Anyone got caught with non-amber sidemarker?
 

Just wondering if anyone have EVER got pulled over for non amber sidemarker, not limited to the FRS/BRZ.

I know chances are not big, just out of curiosity. Also IF we get a ticket for it, any estimate on how much it would actually cost?

in my area it is illegal unless its green or amber, but you will not get pulled over for having non green or amber but if you do get pulled over for something else you will get another ticket on top of the current one

Just get amber bulbs (leds or chrome dipped work as well to keep the clear look). That way your still legal.

Otherwise I imagine it would just be a fix it and be $25 if corrected.

I live in LA and wondered about the same thing for long time, before I purchased a clear marker with amber L.E.D


Even though I knew it's rare to be pulled over just for the amber light, but it might definitely start something.

I really didn't feel like giving cop ANY reason to pull me over. especially when it's something minimal like white light vs amber light

Fix-It tickets are considerably cheap, but the hassle of getting it written off by other cop and sending the payments in... ye not worth it.

well if having a clear housing is already illegal, then I might as well have white light to go with it, just to make it look nicer.

however if having a white side marker is alot more prone to attract unwanted cop attentions...then I might just go with your suggestion with the amber LED

I dont believe having a clear sidemarker in itself is illegal. Generally the lights are what need to be a certain color according to the CVC, not the covering. I could be mistaken if the sidemarker is an exception, but I never thought it was.

Here you go. As long as they flash amber you are good to go. So just get LEDs, chrome dipped, or amber bulbs.

24953. (a) Any turn signal system used to give a signal of intention to turn right or left shall project a flashing white or amber light visible to the front and a flashing red or amber light visible to the rear.

(b) Side-mounted turn signal lamps projecting a flashing amber light to either side may be used to supplement the front and rear turn signals. Side-mounted turn signal lamps mounted to the rear of the center of the vehicle may project a flashing red light no part of which shall be visible from the front.

(c) In addition to any required turn signal lamps, any vehicle may be equipped with supplemental rear turn signal lamps mounted to the rear of the rearmost portion of the driver's seat in its rearmost position.

(d) In addition to any required or authorized turn signal lamps, any vehicle may be equipped with supplemental rear turn signal lamps that are mounted on, or are an integral portion of, the outside rearview mirrors, so long as the lamps flash simultaneously with the rear turn signal lamps, the light emitted from the lamps is projected only to the rear of the vehicle and is not visible to the driver under normal operating conditions, except for a visual indicator designed to allow monitoring of lamp operation, and the lamps do not project a glaring light.

smoke or clear markers are never illegal in california as long as they light out amber.

Let me know if you want clear or smoke marker. you can pick up a set from me (with FREE amber LEDs) im local bay area :)

Smoke Side Markers
 

How much for the smoke markers?

geez... when I lived in LA in the 90s, the cops would not pull you over even for having NO LICENSE PLATE! They considered it not worth the trouble.

Now you worry about the color of a side marker. Times must have changed....

2001-2003 5 series BMW's came with clear side markers from the factory... they shouldn't be illegal else they couldn't have sold those cars.

Smoked are $65 shipped with FREE LEDs and 86 piston plate.

More info here --> http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46845

Do the side markers flash along with the turn signals? I don't think I've ever noticed the side markers flashing.

Yes and by law clear side markers are legal but must have amber lights in them

Nope it just lights up.


After reading this thread, I'm reconsidering getting amber leds now but I picked white.. fail lol

Lol, Ya I'm glad I got this clarified.

I picked up amber LED bulbs from Autozone. You don't see any amber when they're not illuminated. The clear sidemarkers shouldn't get you in any trouble.

Not a California issue, this is a FMVSS Federal issue.

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-201...sec571-108.pdf

Page 73 table 3 spells out the type of lighting allowed.

It should be noted that the side markers need to be amber. However, it is a blanket provision that covers both outside lighting (daylight) as well as inside lighting (night time). So to be fully covered, one needs to have a bulb that reflects enough yellow in broad daylight to meet this requirement.

A simple amber bulb won't be enough.

Anyone modifying with clear side markers would technically be in violation of this rule.

Source: I researched this topic 10 years ago when trying to gauge legality of OEM JDM turn signals and side markers for the S13.

-alex

Edit: Table 4 spells out location of each marker/light on the car.

Usually this falls under a "Fix-It" ticket provision. Usually $10 admin fee if you fix it and have it signed off.

As for the ticket itself, the officer might cite you on VC 25100 in California, but the state law usually is just a repeat of the FMVSS that is applicable. In this case, FMVSS 108.

-alex

So an led that is bright enough to show during daytime is legal then based on that reasoning

Turn signals are one thing but not all vehicles even have sidemarkers so i dont see how it would be illegal unless it was distracting other drivers in some way?! :iono:

edit **read some of the other responses and it makes sense now..lol

so... am i understanding it correctly that only amber sidemarkers are legal in CA?
or... are clear sidemarkers with amber bulbs ok.

Cam- all cars must have side markers most wrap them around the front headlights

From what I've read in this thread, in CA they must EMIT an amber light. The law is similar in NJ. I have smoked sidemarkers but fitted an amber bulb so at night it glows amber.
I don't understand why the physical color of the sidemarker should matter. During the day I never have my lights on and it's safe to say sidemarkers provide no extra visibility for other drivers. At night you can't even tell what color my sidemarkers are because all you see is amber light

My understanding is that clear sidemarkers are legal. What's illegal is the color of light emitted through them

clear with amber bulbs are OK in CA

Clear Sidemarker​s with White Bulbs are OK in Illinois
 

Illinois Compiled Statutes 625 ILCS 5 Illinois Vehicle Code. Section 12-209


(625 ILCS 5/12-209) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12-209)

Sec. 12-209. Additional Lighting Equipment.

