Hey.. I was wondering.. once i install these clear markers do I have to change the bulb colors to the amber for the front and red in the back? Or could i just get white for them? I'm not sure, if cops car about that? Let me know.

 

I live in MA and I have Polar white in front clears and red in back ...many new cars are bright up front and the white bulbs shouldn't be a problem...they never have been for me at least, and i just went with red in the back bc i think it looks better and to stay away from any potential trouble

 

If your lights are not DOT approved, the cops can cite you if they enforce or use DOT lighting standards. The clears that I have came with a disclaimer because they are not DOT approved.

 

ok the clear corners are illegal (since they dont reflect amber up front and red in back).
having white bulbs just draws attention to that. at least if you have proper color bulbs then you can get away with it. its hard to tell at night since all the cops will see is the color of the light.
so to answer the questions -
to avoid getting a ticket - use amber bulbs up front and red in the back
if you dont care - use any color you want

 

I've gotten pulled over for having super white bulbs along w/ clear corners. Changed bulbs to amber and red LEDs.

 

I had ultra white bulbs installed under my clears for about 6 months and just recently switched to the amber and red 194's. Looks 100x's better than before. I hear the LED's look even better. Might have to pick up some of those to compare. I checked out that auto illumination site and saw the 7 bulb versions...I've been told there is a 9 bulb version, but did not find it. Which are most of you guys with the LED's using?

 

I'm using 5 or 6 LED but honestly, they look the same compared to when I had my regular colored bulbs installed

 

You are half right an wrong. You are correct if a oncoming car light can't reflect off of your clear corners, then there illegal.My clear corners reflect, i paid a little extra for them , but they keep the cops away. I use polarg hyper whites in all 4 corners.Had the car for 1 year and no problems yet because my clears reflect oncoming light. Also got this info from a friend of mine who is a cop.Laws may be diffrent in your area, but here in Fl , you are allowed to have clears as long as they have the reflective material behind the clear lenses. I'll check my box that the clears came in tonight and tell you guys which kind i have. There japanese clear markers, but the house the reflective material in the background.

 

they cant just REFLECT
like i said before - (reflect amber up front and red in back).

 

Refer to FMVSS 108 for information regarding light requirements.

 

And like i said before...the laws might be diffrent in your state,not here the state of FL.

 

That's not entirely correct either. I used to have the link to the NHTSA legal database here on the .org, but I can not find the post any more. It says that white bumper or corner markers do not have to reflect amber or red necessarily, but they must emit the DOT amber and DOT red when turned on. The problem is that the ruling given is not specific enough (in this case).

 

I found this on the state of FL web site for all of the state statutes:

316.224 Color of clearance lamps, identification lamps, side marker lamps, backup lamps, reflectors, and deceleration lights.--

(1) Front clearance lamps, identification lamps, and those marker lamps and reflectors mounted on the front or on the side near the front of a vehicle shall display or reflect an amber color.

(2) Rear clearance lamps, identification lamps, and those marker lamps and reflectors mounted on the rear or on the sides near the rear of a vehicle shall display or reflect a red color.

(3) All lighting devices and reflectors mounted on the rear of any vehicle shall display or reflect a red color, except the stop light or other signal device, which may be red, amber, or yellow, and except that the light illuminating the license plate shall be white and the light emitted by a backup lamp shall be white or amber. Deceleration lights as authorized by s. 316.235(5) shall display an amber color.

(4) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318.


So, according to that, it appears that legally, we are required to display or reflect amber up front and red in the back. I was hoping not, so hopefully I am just reading the statutes wrong, but I'm afraid that I'm not. Just throwing the info out there, not trying to show anybody up or bust anybody's chops.

 

Just use amber and red LEDs.

 

Good find! But like my friend who is a Orlando officer said, as long they reflect ,the cops or troopers really shouldn't be giving you trouble. I know..i know..the law states otherwise and its his word against the law books. But hey....i never have gotten harrased yet so there maybe some truth to what he is saying afterall....

 

I havent had any problems in NY, but they are illegal if you do not use the colored bulbs. There are some laws they just dont enforce. Plus many cars do not have marker lights, they are not mandatory maybe that is why they dont bother. Once when I was in college I had a cop threaten to give me a ticket because I had my school sticker on the back window. You know the small university of stickers. He claimed this was illegal and obstruction of view. If you find a complete jerk he can give you a ticket for anything.

 

Yeah, I think this may just be one of those things that is technically against the law, but which most cops will not care too much about. I'll have to check with my buddy who's a cop over here in Tampa, and see what he says about how they deal with those things over here.

So, in answer to the thread question that started this all, I guess technically, they are illegal, but you just have to weigh the real-life odds that a cop will actually care. And like emhc1999 said, if a cop is the type that would give you a ticket for illegal side markers, odds are that even if you didn't have the clear sides, he would still find a reason to give you a ticket for something!

That being said, are there any amber and red bulbs out there that will display the amber and red colors when on, but not show the amber and red color of the bulb through a side marker when they're off? Or, can you spray some substance over the bulbs which will kind of hide them behind the clear markers, but still allow the colored light through?

 

dude thats a COUNTRY law (DOT)
not a state law.

 

so you finally admit that im right? cool thanks

 

ill say it ONCE AGAIN!!

ok the clear corners are illegal (since they dont reflect amber up front and red in back).
having white bulbs just draws attention to that. at least if you have proper color bulbs then you can get away with it. its hard to tell at night since all the cops will see is the color of the light.
so to answer the questions -
to avoid getting a ticket - use amber bulbs up front and red in the back
if you dont care - use any color you want

 

anyone else using amber running lights in the headlamp fixture? i'm trying this look out for a while to see if i like it.