HIDs -- Legal or not

**SQUID** · 12-22-2009, 05:01 PM

Not a discussion on whether you like 'em or not, but are they legal.

Reference included please.

**Fox Chic** · 12-22-2009, 07:44 PM

Did something happen?

**SQUID** · 12-22-2009, 08:47 PM

Discussion on another forum. I just want the LEO type of people to chime in and tell me what the law is.

I cannot find anything in the on-line resources either way, nor is there anything said in the guidelines for yearly inspections.

03DNA · 12-22-2009, 09:26 PM

I think as long as it is in a DOT approved light it should be fine. Ex. headlights/fogs but not o/r lights.

Steelfalcon29 · 12-23-2009, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 03DNA

I think as long as it is in a DOT approved light it should be fine. Ex. headlights/fogs but not o/r lights.

I've never heard anything either way on them. I'm with DNA on this. Not much can be said as long as there in approved casings and aren't of a Red or Blue nature... BUT I'm not up on that law at all!!

Slvr2000 · 12-23-2009, 07:17 AM

As far as I remeber Hid's are legal in Texas...Unless it was amended recently i know there is some stipulation on brightness and sort. example being if the lights are so bright that it distracts other Drivers then they will be deemed OFF ROAD lights. I know TONS of people that have then and dont know of a single one that has ever been stopped for them.....but that here.

03DNA · 12-23-2009, 12:40 PM

Per the NHTSA:

"If your bulbs claim to be DOT Approved, can you still get a ticket? DOT has never approved any aftermarket HID Headlights and really have no plans of approving them anytime soon. So if you get pulled over and show an Officer the box that says "DOT Approved" it probably won't get you out of a ticket.

One tip to prevent you from being pulled over by the Police is not to install cheap versions of the HID Bulbs. If you're pulled over by the Police, there is a chance of getting into deeper trouble with cheap bulbs. Why? Because the fake HID Bulbs are usually Halogen Bulbs with a blue tint added to the lens. You could actually be ticketed for having "Emergency Colored" bulbs installed to your vehicle. Red and Blue bulbs are reserved for the Police and other emergency assistance. The way that the Police check to see if you bulbs are real or fake is they take a blank sheet of white paper and hold it to the light. If the light turns the paper blue, you have fake HID Headlights."

From the website REAL HID systems are legal but are "not approved by DOT". So even if your kit says it is DOT approved it isn't. Ex. You can't have painted blubs.

It says DOT approved because it shouldn't melt DOT approved lenses.

As long as they aren't painted Red or Blue(Deep Cop blue) they are legal. They could be any color other than that as long as it's the gas controlling the color and not a painted blub.
I learned a lot on that site.

**Fox Chic** · 12-23-2009, 12:45 PM

Look at you being Mr. Research.

Looks like good info.

12-22-2009, 05:01 PM	#1
SQUID You!! Off my Planet! Octane Zone Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: D/FW Area, Texas Posts: 4,471 My Mood:	HIDs -- Legal or not Not a discussion on whether you like 'em or not, but are they legal. Reference included please. __________________ - Jim To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

12-22-2009, 07:44 PM	#2
Fox Chic Beevis Tech Moderator Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Corinth, TX Posts: 1,715 My Mood:	Did something happen? __________________ ~Shannon~ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. "If you can't be a good example -- then you'll just have to be a horrible warning."

12-23-2009, 07:17 AM	#6
Slvr2000 Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 423	As far as I remeber Hid's are legal in Texas...Unless it was amended recently i know there is some stipulation on brightness and sort. example being if the lights are so bright that it distracts other Drivers then they will be deemed OFF ROAD lights. I know TONS of people that have then and dont know of a single one that has ever been stopped for them.....but that here. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

12-22-2009, 08:47 PM	#3
SQUID You!! Off my Planet! Octane Zone Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: D/FW Area, Texas Posts: 4,471 My Mood:	Discussion on another forum. I just want the LEO type of people to chime in and tell me what the law is. I cannot find anything in the on-line resources either way, nor is there anything said in the guidelines for yearly inspections.

12-22-2009, 09:26 PM	#4
03DNA Steve McQueen Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Denton Posts: 232 My Mood:	I think as long as it is in a DOT approved light it should be fine. Ex. headlights/fogs but not o/r lights.

12-23-2009, 12:40 PM	#7
03DNA Steve McQueen Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Denton Posts: 232 My Mood:	Per the NHTSA: "If your bulbs claim to be DOT Approved, can you still get a ticket? DOT has never approved any aftermarket HID Headlights and really have no plans of approving them anytime soon. So if you get pulled over and show an Officer the box that says "DOT Approved" it probably won't get you out of a ticket. One tip to prevent you from being pulled over by the Police is not to install cheap versions of the HID Bulbs. If you're pulled over by the Police, there is a chance of getting into deeper trouble with cheap bulbs. Why? Because the fake HID Bulbs are usually Halogen Bulbs with a blue tint added to the lens. You could actually be ticketed for having "Emergency Colored" bulbs installed to your vehicle. Red and Blue bulbs are reserved for the Police and other emergency assistance. The way that the Police check to see if you bulbs are real or fake is they take a blank sheet of white paper and hold it to the light. If the light turns the paper blue, you have fake HID Headlights." From the website REAL HID systems are legal but are "not approved by DOT". So even if your kit says it is DOT approved it isn't. Ex. You can't have painted blubs. It says DOT approved because it shouldn't melt DOT approved lenses. As long as they aren't painted Red or Blue(Deep Cop blue) they are legal. They could be any color other than that as long as it's the gas controlling the color and not a painted blub. I learned a lot on that site.

12-23-2009, 12:45 PM	#8
Fox Chic Beevis Tech Moderator Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Corinth, TX Posts: 1,715 My Mood:	Look at you being Mr. Research. Looks like good info.