Hyper lights illegal in Minnesota??

[clyde]

Got pulled over by a state trooper yesterday: first, my plate's tab was partially blocked by a license plate frame.OK, I gave him that one. But, he goes on to tell me that my hyper lights installed along side my brake light "may" be illegal, and then after running my license, he goes into a spiel about how the lights "are" illegal. Got a warning ticket and went on my merry way. I've gone to the Minnesota department of Public Safety website where motorcycle regs are posted, and there is nothing about auxillary brake lights (and one's that flash) being illegal. Anyone know anything about this?

[coopdway]

I think I saw this event in process yesterday and wondered why you were pulled over; never would have imagined that it was for your LED's.   I can't remember any of our local cars being directly behind me before.

I've never heard of this and think it deserves some exploring.  After all, it was your inspiration that got me to put them on my machines in the first place and I know that they've spread from there.

Seems to me that this deserves some effort and wonder if the Hyper folks would admit hearing anything like this?

Might have been that their brightness was too hard on his still-waking-up eyes as you were pulling away from that last light and leaving town.

[RedCBRRider]

Sounds like a load of poop to me.

[Fav]

Nothing like extra motorcycle safety being practiced

next Hi-Viz clothing will be Illegal  

[mxvet57]

i just put them on 2 weeks ago. I'll just have to see what hapens down here.

[clyde]

I tried to offer a donut, but he wasn't the type to take a bribe. Anyway, I snooped around the Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes website on vehicular lighting and found the following: from reading this, hyper lights in the "flash" mode would be illegal in Minnesota. But one could also interpret this to mean that the statute is referring to the "police" type flashing lights, i.e. -like the ones Mr. State Patrol had on his vehicle. Obviously, this is not a very specific statute. However, I did find a provision that states motor vehicles can have flashing red or amber lights - read that to mean your hazard lights - to warn other motorists of a potential road hazard. (Since when is a guy on a motorcycle at an intersection not a potential road hazard to the guy in the mini van yapping on the cell phone as he speds up on yer ass.)  I've also sent an email to the Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center to get its take on this. I'll let you know when I get a response.

169.64 PROHIBITED LIGHTS; EXCEPTIONS.
       Subd. 3. Flashing lights. Flashing lights are prohibited, except on an authorized emergency
vehicle, school bus, bicycle as provided in section 169.222, subdivision 6, road maintenance
equipment, tow truck or towing vehicle, service vehicle, farm tractor, self-propelled farm
equipment, rural mail carrier vehicle, funeral home vehicle, or on any vehicle as a means of
indicating a right or left turn, or the presence of a vehicular traffic hazard requiring unusual care
in approaching, overtaking, or passing. All flashing warning lights shall be of the type authorized
by section 169.59, subdivision 4, unless otherwise permitted or required in this chapter.
    Subd. 4. Blue light. (a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) to (d), blue lights are prohibited
on all vehicles except road maintenance equipment and snow removal equipment operated by or
under contract to the state or a political subdivision thereof.[/color]

[Rubicon]

I also sent off an email to Hyperlite to get their take on the legality of their product. I would think they have been down this road before. I will post their response if I get one.

TM

[JamesG]

The cop was being an ass.

[Fav]

The cop was being an ass.

+1  You know ....if it's illegal to have flashing brake lights then what's their take on Headlight Modulators ?

[Thor]

+1  You know ....if it's illegal to have flashing brake lights then what's their take on Headlight Modulators ?

Federal law superscedes state law in regards to headlight modulators.  I don't have the statute handy right now.

[clyde]

The cop was being an ass.

Yeah, he's a local guy with a reputation for being anal rententive. He'd give a ticket to his grandma if had the chance.

[Stray Cat]

The cop was being an ass.

Apparently there is no real crimes being committed in his jurisdiction.  
LEO douchebaggery, once again.

[clyde]

OK, the definitive answer for those in Minnesota - brake modulators or hyper lights, are illegal. Here is a link on high visability put out by the Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center.

http://www.motorcyclesafety.state.mn.us/latest/MMSCHomeSecondary.asp?cid=5&mid=292

Also, you can receive a free (about 3x4 inch) reflective sticker to dice and slice any which way to place on yer ride for more hi viz action. Don't know about you, but I am going to take this one up with my legislator  - post election of course - to see if this can't be changed. Strange that you can manually flash your brake light via the brake lever to alert others to your presence, but you can't use anything that flashes automatically.

[Magnarider]

Yet another example of Minnesota law stupidity from the state that won't let you cross the state line with a duck on your head   .  Sorry for trying to be more visible and prevent accidents officer...  

[wheatonFJR]

Nothing like extra motorcycle safety being practiced

next "flashing" Hi-Viz clothing will be Illegal  

fixed...

[clyde]

Yet another example of Minnesota law stupidity from the state that won't let you cross the state line with a duck on your head   .  Sorry for trying to be more visible and prevent accidents officer...  

They never let us do any fun stuff in this state: hyper lights; firecrackers or take your kid to a bar.

[mxvet57]

They never let us do any fun stuff in this state: hyper lights; firecrackers or take your kid to a bar.

that's all legal in Wisconsin.

[clyde]

Don't rub it in.

[tyler73]

In GA having any red lights that are capable of flashing/blinking/strobing/rotating is illegal. I find it interesting that every brake light in the state is illegal since it's capable of flashing. The code section makes no concessions for that.

[spd2918]

The cop was being an ass.

#1, he was a State Trooper, not a cop.

#2, he gave out warnings (thus not an ass).

#3, https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/statutes/?id=169.64

Edited to add:  Headlight Modulators are legal (I think everywhere in the US now).