Not sure if this is the right section or not, but anyways I got pulled over for my "Blue" blinding lights. First they are 55w 6k HID but are in projectors and have been aimed. My question is I live in texas and the law is you cant have HIDs unless they are in a housing made for them. Well..... my projectors are made for HIDs. Anybody else been hassled for this bs?
Got pulled over for HIDs
- Thread starter jwaldo432
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Physh1
Full Access Member
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Do your projector housings have a halogen bulb socket or hid socket? These HID kits include bulbs that fit halogen based headlights. Did you retro HID projectors into a headlight?
Technically, your projector housings (unless you retro a HID projector) are made for halogens...just happens these HID retro kits include bulbs with halogen bases.
Not really BS, but crappy non the less.
Technically, your projector housings (unless you retro a HID projector) are made for halogens...just happens these HID retro kits include bulbs with halogen bases.
Not really BS, but crappy non the less.
Putting ANY 'hid kit' or hid bulbs in housings meant for halogen reflectors is a common bad idea ... even if you're not getting pulled over you are blinding people with glare no matter how well you think you aimed them. Sure you might see better, but at others' expense.
So yup, either retro or put the best halogen bulbs you can find like Silverstars or HIR bulbs.
So yup, either retro or put the best halogen bulbs you can find like Silverstars or HIR bulbs.
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The ones I ordered came with H1 bulb in them already so idk, but he told me any HID was illegal. And that makes no damn sense cause some cars come stock, he said they are illegal as well..... i think hes full of shit personally lol, any threads on retrofitting?
chauncey0337
Full Access Member
http://tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6151&highlight=retrofit
Try the search function too, might find some more.
Try the search function too, might find some more.
ScottyBoy
Full Access Member
The cop is just doing his job. Police departments across the country are telling all their officers to write as many tickets as possible. Just like everyone else in this economy, they need more money. Its ********, but what can ya do? My wife got pulled over twice by the same cop for her tint. We had the car tinted in 2005 and have never had any problems until now. She even got pulled over about 4-5 times in the past 6 years, but each cop never mentioned the tint at all.
Then just recently, a guy I know got a ticket for having his foglights on during the day. WTF?
They just wanna write as many tickets as possible to get some money for the dept and the city, that's what it boils down to.
Then just recently, a guy I know got a ticket for having his foglights on during the day. WTF?
They just wanna write as many tickets as possible to get some money for the dept and the city, that's what it boils down to.
AtomicHoe094
Atomichoe094
Usually cops will pull you over to see whats inside the truck (crack heads, drunks, guns etc etc) if they dont see anything then they get you with something else on the exterior.
Brother got sighted for a dim license plate light even though theres 2 lights.. He always went to check it and they both were fine..
Brother got sighted for a dim license plate light even though theres 2 lights.. He always went to check it and they both were fine..
Dubbin
Full Access Member
got this from another forum
I am a peace officer in Texas and have been trying to get some information together for the state laws concerning HID retrofits and their legallity. The topic has come up with others before and I did not know the specifics so I did my best to educate myself. So far this is what I have come up with. If there is anything you can add or correct please let me know.
HID Kits are illegal to SELL as DOT approved for steet use due to FEDERAL regualtion and none of the kits that use HID bulbs to replace standard halogen bulbs in a halogen housing should have a DOT seal or marking. DOT does not approve or disapprove headlight components. It is strictly up to the manufacturer to certify that they meet the federal DOT specs, which none of them do since the HID light source is a different position, size, and shape than the halogen filament the housing was designed for. The fact it plugs into a standard housing for H1 or H3 halogen bulbs is not relevant.
That said, there are no longer any headlight aiming requirements for inspection since the 90s in Texas. There are only laws for headlight height and distance they must illuminate (150 ft). They cannot be red in color and they must be functional and condensation free. This makes it perfectly legal to use HIDs that are blinding other motorists on high beam since all HID set ups in halogen reflector housings do this when adjusted to give the driver a good view of the road ahead. They can be as bright as you want, any color temerature as you want, and as blinding as you want ON HIGH BEAM. There are no TEXAS LAWS preventing use if adjusted correctly and only federal laws preventing sale for street use. The only statute that covers aiming states your low beams must illuminate at 150 feet minimum and not project the high intensity portion of the beam into oncoming driver's eyes. This only applies to the low beams.
