Pages: [1] 2  All   Go Down
Print
Author

Topic: Hyper lights illegal in Minnesota??  (Read 1276 times)
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
clyde
It's so deep, it's meaningless

Offline Offline

Motorcycles: '01 Kawi ZRX; 00 Triumph Sprint
Location: Red Wing, Mn.
Posts: 680

My Photo Gallery





Ignore
« on: October 11, 2008, 08:59:44 pm »
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?
Logged
Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.Burnout
Members, please login to hide this ad.

Guests, please register to hide this ad.
« on: October 11, 2008, 08:59:44 pm »
 Logged
coopdway
Junior Member
*
Offline Offline

Contributed: '07
Posts: 303

My Photo Gallery


Chauncey likes to watch.....I like to ride




Ignore
« Reply #1 on: October 12, 2008, 02:52:30 am »
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.
Logged
Doug Cooper
Frontenac, MN       

RedCBRRider
Junior Member

Online Online

Location: Pewaukee, WI
Posts: 1718

My Photo Gallery





Ignore
« Reply #2 on: October 12, 2008, 03:32:23 am »
Sounds like a load of poop to me.
Logged
2006 Yamaha FJR
Fav
Sportbiking Tourer

Offline Offline

Motorcycles: 1979 Kz650, 1999 Yzf600r, 2002 R1, 2006 R1
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 418

My Photo Gallery


I4 lover




Ignore
« Reply #3 on: October 12, 2008, 04:31:51 am »
Nothing like extra motorcycle safety being practiced

next Hi-Viz clothing will be Illegal  Rolleyes
Logged
www.NorthEastSportTouring.com
mxvet57
He's not tailgating, thats just a Toyota with a stuck gas pedal.

Offline Offline

Motorcycles: 04 FJR1300 88 EX500 05 YZ250 01 YZ 250 91 KX 500
Location: Mt. prospect ill.
Posts: 6657

My Photo Gallery





Ignore
« Reply #4 on: October 12, 2008, 05:10:33 am »
i just put them on 2 weeks ago. I'll just have to see what hapens down here.
Logged
He's not tailgating, that's just a Toyota with a stuck gas pedal.
 
04 FJR 1300 (138,000 and counting)
    
clyde
It's so deep, it's meaningless

Offline Offline

Motorcycles: '01 Kawi ZRX; 00 Triumph Sprint
Location: Red Wing, Mn.
Posts: 680

My Photo Gallery





Ignore
« Reply #5 on: October 12, 2008, 07:22:03 am »
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]
« Last Edit: October 12, 2008, 07:23:43 am by clyde » Logged
Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.Burnout
Rubicon

Offline Offline

Motorcycles: Suzuki DL650
Location: Oswego Illinois
Posts: 18

My Photo Gallery




Ignore
« Reply #6 on: October 12, 2008, 05:06:13 pm »
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
Logged
JamesG
Architeuthis Dux

Offline Offline

Motorcycles: yes
Location: Afghanistan... WTF?!?
Posts: 3339

My Photo Gallery


Insert witty comment here.




Ignore
« Reply #7 on: October 12, 2008, 05:42:38 pm »
The cop was being an ass.
Logged
Fav
Sportbiking Tourer

Offline Offline

Motorcycles: 1979 Kz650, 1999 Yzf600r, 2002 R1, 2006 R1
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 418

My Photo Gallery


I4 lover




Ignore
« Reply #8 on: October 12, 2008, 07:03:09 pm »
Quote from: JamesG on October 12, 2008, 05:42:38 pm

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 ?

Logged
www.NorthEastSportTouring.com
Thor

Offline Offline

Motorcycles: '02 ZX9
Posts: 699

My Photo Gallery




Ignore
« Reply #9 on: October 12, 2008, 07:15:01 pm »
Quote from: Fav on October 12, 2008, 07:03:09 pm



+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.
Logged
clyde
It's so deep, it's meaningless

Offline Offline

Motorcycles: '01 Kawi ZRX; 00 Triumph Sprint
Location: Red Wing, Mn.
Posts: 680

My Photo Gallery





Ignore
« Reply #10 on: October 12, 2008, 07:38:20 pm »
Quote from: JamesG on October 12, 2008, 05:42:38 pm

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.
Logged
Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.Burnout
Stray Cat
*
Online Online

Contributed: '07, '09
Motorcycles: 2001 "Damn Sexy" Honda CBR1100XX
Location: Isle of Cat, Pugetopolis
Posts: 2271

My Photo Gallery


Weeeeeee!!!!!


WWW

Ignore
« Reply #11 on: October 12, 2008, 08:35:31 pm »
Quote from: JamesG on October 12, 2008, 05:42:38 pm

The cop was being an ass.


