I know, every once and a while, people get into debates over the legality of clear side markers & turn signals. I found a legal interpretation on the DOT's web site which does a good job of explaining the law. It should be known that these laws do not apply to the individual unless your state has adopted them, as the DOT allows states to choose whether to directly follow these or not. Currently Texas, Oregon, Washington, and Utah have directly adopted the Federal law in its entirety. A lot of other states just created similar verbiage or adopted parts of the Federal law, so you'd have to check with your state DOT.

Based on the legal interpretation at the below link and my interpretation of said legal interpretation, anybody in those four states, or any state creating similar verbiage, could use clear side markers on the front of the car or a clear lens for the front turn signal provided they include an amber bulb which meets SAE requirements.

However, it is pretty clear that the same treatment of your rear side marker is illegal as the DOT does not know of any bulb-maker which makes a bulb which meets SAE specification for the color red. FYI...I read somewhere else that they believe it to be cost prohibitive since actual gold, the precious metal not merely the color, is required to achieve the correct color.

NHTSA Chief Counsel - Legal Interpretation

If you don't care, then don't worry about my post...just posting it for those who are interested to know. I do this, particularly, because my interpretation in the past was incorrect, from what I read here, since I believed that the law required the side markers to "reflect" amber or red even when the lights were turned off...which this legal interpretation does not suggest.

 

Good job, MichaelAE. I'd suggest you look through the FAQs and if this topic isn't already covered, I'd add it if I were you. You might use something like "Are clear side markers legal?" as the title of the post.

 

Here are some links for you California drivers:

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc25100.htm
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc25950.htm

If you look at item 'c' in the second link, it appears to be saying that clear markers are okay with the correct colored bulbs. I'm not seeing anything which refers to SAE specifications of red bulbs, etc., etc. It is sort of screwy since the Federal law noted in my first post applies to manufacturers and importers and retailers. So, although nobody is allowed to sell you, for example, clear rear brake lights...you are evidently allowed to use them???

 

Suhweeet !!!

 

Actually, re-reading that...maybe not. Item 'c' actually states that the emitted light from all lamps and the reflected light from all reflectors must match the required color. I believe that the brake light requirement includes "reflected" light, so a clear brake cover would clearly (no pun intended) not reflect red. Nevermind.

So, forget that comment. It does look like the markers might be okay in the back. I'll have to read up more on this stuff another time...I'm getting into legal interpretation more than my work this morning.

 

anyone have any links to nyc regulations?

 

I don't have time to read through and track down the specific titles which apply, but you can start searching here. I'll try to track down the vehicle lighting titles sometime.

NYC Assembly Bill Search

 

very well done!!

 

Thanks for the link! im still doing the search - ill keep this thread updated with info

 

Well here is a link to the specific set of chapters and articles related to vehicle equipment requirements. I've been looking through this and mostly everything is very loosely defined. Essentially, every actual standard is defined by what the "Commissioner of Motor Vehicles" and I haven't yet found those standards themselves anywhere. It would seem that the law fully empowers the Comissioner to make the call on the legality of various lights. You could always email the office of the commissioner.

Equipment of Motor Vehicles & Motorcycles

 

thanks !

 

Since all this clear side marker craze started up I noticed something that I had never noticed before. Some older cars from the 70's & 80's have front side markers that have faded to barely a hint of amber. Surely, someone couldn't get a ticket for that!

 

Here's the AZ rules for everyone. That means you Andy. Shame those Silver Visions were the wrong base cause I've got a pair...

http://www.azleg.state.az.us/ars/28/00931.htm