Driving lights and fog light have no aiming requirements for inspection and are not tested as part of the Texas inspetion process. They have no color or disance requirements but cannot be red in color. This makes HID driving and fog light retrofits also completely legal for inspection purpposes.
Instead of putting HIDs in a halogen reflector housoing, it is much more responsible to do an HID projector retrofit that uses the entire projector assebly and D2S bulbs from an OEM manufacturered HID projector set up so that you do not blind other drivers and have a sharp cut off line at the top of your low beams; however, such kits are 3-4X more expensive than a plug and play kit and require custom installation. The up side is that the D2S bulbs and improved distribution of light can put over twice the usabale light on the road an HID kit that replacs the halogen bulb in a factory housing will project.
Likewise, using propper color temperature bulbs such as 4100-5000K will produce the maximum lumen output. For example, a 6000K bulb only puts out about 2/3 the lumens of a 4300K bulb, all else being equal. The higher the color temperature above 6000K, the lower the lumen output and the more glare the driver will see in foggy/rainy conditions. All OEM factory HID systems will range between 4-5K temperature for this reason.
Under Motor Vehicle Code § 547.3215. USE OF FEDERAL STANDARD. Drivers are required to meet federal standards in 49 CFR Sec 571.108. This makes crrent HID retrofits in Halogen housings NOT meet the beam pattern requirements for replacement lamps. The propper ticket to write is one of the following for those using HIDs in halogen housings.
HEAD LAMP(S) GLARING, NOT ADJUSTED
or
FAIL TO USE PROPPER HEADLIGHT BEAM
Now I do see these particular laws as possibly not allowing the HID retrofit...
§ 547.004. GENERAL OFFENSES. (a) A person commits an
offense that is a misdemeanor if the person operates or moves or, as
an owner, knowingly permits another to operate or move, a vehicle
that:
(1) is unsafe so as to endanger a person;
(2) is not equipped in a manner that complies with the
vehicle equipment standards and requirements established by this
chapter; or
(3) is equipped in a manner prohibited by this
chapter.
COMBINED WITH
§ 547.3215. USE OF FEDERAL STANDARD. Unless specifically
prohibited by this chapter, lighting, reflective devices, and
associated equipment on a vehicle or motor vehicle must comply
with:
(1) the current federal standards in 49 C.F.R. Section
571.108; or
(2) the federal standards in that section in effect,
if any, at the time the vehicle or motor vehicle was manufactured.
Now the federal standard does not allow for HID with halogen reflectors to be used as they source of replacement bulb light must be halogen for halogen lights and xenon for xenon lights. This would seem to counter the idea that the retrofit is legal. It would also make it an arrestable offense since its not one of the two traffic citations that you cannot be instantered for (speeding and open container).
I am a peace officer in Texas and have been trying to get some information together for the state laws concerning HID retrofits and their legallity. The topic has come up with others before and I did not know the specifics so I did my best to educate myself. So far this is what I have come up with. If there is anything you can add or correct please let me know.
HID Kits are illegal to SELL as DOT approved for steet use due to FEDERAL regualtion and none of the kits that use HID bulbs to replace standard halogen bulbs in a halogen housing should have a DOT seal or marking. DOT does not approve or disapprove headlight components. It is strictly up to the manufacturer to certify that they meet the federal DOT specs, which none of them do since the HID light source is a different position, size, and shape than the halogen filament the housing was designed for. The fact it plugs into a standard housing for H1 or H3 halogen bulbs is not relevant.
That said, there are no longer any headlight aiming requirements for inspection since the 90s in Texas. There are only laws for headlight height and distance they must illuminate (150 ft). They cannot be red in color and they must be functional and condensation free. This makes it perfectly legal to use HIDs that are blinding other motorists on high beam since all HID set ups in halogen reflector housings do this when adjusted to give the driver a good view of the road ahead. They can be as bright as you want, any color temerature as you want, and as blinding as you want ON HIGH BEAM. There are no TEXAS LAWS preventing use if adjusted correctly and only federal laws preventing sale for street use. The only statute that covers aiming states your low beams must illuminate at 150 feet minimum and not project the high intensity portion of the beam into oncoming driver's eyes. This only applies to the low beams.