Apparently there is no real crimes being committed in his jurisdiction.  Rolleyes
LEO douchebaggery, once again.
Logged
clyde
It's so deep, it's meaningless

Offline Offline

Motorcycles: '01 Kawi ZRX; 00 Triumph Sprint
Location: Red Wing, Mn.
Posts: 680

My Photo Gallery





Ignore
« Reply #12 on: October 14, 2008, 02:35:18 pm »
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.
Logged
Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.Burnout
Magnarider
Sportbike Noob
*
Offline Offline

Contributed: '08
Motorcycles: '96 1100 GPZ, '94 Magna (sold), 2002 DRZ400S (sold)
Location: Blaine, Minnesota - northern suburb of Minneapolis
Posts: 818

My Photo Gallery





Ignore
« Reply #13 on: October 15, 2008, 12:41:11 am »
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  Rolleyes .  Sorry for trying to be more visible and prevent accidents officer...  Twofinger
Logged
  

Every time the Gold Bond / monkey butt threads pop up it puts a smile on my face...just like being 13 and in sex ed class...priceless and juvenile yet informative and useful. - stewm_21

great googly moogly!  If I did that I'd be lubing/cleaning my chain two to three times a day when I go out on a ride! - atadaskew
wheatonFJR
sportTOURER

Offline Offline

Posts: 109

My Photo Gallery




Ignore
« Reply #14 on: October 15, 2008, 09:29:10 am »
Quote from: Fav on October 12, 2008, 04:31:51 am

Nothing like extra motorcycle safety being practiced

next "flashing" Hi-Viz clothing will be Illegal  Rolleyes


fixed...
Logged
wheatonFJR
clyde
It's so deep, it's meaningless

Offline Offline

Motorcycles: '01 Kawi ZRX; 00 Triumph Sprint
Location: Red Wing, Mn.
Posts: 680

My Photo Gallery





Ignore
« Reply #15 on: October 15, 2008, 05:39:46 pm »
Quote from: Magnarider on October 15, 2008, 12:41:11 am

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  Rolleyes .  Sorry for trying to be more visible and prevent accidents officer...  Twofinger


They never let us do any fun stuff in this state: hyper lights; firecrackers or take your kid to a bar. Bigsmile
Logged
Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.Burnout
mxvet57
He's not tailgating, thats just a Toyota with a stuck gas pedal.

Offline Offline

Motorcycles: 04 FJR1300 88 EX500 05 YZ250 01 YZ 250 91 KX 500
Location: Mt. prospect ill.
Posts: 6657

My Photo Gallery





Ignore
« Reply #16 on: October 15, 2008, 06:47:33 pm »
Quote from: clyde on October 15, 2008, 05:39:46 pm



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


that's all legal in Wisconsin.
Logged
He's not tailgating, that's just a Toyota with a stuck gas pedal.
 
04 FJR 1300 (138,000 and counting)
    
clyde
It's so deep, it's meaningless

Offline Offline

Motorcycles: '01 Kawi ZRX; 00 Triumph Sprint
Location: Red Wing, Mn.
Posts: 680

My Photo Gallery





Ignore
« Reply #17 on: October 15, 2008, 06:48:51 pm »
Don't rub it in.
Logged
Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.Burnout
tyler73

Offline Offline

Motorcycles: 2009 BMW GSA
Posts: 48

My Photo Gallery




Ignore
« Reply #18 on: October 16, 2008, 08:35:53 am »
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.
Logged
Nitrous is like a hot chick with STDs, you know you want to hit it but are afraid of the consequences. <--Stolen from another board...I admit it.
spd2918
*
Offline Offline

Contributed: '08
Motorcycles: 03 ST1300A, 06 Police ElectraGlide
Location: NW WI
Posts: 2375

My Photo Gallery





Ignore
« Reply #19 on: October 17, 2008, 07:05:26 pm »
Quote from: JamesG on October 12, 2008, 05:42:38 pm

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).
« Last Edit: October 17, 2008, 08:52:40 pm by spd2918 » Logged
They see me rollin', they hatin'
Pages: [1] 2  All   Go Up
Print
Jump to:  



ST.N

Copyright © 2001 - 2010 Sport-Touring.Net.
All rights reserved.
COMMUNITY: INFO: SPORT-TOURING.NET:
- Forums
- Register
- ST.N Store
- Articles
- Submissions
- Photo Gallery		 - About ST.N
- Advertise
- Privacy
- FAQ
- Contact Us		 Sport-Touring.Net is an online community of motorcycle enthusiasts dedicated to the exhange of ideas, information and philosophy relating to all aspects of motorcycling. Our goal is to become the leading resourse for sport-touring enthusiasts seeking information and advice needed to plan, manage and launch their motorcycle adventures. Join us!