Fog & Chicken lights burnt out.

Discussion in 'Trucking Industry Regulations' started by Toomanybikes, Apr 8, 2009.

  1. Toomanybikes

    Toomanybikes Road Train Member

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    New here and just introduced myself else where.

    Anyway - Just as the tittle says will a burned out fog light, chicken light, or the like cause a ticket from LEO?

    Being mechanic I have heard for years 'all lights added have to be operational.' I just have seen no tickets, no codes, or statutes that says so. So I am asking?

    Being from Washington state I have been through all their codes pertaining to equipment and cannot find anything pertaining. I assume, but will not say it is so, that other states are the same. I just don't know?

    I have skimmed the FMSCA and came across this:
    '< 393.23 393.25 >

    Subpart B'Lamps, reflective devices and electrical wiring
    Question 1: Must additional lamps that are not required be operative if all required lamps are operative?

    Guidance: No.'


    I presented what I say here to a trucking enforcement officer in CDL class today and he went on overload!:biggrin_2555:

    What say you?
     
    Last edited: Apr 8, 2009
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  3. Biscuit75

    Biscuit75 Road Train Member

    From my own experience.... I have had a couple times where I was "inspected" and had the chicken lights out. All I got for those was a verbal warning saying I should get them working if they are on the truck. As for the written warnings or tickets, I only ever got them for the headlights, factory turn signals, cab marker lights, and stop/tail/turn lights on the back. Same for the trailer.
     
  4. dieselbear

    dieselbear Road Train Member

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    Try 393.9 see what it says. I only write warnings or cites for what is required, ID lights, clearance lights, turn signal, brake lights, side marker lights and tail lights. 393.25 deals with stop lights.
     
  5. Toomanybikes

    Toomanybikes Road Train Member

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    Thanks dieselbear,

    You don't know how much I appreciate someone who is or has been in law enforcement answer this. I have read some of your posts before and I appreciate your prospective on a trucking website. You demonstrates the 'us and them attitude sometimes' is not always the case in law enforcement. I am not stroking you a bit.

    "< 393.7 393.11 >

    Subpart B'Lamps, reflective devices and electrical wiring
    §393.9 Lamps operable, prohibition of obstructions of lamps and reflectors.
    (a) All lamps required by this subpart shall be capable of being operated at all times. This paragraph shall not be construed to require that any auxiliary or additional lamp be capable of operating at all times."

    If I am reeding this right, this confirms the FMCSA guidance that I quoted in the first post. Thus, this officer, my CDL instructor, and every driver that said to me, as a mechanic, "you fix my chicken lights or pay my ticket" crap is wrong. :biggrin_2553:

    Am I right or am I missing something?
     
    Last edited: Apr 9, 2009
  6. Toomanybikes

    Toomanybikes Road Train Member

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    Thank you to Biscut75 for quick answer.

    The 'verbal warning' seems to be extraordinarily common for these lights. That being the case, no tickets or no code, makes me wonder if it more truthiness rather than fact.
     
  7. Rat

    Rat Road Train Member

    I have been inspected a few times and two times I failed an inspection for a added on light that did not work or was burnt out. Even though I did not get a ticket I did not get the paper saying I passed inspection which ment I did not recieve an inspection bonus for the company. Many companies give money to a driver that passes a dot inspection. Depending on the level of the inspection it can be anywere from 25.00 to 75.00.

    Either fix the burnt out light or take it off all together.
     
  8. psanderson

    psanderson Road Train Member

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    This is the federal rule however there are also state rules that say all lamps must be operational.

    From a retired federal DOT official
     
  9. Ducks

    Ducks "Token Four-Wheeler"

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    I took the above text from an earlier thread on truck lights. The poster mentions that chicken lights are illegal in Pennsylvania. If his interpretation of the law is correct, is it safe for me to assume that trucks registered out of state, but travelling through Pennsylvania, are exempt from this?

    Personally, I rarely see a big truck around here with anything other than what I would assume are the standard lights.
     
  10. WiseOne

    WiseOne Inactive contact bullhaulerswife

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    Some of the trucks I used to run had HUNDREDS of chicken lights and, yes, I got a couple tickets when one ###### light went out! Best thing now to do is to get LED lights and they rarely go out. A little more expensive, but they are worth it for sure. Especially when the top one would go out...I hated that. BUT, every single light must work on that truck...no matter how many...
     
  11. Kabar

    Kabar Road Train Member

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    Cal law says ALL lites on a veh. must work. Not only do your fog lites have to work. You can leagly run with them on in Cali. Even if there is no fog.:biggrin_2551:
     
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