Driving lights and fog light have no aiming requirements for inspection and are not tested as part of the Texas inspetion process. They have no color or disance requirements but cannot be red in color. This makes HID driving and fog light retrofits also completely legal for inspection purpposes.
Instead of putting HIDs in a halogen reflector housoing, it is much more responsible to do an HID projector retrofit that uses the entire projector assebly and D2S bulbs from an OEM manufacturered HID projector set up so that you do not blind other drivers and have a sharp cut off line at the top of your low beams; however, such kits are 3-4X more expensive than a plug and play kit and require custom installation. The up side is that the D2S bulbs and improved distribution of light can put over twice the usabale light on the road an HID kit that replacs the halogen bulb in a factory housing will project.
Likewise, using propper color temperature bulbs such as 4100-5000K will produce the maximum lumen output. For example, a 6000K bulb only puts out about 2/3 the lumens of a 4300K bulb, all else being equal. The higher the color temperature above 6000K, the lower the lumen output and the more glare the driver will see in foggy/rainy conditions. All OEM factory HID systems will range between 4-5K temperature for this reason.
Under Motor Vehicle Code § 547.3215. USE OF FEDERAL STANDARD. Drivers are required to meet federal standards in 49 CFR Sec 571.108. This makes crrent HID retrofits in Halogen housings NOT meet the beam pattern requirements for replacement lamps. The propper ticket to write is one of the following for those using HIDs in halogen housings.
HEAD LAMP(S) GLARING, NOT ADJUSTED
or
FAIL TO USE PROPPER HEADLIGHT BEAM
Now I do see these particular laws as possibly not allowing the HID retrofit...
§ 547.004. GENERAL OFFENSES. (a) A person commits an
offense that is a misdemeanor if the person operates or moves or, as
an owner, knowingly permits another to operate or move, a vehicle
that:
(1) is unsafe so as to endanger a person;
(2) is not equipped in a manner that complies with the
vehicle equipment standards and requirements established by this
chapter; or
(3) is equipped in a manner prohibited by this
chapter.
COMBINED WITH
§ 547.3215. USE OF FEDERAL STANDARD. Unless specifically
prohibited by this chapter, lighting, reflective devices, and
associated equipment on a vehicle or motor vehicle must comply
with:
(1) the current federal standards in 49 C.F.R. Section
571.108; or
(2) the federal standards in that section in effect,
if any, at the time the vehicle or motor vehicle was manufactured.
Now the federal standard does not allow for HID with halogen reflectors to be used as they source of replacement bulb light must be halogen for halogen lights and xenon for xenon lights. This would seem to counter the idea that the retrofit is legal. It would also make it an arrestable offense since its not one of the two traffic citations that you cannot be instantered for (speeding and open container).
ezdaar
Chat Troll
Good read.
Makes me even more confident with the choices I made on my kits..
Makes me even more confident with the choices I made on my kits..
IDK if its just that im stubborn or what, but my projectors have the same cut off as my sisters 300 with stock HIDs and mine are a little more white in color, no yellow. The glare is the same, ive even aimed my lights up more to try and get the glare to see if that was it and thats the only time there is one. But I wasnt pulled over for HIDs i was pulled over for them being "Blue" and anybody can see that they are not, i will be fighting the ticket so fingers crossed on the outcome! 
Yeah, not much you can add to that other than to say an individual state's laws can differ from Texas laws, where he is from. Some do have stricter light standards than others. Read up on your own. Regardless, I know a LOT of officers and even they are often confused as to how to treat bad HID's. They are obviously a hazard, but it's not always easy to find a law that is applicable to that hazard to cite people on.
Bottom line is do it right with a proper HID projector retrofit and 4300k bulbs, aim them right, and nobody is going to care unless they are really looking for a reason to stop you. And cops can and do do that all the time. It's not profiling or trying to make money, it's their job. I'm not second-guessing the OP's situation, but maybe he swerved a bit or did something mildly illegal; an officer is within his duty to stop you to check for possible impairment or whatever else. It's inconvenient and a hassle, but have a good attitude, say "yes, sir" and "no, sir" and you'll likely get treated well. People often make traffic stops much worse for themselves by acting self-righteous, indignant, and disrespectful....
