badge on if they pass. It has nothing to do with the legality of your lights.
Plus: SAE is an American Society, it's reg's carry no weight in Canada.

[xpeed]

That cop was full of bull. Just show him the paper that says it's SAE approve. Then he won't be able to do anything.