This article will cover a few of the guidelines regarding light bar laws, but you'll need to consult your state's Department of Transportation website to be sure you're using a street-legal light bar. If you want to err on the side of caution, consider using a light bar cover. You can find great-looking ones, and they're often compliant with federal regulations.
Factors Affecting the Legal Use of LED Light Bar Headlights
Almost all states have LED light bar laws in place, but the wording can be ambiguous. Many states neglect to mention LED light bar headlights in their written laws. Instead, they reference auxiliary lights, used for off-roading, and fog lights. In some states, laws limit the number of auxiliary lights a vehicle can have. In such cases, you may be limited to the use of fog lights only.
Mounting Location of Light Bar Headlights
Many states have regulations regarding where on a vehicle auxiliary lights can be mounted. These laws specify a height the auxiliary lights must be below, which limits your options for street-legal light bars. You may be able to mount your light bar on the grille, but it's important to note that measurements are taken from the ground — so lifted vehicles may be out of luck.
Candlepower and Lumens
When asking, "Are LED light bars street legal?" you must consider candlepower and lumens. Most states define their brightness regulations in candlepower, while light bar manufacturers only list brightness in lumens. You'll have to do a conversion when trying to determine if you can use an LED light bar on the road. Simply multiply the candlepower by 12.57 to get the number of lumens.
LED Light Colors
Most states are similar in their restrictions on light color. Lights that face forward can't be red or blue, as those two colors are associated with police, fire trucks, ambulances and other safety vehicles. You're also not permitted to use flashing or spinning lights. If you're concerned, it's best to stick with white — or clear — forward-facing light bar
Why Use LED Light Bar Headlights?
There are many reasons to use LED light bar headlights on your vehicle other than pure aesthetics. When off-roading in extremely dark conditions, your normal headlights may not be enough to illuminate the area for safe driving — even with your brights on.
But you have to ask, "Can you use light bars on the road?" If light bars help you drive safer while off-road, they can help you drive safer when you're on the road. The best roads to use your LED light bar on are back roads and roads with little traffic. Back roads can be very dark at night, making visibility difficult. A light bar can help you see farther ahead than factory high beams can.
However, you should still exercise caution when using an LED light bar. If you're driving on streets with heavy traffic and street lamps, you should have enough light to see. You don't want to use light bar headlights on such roads, as they may distract other drivers and blind their vision. It's important to be mindful and respectful of other drivers and only use the light bar when needed.
Yet, even if you've taken every precaution to follow your state's laws regarding driving with an LED light bar, a police officer may still pull you over. In many states, police officers are allowed to pull over any car they deem unsafe. If a police officer thinks your light bar may impede the safety of other drivers, you may be pulled over and ticketed.
Are Light Bars Illegal?
Before we get into fixing it, we need to understand exactly what causes exhaust drone. The concept is simple enough to understand but not as easy to pin down, as each individual case can be quite different. A pressure wave creates the drone when the engine's sound matches the exhaust note. This wave leads to vibration throughout the vehicle that, in turn, creates the exhaust drone we despise. This vibration affects more than just the exhaust system itself. Interior components, cargo or even your spare tire in the trunk can contribute to the car droning.
Shop for LED Light Bar Headlights from Lethal Performance
So, are light bars legal? That's up to your state. But with us, your LED light bar headlights can definitely be lethal. Here at Lethal Performance, we take the hassle out of shopping for the best light bar headlights. With high-quality parts and excellent customer service, you'll never shop for off-roading or racing accessories anywhere else. Shop for high-performance parts and light accessories at Lethal Performance today!
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