Does anyone know if the strobe lights that are on the 05 NASCAR pacecar would be legal for street use? I would assume that these strobes are not the factory fogs or are they with a switch to make them flash on/off? It would be really cool to turn them on when you have someone in front of you driving like a snail.

 

I don't believe it's illegal, but don't take my word for it. Ford sells a light package on their super duties with strobes in the headlights, etc..... for tow trick drivers, and construction workers, or whatever. You don't even have to have a good excuse to get those in the super duty, but I'll bet you'll find yourself in trouble with 'em on the Mustang. I don't believe it's illegal to even have red and blue strobes.... at least not in Colorado. But, you can get in trouble for impersonating an officer or something else like that. So.... food for thought.

 

In all 50 states, it is illegal to run red or blue strobes on your car. All forward-facing lights must be either white or amber; all rear-facing lights must be red or amber, except reverse lights which must be white. No lights on or in the car can be distracting to the driver of the vehicle or any other vehicle.

You can buy the strobes, but you can't turn them on.

 

I'm not sure about that Brad..... I know that here in Colorado they've had problems with this one dude in Boulder that bought a police uniform and had strobes on his car and would pull girls over then sexually assault them, and the problem was that there weren't even any laws they could procescute him on regaurding the uniform and car. Of course, he was impersonating an officer, but that was a misdemenor and as far as everything else he did... the only thing illegal was the assaults. I'll have to ask my wife.... she's been thru police academy, so perhaps she'll know.
I know it doesn't happen very often..... only about 75% of the time or so, but I could be wrong.

 

I think the way it goes is that you can't use them to pull someone over.... because that in fact is impersonating an officer..... sounds like a loophole to me. Anyways.... it's a stupid point, and I'm going to drop the subject..... sorry for the mess....

So, Iceman.... just use your brights.

 

flashing white lights in NY are illegal unless its an emergency vehicle.

 

Probably best to keep them turned off unless you are a government agent with a badge of some sort on the way to an "emergency"...

 

We install STROBES on trucks all the time.
What is usually illegal is called a wig-wag.
This makes the lights flash alternately on and off, like a police car.
What the pace car had is two seperate functions.
1) strobe lights
2) alternating lights
It is illegal to sell a wig-wag for any non-emergency related vehicles.

I can get you a strobe system, legaly.
Legally you can use it.
IIRC, here in AL, no RED lights are allowed to be strobes.

Jason

 

Anyone notice that about 3/4 of the way through the race all of the lights on the pacecar stopped working? It was kind of weird.

 

My vote is they would be illegal to use. Even if somehow they aren't, I believe a police officer would have a lot of discretion in this regard. They would be more irritating than just having the high beams on! I do agree they would be neat to have and fun, but would most likely get you into trouble.

 

I think they turn all lights off with one lap to go before the restart of the race but will review the tape to see if that is the case

 

they'll either get ya in trouble with the law, or some irate motorist is gonna yank you out of your mustang and beat the living tar out of you.

 

I've seen funeral homes use them but they are illegal. It may be selective inforcement but you tell me who going to be stopped? A hearse with 50 cars behind it or a Mustang doing 10 over the limit with flashing lights? Or a Mustang driving the speed limit with a 20 year old driving and flashing lights. Thats reality.

 

What on earth do you need strobes on your car for anyway? :scratch:

 

You are correct. The pace car turns off it's lights with 1 lap to go. This is so the race cars know to line up in order and get ready for the restart. The next time around, they are going green as they come out of turn 4.

 

I would agree with Brad on this for the most part. The only thing to add really is that the laws might be subtly different from state to state. Not really something that would be enforced on a federal level but more related to state law and the transportation inside that state. I think most lay people would not know their own state's law verbatim but is understood to be what Brad summed up toward beginning of post.

Here in Oklahoma you can not even have the neon lights under the vehicle if they are the wrong color namely red and blue which are reserved for emergency vehicles only. Also no strobe lighting inside vehicle since this would distract the driver and be unsafe.

In addition to state law, munipalities can also have additional ordinances that may further restrict you in your lighting endeavors.

As a personal side if i were laying on the side of the road , I'd be pretty pissed to know the ambulance was running late due to littly Johnny ' crying wolf ' with his colored disco lighting.

:cop: :cop: :cop: :cop: