Law Driving with Brights On?

Question

awhile back a cop pulled me over for driving with my brights on. Yes, it is rude. But, is it illegal? Is there a written law saying you have to turn your dim lights on with an approaching car? FYI that cop was fired because I have a police scanner and obtained the copy of the radio chatted where him and another car were waiting for me to pull out of my driveway to pull me over (entrapment) however, the ticket for bright lights stood up in court.

Tom is not smart. If they are illegal why would they sell them at a local electronics shop? in new mexico, by law if you request a copy of the frequencies they have to give them to you. And I didnt record it. During court I asked for a copy of the tape from the police station.

Answer 1

I've been driving with a license for 40 years and have held a license in 8 states plus a military license and the law in every instance states that you must dim you lights within 500 - 300 (varies by state) feet of oncoming traffic and within 100 feet of following; it's more than just rude, its dangerous.

How did you get a license without knowing the law?

Answer 2

Bright lights, oncoming and tailing, illegal? Yes.

"FYI that cop was fired because I have a police scanner and obtained the copy of the radio chatted where him and another car were waiting for me to pull out of my driveway to pull me over (entrapment)"

Absolutely untrue. That is not entrapment. Why would you even post this?

Answer 3

I guess it IS illegal where you live if the court upheld it...

I believe it is illegal in most states because it endangers other drivers by blinding them.. I believe that your lights are only allowed to shine into another lane by specific measurements and Bright Lights is a violation of that (but it is only illegal if it interferes with another driver I believe.. so they can't enforce it if the road is empty ahead of you)...

by the way, in some states you would receive yet another ticket for having the police scanner.. and an ever larger fine for recording it as the frequencies are licensed and you do not have written permission to record.. which is a violation according to the FCC.

Answer 4

Absolutely, there are laws that demand drivers dim down for oncoming traffic, AND, when approaching other cars from the back.

You can easily distract other drivers and cause an accident.

Have you never had to stare into a pair of brights coming at you on a small two lane road? You should be embarrassed to even have to ask this question.

Answer 5

Somehow, I doubt you got anyone fired for entrapment. They do have to help you commit the crime, or allow you to commit a crime you otherwise wouldn't do by yourself.

As for your brights law, that is against the law here in Washington State.

Directly from the Revised Code of Washington:

RCW 46.37.230
Use of multiple-beam road-lighting equipment.


(1) Whenever a motor vehicle is being operated on a roadway or shoulder adjacent thereto during the times specified in RCW 46.37.020, the driver shall use a distribution of light, or composite beam, directed high enough and of sufficient intensity to reveal persons and vehicles at a safe distance in advance of the vehicle, subject to the following requirements and limitations:

(2) Whenever a driver of a vehicle approaches an oncoming vehicle within five hundred feet, such driver shall use a distribution of light, or composite beam, so aimed that the glaring rays are not projected into the eyes of the oncoming driver. The lowermost distribution of light, or composite beam, specified in RCW 46.37.220(2) shall be deemed to avoid glare at all times, regardless of road contour and loading.

(3) Whenever the driver of a vehicle approaches another vehicle from the rear within three hundred feet such driver shall use a distribution of light permissible under this chapter other than the uppermost distribution of light specified in RCW 46.37.220(1).

Answer 6

I got my driver's license almost 30 years ago and I still remember the part about driving with brights on. In Texas, you HAVE to dim them when another car is approaching.

The brights are very helpful on a dark, unlit highway... but when a car is approaching in the oncoming lane, your brights can be dangerously blinding and cause a serious accident.

I've had people drive behind me with their brights on... I just turn my side mirrors and rearview mirror in such a way that the lights behind me are no longer reflecting in my eyes... But when someone is approaching, there is not much I can do to shield my eyes from the blinding brightness... just squint and try to look away. It's VERY poor and dangerous driving manners to drive with your brights on when there are other drivers around you!

Answer 7

Most state have laws that require all auxiliary lights and bright lights be turned off or dimmed in traffic.

When your brights are on, they reflect on oncoming drivers windshield making visibility difficult for the oncoming driver. It is a traffic hazard.

Try being a polite driver and try not to pretend or believe you are the only one on the road or somehow you are exempt from the traffic laws.

Answer 8

I don't know where you live, but in most states, the use of your high beams within about 100 yards or so of an oncoming vehicle is illegal. This distance varies from state to state, but you can check with your local DMV.
That's the reason the ticket stood up in court.

Answer 9

In Texas, the law states that: You should lower your headlights when:

1. Within 500 feet of an approaching vehicle.
2. When following within 300 feet behind another vehicle.
3. When driving on lighted roads.
4. When driving in fog, heavy rain, sleet, snow or dust.

Answer 10

I really doubt that waiting for you to pull out of your driveway to pull you over would get someone fired. I knew of a suspended driver that lived near me and I waited for the person to pull out so I could get him for suspended drive (he had been seen driving all over town). I was doing my job.

If the ticket stood up in court then I guess if was illegal. It is illegal here in Ontario ($110 fine).