Date:         Sun, 22 Apr 2007 03:15:56 -0400
Reply-To:     Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Subject:      Re: New SA grill
In-Reply-To:  <d40.7681626.335c444b@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed

Chris, you can drive around with your inner beams on, but that is
illegal in Virginia, as they will be considered HIGH BEAMS in this
commonwealth (and probably most other states.) In fact, they might be
considered as off road only lights, and be illegal for use on
vehicles when driven on state and country roads in Virginia.

And driving around and not getting stopped is not a guarantee that it
is legal. Ignorance of the laws, is usually not a valid defense either.

The FHTSA (part of the US DOT) regulates what is permitted on new
cars. By those rules, the South African lights and grills aren't
legitimate on US roads. South African Vanagons were never brought
into the US.

Canadian vehicles comply with US rules, and can be brought into the
US. There is wording in the import rules that specifically exempt the
daylight running lights that are part of Canadian vehicles (including
Vanagons.)

Canadian (late model) Vanagons use the European highlights. By
dancing on the rules, it can be argued that using the H4 headlights
(rectangular ones) is acceptable (especially being as they are
specific to the vehicle) in the US.

However, enforcement of after market headlights and inspection of
headlights on vehicles is up to the states (not the Feds). Virginia
inspectors use the Federal rules. I've seen them look for the DOT
mark on headlights. The H4 headlights don't have that mark. Which
means that technically, they are illegal in Virginia.

And yes, I use H4 headlights in Virginia on all of my Vanagons. I
also make sure that my headlights are properly aimed so that I don't
produce excess glare.

Virginia even has a web page for reporting illegal drivers and
illegal vehicles (and it gets used).

Did you know that the center of a headlight has to be between 22 and
52 inches off the ground? Federal rules on new cars.

I'm still looking to see if I can add a center light on my Vanagon
(replacing the grill emblem.) So far, as long as I have no more than
4 independently focusable lights on at once, it sounds like I can.
Offroad, I can have a lot more lights on.


On Apr 22, 2007, at 12:53 AM, JordanVw@AOL.COM wrote:

> In a message dated 4/21/07 11:45:16 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
> jbange@GMAIL.COM writes:
>
>
>>>
>> If you mean the inner lights, I'd say probably not. They're basically
>> high-beam type lights with no upper cutoff. If they're on, you're
>> blinding
>> oncoming traffic.
>>
>> If you mean the regular outers low beam, sure, why not. I have a
>> switch that
>> allows me to set my low beams to come on when the alternator is
>> running,
>> canada style. You can hard-wire them that way, but I like to be
>> able to turn
>> them off when driving through a crowded campground at night.
>>
>> --
>>
>
> the SA inner 5" rounds are driving lights.   its perfectly legal to
> use
> driving lights when your low beams are on.
> many production cars have this feature.
>
> chris
>
>
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