(a) Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than 2 side cowl or fender lamps which shall emit an amber or white light without glare. :thumbsup:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I believe that you all should find the equivalent statute in your respective states, it may vary. States have "primacy" laws and regulations. :bow:

I added the Thumpsup for Illinois :w00t:

my state clear with amber led is legal

Correct. But as I stated before, the legality on a state level is up to interpretation. The legality on a federal level is not, which makes clear side markers illegal.

MotoRex R32 GT-Rs only needed a rear side marker (red) added to meet FMVSS 108 to be legal for import. R33/34s needed both front and rear added to be legal for import, EPA regulations aside.

For what we're debating, you can swap to clears without issue as long as the light bulbs are amber.

-alex

Clear is not illegal.

Just need yellow or red light for flashing.

In order to bring an end to this, consider that the blinkers on this car ARE clear and have AMBER bulbs.

Just get an amber bulb for your side marker and you'll be legal in all 50 states.

It's a cheap fix

Blinkers does NOT mean they are the same as side markers. If going by that reasoning, rear blinkers would also need to be red to match side markers... which it is not.

Basically what it boils down to is this:

FMVSS 108 states what is allowed for a car to meet federal standards. This is:

front turn signals: yellow light, any housing
rear turn signals: yellow/red light, any housing
front side markers: yellow housing, any yellow/white light
rear side markers: red housing, any red/white light

Most state law only stipulates what color they should be at night. So it would be okay for local usage to have clear side markers emitting the right type of light via bulb choice, but don't claim it to be DOT legal as it is not.

If some cop wants to throw FMVSS 108 at you and cite you on that, clear side markers are not legal for that purpose. Thankfully I don't live in a state with annual vehicle inspections, but this may be an area of contention.

-alex

Great post now I know. I think I was thinking of side blinkers and not reflectors.
Good info this

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There is a small detail that the small light also acts as the reflector which must be amber in the front and red in the rear. so yes an amber light is fine on a clear lens but you must still have an amber reflector. so to be legal we can all add a small reflective decal on the lens if you get a ticket.

This is spelled out in FMVSS 108. It's a very long read so I don't recommend it.

http://fmvss108.tripod.com/fmvss108text.htm

better to just leave it alone and avoid given law enforcement any reason to pull you over and ticket.

I have yet to be questioned; I have been pulled over once for a red light on a right hand must turn right sign. I have a smoked light have had it for nearly 3 months give or take no problems but, I'd say its probably bound to occur unfortunately haha I say go for it I like the look of it I know there's a switch back light bulb for drl and side markers.

I've been driving with clear side markers in my frs and my brother's old g35c for ages. I'd be absolutely blown away if anyone has ever gotten a fixit ticket for this...

but as mentioned before it may attract unwanted attention in general from cops but as far as being pulled over for it, it's almost impossible at least where I live.

its yellow jdm style .. 2 cops passed me by and nothing:iono:
was white before:bellyroll: too bright.. matches my dlr http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...psba3698f7.jpg

So technically if I convert my side markers to act like turn signals (only flash and not lit with low beams/parking lights), that would be considered illegal?


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It depends on the state and situation. Texas requires a yearly motor vehicle "safety" inspection in order to register the vehicle. The state inspection standards have some really moronic (and ambiguous) provisions regarding lighting. I had my BRZ inspected last month and the guy in front of me was turned down because he had aftermarket LED taillights on an F150. I don't know if they were DOT approved or not, but, after listening to the conversation between the shop owner and customer I looked up what the guy was saying.

My reading of the Texas code was that the law could be (and in this case was) interpreted such that ANY sort of lighting retrofitting flunks the standard. I asked the owner about it after he did my car (which had LED turn signal bulbs) about the clear marker light issue. His take was it's not just the bulb but the reflector/lens that must be amber and "OEM." I think he's FOS about the OEM part oi this, but he's the one doing the inspection. I suspect there are shops that are less anal retentive, but it sucks to drive all over town looking for one.

All of that said, I see dozens of clowns in lifted trucks with 8000K HID/LED headlight retrofits blinding the shit out of every car (and passing aircraft) around. I don't see many/any of them pulled over. So, at the end of the day I guess you pays your money and takes your chance, In the (however) unlikely event that you do get pulled over for it, here, at least, I don't think the law is on your side.

edit: To add insult to injury, the shop guy told me his contact at the DPS told him they're going to drop the headlight retrofit prohibition because it's making truck owners mad. If this is true, they're going to legalize the most fucking UNSAFE practice people engage in and continue to punish the safe practices. You'll have a hard time finding shit this fucking insane in Kafka.

Just thought I'd mention this is not necessarily the case. States frequently pass laws that are more restrictive than their Federal counterparts; California emissions is the biggest example. With this in mind, auto makers might meet Fed standards but cross the line in some random state.

I have aftermarket LED tails, LED turn signals and clear side markers (with amber bulbs) in my Subaru. I have European E-code headlights (not DOT compliant) on my Jeep. Both passed Texas inspections twice with no objections about lighting at all.

I keep all my OEM parts, so if it had been a problem, I would have just swapped them long enough to get inspected and put them back.