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Site talking about vehicle lighting, and colour/placement restrictions, in regards to the California Vehicle Code.

Specifically, the site claims (and searching the CVC posted on-line with Google searches, and reading the linked-to sections, I have to agree) that the commonly-held belief that blue and green are restricted colours doesn't appear to be true. There are no references I was able to find that mention anything about blue or green lighting on passenger vehicles, or restrictions regarding that colour usage on any vehicle in fact. The only time it speaks of green is in regards to traffic lights, and similair usages.

drewkitty, any sections you can find that counter this general consensus, or the specific points the above-linked site brings up? Anyone at all?

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

netolu.livejournal.com

This is the only information on illegal blue lights I have ever been able to find: http://www.chp.ca.gov/html/streetlegal.html
As far as neon effect blue there is no prohibition.

From:

dennisthetiger.livejournal.com

As far as lighting goes, I think it's pretty much law that you can't have anything on your vehicle that constitutes a visual hazard (can snowblind other people) or is flashing (constitutes an emergency situation/vehicle or a turn signal).

Despite this first one, though, we have SUVs with headlamps that, alone, could burn photographic film from two miles in the canisters.

From:

wolfwings.livejournal.com

...in that they have a limited list of allowed colors. My post was more in reference to general lighting, like having a pure-green, or pure-blue dome light, for example.

Basically, there's a lot of CHP officers (and professional security personel) that think the law says only police can use blue, and that nobody at all can use green lights, when the law itself doesn't state that anywhere that those are restricted colors, like red is, and red is only restricted to the front of the vehicle.

And yes, this is all leading towards trying to find out what colors I can legally mount inside my dome light, as I'm leaning towards a red rear light, and a green/cyan front light at the moment, so the rear area light won't affect night-vision, while having them both on will give an overall white projection in the interior of the car for maximum visibility.

From:

wolfwings.livejournal.com

I'm asking for specific links, with citations to the specific statues and in the California Vehicle Code, to refute the statement that neither blue nor green lights are 'restricted' colors like "red to the front of a vehicle" is.

Flashing anything is restricted, but non-flashing, blue and green colors do not appear to be restricted.

From:

dennisthetiger.livejournal.com

Flashing anything is restricted, but non-flashing, blue and green colors do not appear to be restricted.

Not generally, but look here (http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc25105.htm), where it mentions that courtesy lamps can be green or white - but they must be dim, and they can't be visible from front or rear.

As far as other colors, I was unable to find anything so I contacted GGPD. The dispatcher notes that she has seen restrictions insofar as lights must be white or amber up front and red or amber in the rear (the sole exception being above and the white "reverse" lights), but nobody is able to remember the section of CVC this is in.

So I did further research and collided with CVC 25950 (http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc25950.htm). This doesn't say what color your lights cannot be - rather it states what your lights shall be colored, and outlines all exceptions. In short, just because the CVC doesn't say you can't put a blue light on your car, unfortunately, doesn't mean you can.

Interesting point in this section though - subsect. c says reflectors "may have any unlighted color, provided the emitted light from all lamps or reflected light from all reflectors complies with the required color". So I guess your blue reflectors must reflect amber or something.

As far as the sales site, I'm one to take it with a grain of salt, as they don't provide sections of CVC to back up their claims. One of these days they'll probably get sued for it, but I'm not going to count on it.

From:

drewkitty.livejournal.com

OK. CVC is brutal about what you are not allowed to do. I don't have time to do the cites to back it up, but be aware: CVC is forbidding, not permissive, about any light you attach to your vehicle, in any direction, unless the vehicle is solely operated on private property. In other words, unless CVC says it's OK to install that light, it's presumptively NOT OK.

24003 is the forbidding code section. "24003. No vehicle shall be equipped with any lamp or illuminating device not required or permitted in this code, nor shall any lamp or illuminating device be mounted inside a vehicle unless specifically permitted by this code."

25400 is very, very interesting. It may be new. But bring your light strength meter to your installation. "of not more than 0.05 candela per square inch of area."

Certain things which are done by OEM vehicle manufacturers are lawful, because they are done at the factory. The same retrofit, on the same make and model (but different year) of vehicle, even if done by a pro, would violate CVC.

Most of the "automobile gadgets" sold in California over the counter are in fact unlawful to put on your vehicle.

The CHP's answers are typically definitive. Your mileage may vary with local PDs. The best approach is consult with experts.

This site purports to be posted by experts. While I see nothing wrong with their arguments on a fast read, I'd want to consult myself to verify.

If you do this, carry a copy of the relevant CVC sections in your vehicle and know how to have polite discussions with the CHP officers you will be meeting.

Specs-wise, flashing blue on vehicles is a police color ("takedown lights") just about everywhere. On industrial machinery, it's automated equipment that may move at any time. Outside CA, steady or flashing green is typically reserved for volunteer fire or EMS.

(And either way, this is going to make a great Denny's midnight discussion. Thanks again.)

From:

wolfwings.livejournal.com

...it's not, amusingly.

Vehicle With Unlawful Lamps

24003. No vehicle shall be equipped with any lamp or illuminating device not required or permitted in this code, nor shall any lamp or illuminating device be mounted inside a vehicle unless specifically permitted by this code. This section does not apply to:

(a) Interior lamps such as door, brake and instrument lamps, and map, dash, and dome lamps designed and used for the purpose of illuminating the interior of the vehicle.

(b) Lamps needed in the operation or utilization of those vehicles mentioned in Section 25801, or vehicles used by public utilities in the repair or maintenance of their service, or used only for the illumination of cargo space of a vehicle while loading or unloading.

(c) Warning lamps mounted inside an authorized emergency vehicle and meeting requirements established by the department.

Amended Ch. 723, Stats. 1979. Effective January 1, 1980.

Since this whole topic of research is mostly for interior lighting I'm considering (since on the outside I plan to pick amber everywhere possible, the remainder being white and red only where required) 24003 is a point that debunking it led me to the initial site in the first place, especially since it has a radio-interview with an actual CHP officer. =^.^=

From:

wolfwings.livejournal.com

...enjoy the Denny topic-starter. :-) I look forward to hearing the results. =^.^=

From:

wolfwings.livejournal.com

...but in case you didn't have QuickTime loaded when you viewed that web-page, the direct link to the MP3 of the section from a KCBS radio show is: http://www.autoi.com/images/shoppingcart-images/KCBS-talk-about-neon.mp3