Bottom line is do it right with a proper HID projector retrofit and 4300k bulbs, aim them right, and nobody is going to care unless they are really looking for a reason to stop you. And cops can and do do that all the time. It's not profiling or trying to make money, it's their job. I'm not second-guessing the OP's situation, but maybe he swerved a bit or did something mildly illegal; an officer is within his duty to stop you to check for possible impairment or whatever else. It's inconvenient and a hassle, but have a good attitude, say "yes, sir" and "no, sir" and you'll likely get treated well. People often make traffic stops much worse for themselves by acting self-righteous, indignant, and disrespectful....
The difference I see with adding the lights vs oem is the auto leveling. OEM HID's should have an auto level function that happens every time the lights are turned on. This is true with the 4 vehicles I have owned that had HID/projector style lights. If you are retro fitting them to a vehicle, are you also adding a leveling set up? If not, and you throw 200 lbs in the back of your truck, where are your lights now aimed? Not an issue on the models that have a leveling suspension that keeps the truck at the same level all the time. Could be an issue for vehicles that don't auto level though.
Just remember, even if you took the time to properly aim the lights, any weight in your vehicle that wasn't there when you aimed them will change where the lights are aimed. Not a big deal on the old halogen low beam, but blinding glare if you have HID's.
Just remember, even if you took the time to properly aim the lights, any weight in your vehicle that wasn't there when you aimed them will change where the lights are aimed. Not a big deal on the old halogen low beam, but blinding glare if you have HID's.
Ghoster, good point.
I actually measured my cutoff height without a load and then later tested it when I had about 800lbs of people and full coolers in the back. It was identical, but I do have the auto-levelling suspension. Without it, I'm sure they would have been pointing significantly higher.
Most retro's don't have any leveling system that I know of. That would be cool, though. And the ones that turn into corners to throw more light the direction you're going to be headed. Hell, if BMW Motorcycles can accomplish this, it should be doable in a retro....lol.
I actually measured my cutoff height without a load and then later tested it when I had about 800lbs of people and full coolers in the back. It was identical, but I do have the auto-levelling suspension. Without it, I'm sure they would have been pointing significantly higher.
Most retro's don't have any leveling system that I know of. That would be cool, though. And the ones that turn into corners to throw more light the direction you're going to be headed. Hell, if BMW Motorcycles can accomplish this, it should be doable in a retro....lol.
That is simply not so, you certainly do not have to have an auto leveling kit on a retrofit if they are aimed properly. I have quads on which begs confusion for highs, I drive in town with over 15 law enforcement agencies around me, and I have yet to be flashed once by oncoming traffic or ever gotten any grief from leo. A couple of hundred pounds in the trunk (how often does that happen at night anyway) is simply not enough to have an affect.
That is not to say that changing the stance of the ride won't affect aiming ... this is precisely why I decided not to add a 2" rear drop. And if someone were to frequently shlep my mother in law in the trunk where she belongs then yes, auto-level away.
---------- Post added at 08:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:11 PM ----------
Oh and for the record, my Acura TL had Xenon HID projectors from factory and did not have auto-leveling.
That is not to say that changing the stance of the ride won't affect aiming ... this is precisely why I decided not to add a 2" rear drop. And if someone were to frequently shlep my mother in law in the trunk where she belongs then yes, auto-level away.
---------- Post added at 08:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:11 PM ----------
Oh and for the record, my Acura TL had Xenon HID projectors from factory and did not have auto-leveling.
Not saying its going to affect every vehicle the same, but it can make a difference. I have had HID's on 2 BMW's, a Porsche, Corvette, all had an auto level.
Incidently, the quad lights + the driving lights all on at once can get you pulled here. Not that it would happen, just saying it could.
I can't actually make it work like that ... my drls can't be on when the lights are on, it's either one or the other.
DefendHawaii
Snake Eater
Definitely agree use the right bulbs and temp color. I see idiots out here with 10000k in their silly Hondas with no type of projector lighting and they are ridiculous lights like that do not even help you as a driver. I have H3 lights with projectors conversion and am at 6000k bulbs. I would like to sell my housing and actually go back to a euro clear housnig as to not get hassled even once over something as silly as lights. Aiming definitely is one of the list important things you can do.
