Christmas Lights on Car

[gefinley]

Anyone know the legality of having Christmas lights on your car and turned on while driving? I was thinking of trying to wrap them around my roof rack somehow for the holidays, but the last thing I need is to be pulled over for my seasonal spirit if it's not allowed.

[Reason]

That's a tough one, I would say NO. Any red or blue lights it is illegal.

[redlegacygt]

i doubt you'd be able to have onces that flash crazy patterns on while driving.. but i dont see why you couldn't have other ones on..

[jjs316]

Guess it depends on the cops really. Around here, id say they would see it as the same thing as street glow, and like said above, any red or blue or yellow pointing to the front or rear of the car is illegal.

[Huffer]

Bikers sometimes have lights on their bikes, but you can't rock anything red or blue.

[dodik]

its pretty much illegal but if you want to do it i would ask a cop in town what he thinks of it i mean it is christmas.

[SammyDaFish]

as long as they are white or amber lights and do not flash then it's perfectly fine. Red lights in the front of your vehicle and flashing lights are illegal. Christmas lights don't project light so are not bedazzling lights (why most after market lights are illegal).

In reality they are just additional marker lights, similar to those that trucks are required to have and vehicles over 84" wide. No reason you can't have them.

[Huffer]

as long as they are white or amber lights and do not flash then it's perfectly fine. Red lights in the front of your vehicle and flashing lights are illegal. Christmas lights don't project light so are not bedazzling lights (why most after market lights are illegal).

In reality they are just additional marker lights, similar to those that trucks are required to have and vehicles over 84" wide. No reason you can't have them.

I think you're mistaken. ANY light where you can see the source of light is illegal unless it is white/yellow/amber (fronts) or red/amber (rears).

Underglow kits are legal as long as you can't see the source (the lightbulb/tube).

Red/Blue lights in a flashing combo are a definite no-no.

Christmas lights definitely project light.

[deadlydave]

Laws vary from state to state, though flashing red and blue is illegal everywhere.

In NY, No underglow ever. Any and all underglow and non-factory interior lights have to be turned off while on any road. Only Closed areas like parking lots are legal.

Here's a list of other things that are Illegal in NY:
-Fun
-Road Rage
-Talking on hand-held cell phones.
-Headlights with any non-factory color.

[gefinley]

Hmm, I may try and check with the DMV and see if they are any help. I was thinking of the clear white lights, not colored, as they match my car better. They also wouldn't be flashing as I don't like that on houses. Looks like it's research time.

[SammyDaFish]

as long as they are white or amber lights and do not flash then it's perfectly fine. Red lights in the front of your vehicle and flashing lights are illegal. Christmas lights don't project light so are not bedazzling lights (why most after market lights are illegal).

In reality they are just additional marker lights, similar to those that trucks are required to have and vehicles over 84" wide. No reason you can't have them.

I think you're mistaken. ANY light where you can see the source of light is illegal unless it is white/yellow/amber (fronts) or red/amber (rears).

Underglow kits are legal as long as you can't see the source (the lightbulb/tube).

Red/Blue lights in a flashing combo are a definite no-no.

Christmas lights definitely project light.

Any light that projects light and is not DOT approved is illegal. So things like after market fog lights, neon under lights ext. They are illegal because they produce enough light to light up other things and if that's the case the light must be DOT approved.

[Sarra]

In Oregon, last I checked, it was pretty much illegal to have any lights that weren't stock on the car, other than fog lights or backup lights, regardless of color.

[gefinley]

Yea, I've pretty much given up on the idea. I was very hopeful it might be possible from the beginning, but I was guessing it would be illegal.

[deadlydave]

:-( Sorry 'bout that. How 'bout some garland wrapped around your roof rack?

[MXS]

This is what I did last year...
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2007/11/329814143_8c88577386-1.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marnie/329814143/)

zip ties FTW :cool:

[gefinley]

:-( Sorry 'bout that. How 'bout some garland wrapped around your roof rack?

Not sure if that would stay on too well, which was part of my concern with the lights idea. Plus the branches on the garland are longer than the lights and if they blow too much they might scratch up my roof from the wire. If I can find some short ones I may look into it though.

I've also never been much of a fan of wreathes on cars for some reason, not exactly sure why.

[pdawg]

There was a guy in my old neighborhood that put a small tree in his backseat with battery powered lights. Just a thought.

[HeresMyMind]

as long as u dont have blue im sure us local police would leave you alone. there are a few people in CT that put wreaths over their license plates and I don't do a thing. green/red would be ur best bet. if u get pulled over just apologize and turn them off. if they flash u will be immediately ticketed.

-B

[JBearSVT]

If it's not illegal, it should be. I just saw some idiot today who literally had a five foot Christmas tree (complete with ornaments) mounted ON THE ROOF of his Cadillac. I wanted to shoot him.

[gefinley]

I can't risk it as I haven't had my license two years yet. I also don't need something getting cops to look at me anyway as I'm normally just a bit over the speed limit and CHP can be dicks.

[Bdubs]

I just saw an X-terra with a roofrack that was decorated with lighted garland. It was lit, but pretty dim.
I'm not saying that its legal, but apparently christmas spirit trumps the legalities for the owner. Can't say a cop would feel the same.