What tail lights are DOT approved?

[cdo221]

I'm curious, which tails are officially DOT approved? I know the USDM spec Toms and Buddy club are for sure... valentis I think are not. What about all the others? Crystal eyes, spyder etc

[Calidrifter]

I think you are confusing USDM and DOT legal.

USDM spec TOM's are pinned for plug and play but they lack the lighted reflector on the side making them illegal.

The DOT approved TOM's are fine as they have the lighted reflector.

[sshole]

I'd wager none of them are truly DOT approved.

[SkAsphalt]

Originally Posted by sshole

I'd wager none of them are truly DOT approved.

Nope, wrong. Wager lost.

[sshole]

Originally Posted by SkAsphalt

Nope, wrong. Wager lost.

Show me the money.

Edit: since it seems there's so much confusion on this topic, I'll give you guys some help.

http://www.candlepowerinc.com/pdfs/DOT_Legal.pdf

Originally Posted by Candlepower

Some people tell you their bulbs are “DOT approved.” But there’s no such thing as a “DOT approved” bulb. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) does not test or “approve” bulbs. Instead, the law says the manufacturer or importer must promise, or certify, that his bulbs comply with all the requirements in the technical standard.

http://www.sema.org/federal-regulati...ermarket-parts

Originally Posted by SEMA

Does NHSTA “approve” vehicles and equipment?
No. NHTSA relies on self-certification. It does not require submission of any documentation regarding the safety of aftermarket parts unless it is triggered by an investigation. Each year, NHTSA crash-tests a limited number of cars manufactured by the automakers to confirm that they meet the FMVSS.

Is “DOT-approved” a legal term?
No, NHTSA has no authority to "approve" or "disapprove" vehicle equipment. The equipment is self-certified. Sometimes the term is confused with the DOT symbol, which is required to be placed by the manufacturer on certain items of equipment such as headlamps. This is simply an affirmative statement by the manufacturer that the equipment is compliant with an applicable NHTSA rule.

http://www.bikersrights.com/nhtsa/notapproved.html

Originally Posted by Random biker's rights website

"It [DOT sticker] does not represent any "approval" by DOT. We [NHTSA] have no authority to 'approve' or 'disapprove' vehicles or equipment." 8/15/02, Jacqueline Glassman, Chief Counsel NHTSA.

So, I say again, I'd wager none of them are truly DOT approved.

[SkAsphalt]

Response Dude, I am regulator by trade. I draft legislation and regulation. This is what "approved" means. If it meets the specifications required by the regulator, they are approved by the regular (in such industries where the regulator does not need to actually certify the product themselves or through a 3rd party auditor) You being "right" for your logic also means everyone else is right by saying they are DOT approved.

Originally Posted by sshole

Show me the money.

"Kind of tough to make out in this photo with our watermark, but these are marked with SAE DOT approval."

Other photos from user's install posts show the stamp also.

[sshole]

I could stamp my gentleman's sausage with "DOT Approved." Doesn't make it fit for use on the road, though.

Anyways, both our points are sound. I'm just saying the DOT doesn't approve ****. They put out the regulations and requirements and fully expect the manufacturer to adhere to it. Whether the manufacturer does or not is up to them, not the DOT.

[SliverBrz]

Seriously why does it even matter?

You will never get busted for lights anyways. You'd get pull over for your tint first

[SkAsphalt]

Originally Posted by sshole

I could stamp my gentleman's sausage with "DOT Approved." Doesn't make it fit for use on the road, though.

Anyways, both our points are sound. I'm just saying the DOT doesn't approve ****. They put out the regulations and requirements and fully expect the manufacturer to adhere to it. Whether the manufacturer does or not is up to them, not the DOT.

But it is easy to confirm if something meets the regulations set upon the manufacture. Very few regulators FORCE the employer to produce a good or treat a worker as stipulated by regulation - they expect them to, and enforce them when otherwise. If something is sold and advertised as DOT approved, and is not, you (as a consumer) would have legal grounds.

Your wiener would not pass DOT approval for a functional tail light unless it had lit side reflectors, duel stage brake lights, a red lens, etc

[SkAsphalt]

Originally Posted by SliverBrz

Seriously why does it even matter?

You will never get busted for lights anyways. You'd get pull over for your tint first

it is a bigger issue in countries that to engineered inspections (tho DOT is not an issue there, but other standards are required to be met)

[sshole]

Originally Posted by SliverBrz

Seriously why does it even matter?

You will never get busted for lights anyways. You'd get pull over for your tint first

It matters if you get rear ended because your non-compliant tail lights weren't to spec. Your insurance company could theoretically have a field day with your policy.

And people get pulled over for things like a tail light bulb not functional. What's stopping an officer from pulling you over because your tail lights are too dim or otherwise malfunctioning?

[cdo221]

Originally Posted by SliverBrz

Seriously why does it even matter?

You will never get busted for lights anyways. You'd get pull over for your tint first

Originally Posted by sshole

It matters if you get rear ended because your non-compliant tail lights weren't to spec. Your insurance company could theoretically have a field day with your policy.

And people get pulled over for things like a tail light bulb not functional. What's stopping an officer from pulling you over because your tail lights are too dim or otherwise malfunctioning?

Like sshole said, insurance basically. I was pretty set on the DOT Tom's but I wanted to see what other options are out there. I got rear-ended recently for over $6k in damages.. I was sitting at a stop light with a dash cam and it was still tough to get the other insurance to pay up for everything. I imagine getting aftermarket tails that are not DOT compliant might end up with me footing the $6k bill if I ever get rear ended again...

[SliverBrz]

Hmm I didn't think of the insurance aspect.

I guess that is important lol

[Calidrifter]

The issue is that the OP used the word "approved." In this instance sshole is correct. DOT does not approve of any tail lights.

However, the TOM's DOT legal lights do meet DOT regulations set for tail lights. So while they are not approved by DOT they do meet the required standards to be used on the road here in the US and more importantly in California.

As far as getting pulled over for tint. Yes that is the most likely cause of you getting pulled over. But cops can pull you over for one thing and add a bunch of other things like illegal tail lights, exhaust, etc...