If it's on the truck or trailer it HAS to work. if light is out it is beetr to pull light out. cannot get wrtten up for missing light,unless it is required.

 

x2 in agreeance with you and Gman.

My buddy had a small LED light out on his trailer and was going to get written up for it, so he took a hammer and knocked it off. It was an extra light. Cop gave him a break, luckily.

 

I dont ordinarily like to question peoples authority on message boards but for my own curiosity i would like to see a link to something in the lawbooks that states that a non required light has to be functional at all times. Of course there are the lights that are required to be functional on all trucks but I fail to see how they could ticket you for an add on light that is there for apperance purposes only and isnt legaly required to be on the truck. If this is the case then would a person that adds extra mirrors get a ticket just because one of the add ons got busted even though its an add on and not legaly required to be on the vehicle????? This sounds a little foggy to me. Not arguing and calling anyone a liar but I fail to see how a ticket for this kind of thing could hold up. Maybe i just dont know my regulations well enough.

 

I cannot tell you where it is wriiten in the law, I can only tell you several d.o.t. officers, have told me this all from different states. I think maybe one reason behind this is if a another vehicle, such as a 4 wheeler, is near your truck & keeping an eye on one or more of your lights that are add on's, but not working the other driver may make a mistake, thinking it will give them an indication of your intention, turning, braking e.t.c. most 4 wheel drivers are not aware of what it takes to maneuver a truck, they may be looking at your trailer light add on's thinking they are brake lights & that could cause unintentional consequences. just a thought.

 

I didn't have a lot of time to spend on this, but this was pasted directly from the federal website.

Lamps, reflective devices and electrical wiring

§393.25 Requirements for lamps other than head lamps. (a) Mounting.

(e) Lamps to be steady-burning. All exterior lamps (both required lamps and any additional lamps) shall be steady-burning with the exception of turn signal lamps; hazard warning signal lamps; school bus warning lamps; amber warning lamps or flashing warning lamps on tow trucks and commercial motor vehicles transporting oversized loads; and warning lamps on emergency and service vehicles authorized by State or local authorities. Lamps combined into the same shell or housing with a turn signal are not required to be steady burning while the turn signal is in use. Amber warning lamps must meet SAE J845-Optical Warning Devices for Authorized Emergency, Maintenance and Service Vehicles, May 1997. Amber flashing warning lamps must meet SAE J595-Directional Flashing Optical Warning Devices for Authorized Emergency, Maintenance and Service Vehicles, January 2005. Amber gaseous discharge warning lamps must meet SAE J1318 Gaseous Discharge Warning Lamp for Authorized Emergency, Maintenance, and Service Vehicles, May 1998. (See §393.7(b) for information on the incorporation by reference and availability of these documents.)

 

They can't ticket you for anything but required lamps. They can note non working lamps on the inspection report and with CSA2010 that's points.

 

LOL. O.K. if it is on your truck or trailer, it is REQUIRED TO WORK! hence required lamps.

 

There are state/local ordinances that will get you a ticket. Small town in Michigan was 136.00 for non working light(s),doubled fine for a CMV.

 

Anyway, everyone knows the more lights you have the faster your truck will run !! Ever tried to keep up with a bull hauler ??

 

I don't know what the number is, but after a certain amount of extra lights,
you qualify for train horns. :thumbsup: