Is anything here DOT approved ?

[Ben Burped]

Much was made of the fact that Custom Dynamics lighting is not DOT approved and states as much with their products. I would like to know if any, I repeat if any lighting offered for sale on this website is truly DOT approved ?

[JerryB]

Hi Ben,

Re: any lighting

I do not know about 'any' but of at least two of the vendors listed on the Home page, of the items that I inquired about; not one item was DOT approved.

Jerry Baumchen

[bruiser]

None of the lighting on the vendor pages is DOT approved. However, that does not make it illegal. What makes it illegal is the various state laws. DOT or more correctly NHTSA, set's the minimum requirements for vehicle lighting including location, placement, color and brightness (lumens) and number of lights. It also sets requirements for reflective materials including standard plastic reflectors and reflective tape. Standard vehicle lighting must also have the DOT logo on the lens or cover.

While additional lighting is allowed, it must not take away from or interfere with NHTSA and state regulations. As far as LED lighting sold by vendors, it doesn't meet DOT regulations because it is an added feature not standard on the vehicle at time of manufacture.

[Ben Burped]

None of the lighting on the vendor pages is DOT approved. However, that does not make it illegal. What makes it illegal is the various state laws. DOT or more correctly NHTSA, set's the minimum requirements for vehicle lighting including location, placement, color and brightness (lumens) and number of lights. It also sets requirements for reflective materials including standard plastic reflectors and reflective tape. Standard vehicle lighting must also have the DOT logo on the lens or cover.

While additional lighting is allowed, it must not take away from or interfere with NHTSA and state regulations. As far as LED lighting sold by vendors, it doesn't meet DOT regulations because it is an added feature not standard on the vehicle at time of manufacture.

Thank you for a very concise and informative post. I hoped that someone would know the specifics on this issue. Does removing the reflectors on the side of the RT and replacing them with lighting that has no reflective value such as Custom Dynamics Bright sides negate the DOD requirements for the RT ?

[stevedfive]

DOT requires front and rear side reflectors. The California Vehicle Code also required them. TricLED's front fender and rear side cargo door led lights have reflector lens, therefore they are DOT compliant.

[finless]

The show chrome lights (big bike parts) sold from value accessory is also DOT approved. These are the front fender and saddle bag marker lights.

Bob

[Bob Denman]

DOT requires front and rear side reflectors.

Would some reflective tape suffice?

[trikermutha]

I been using the LED fender lights and as long as they are the same color as the stock reflectors and within my state guidelines of lights and color and placement . The lights are on at all times so no reflective options is needed.

[RD2-BBP]

They DOT requirements are for the bike manufacturer only. You can modify your bike as long as you meet the minimum for state laws.

[billybovine]

I been using the LED fender lights and as long as they are the same color as the stock reflectors and within my state guidelines of lights and color and placement . The lights are on at all times so no reflective options is needed.

That's incorrect. Reflectors cannot be replaced with lights legally. Reflectors are required for visibility when the vehicle lights are not on, when parked or disabled beside the road. That said not likely anyone will catch on.

[Bob Denman]

While agree that it's unlikely that you'd ever be caught; what if they decided to make an example out of you?

Let your conscience be your guide...

[SpyderSteveFL]

Thanks for all the replies and discussion. The argument to maintain reflectors, especially if stranded on highway (as opposed to sitting in a parking lot) makes alot of sense to me. Even if the custom dynamics lights are better (unknown) they can't be that much better so I think I will go with the TricLED with reflectors.

[trikermutha]

That's incorrect. Reflectors cannot be replaced with lights legally. Reflectors are required for visibility when the vehicle lights are not on, when parked or disabled beside the road. That said not likely anyone will catch on.

I was just stating the lights can be replaced. As for visibility on the side of the road most likely the will not reflect off the reflector due to them being mounted on the fender depending the position of the vehicle anyway.. How many reflectors do you see on new cars these days??

Bob

Was that comment from Darth Vadar??( Let your conscience be your guide)

[finless]

I had this dicussion a while back with Stevedfive.
If your bike is parked and someone hits it in the dark, and you removed the reflectors, pretty sure insurance companies could claim due to the modification you caused the accident! The reflectors are there for a reason!
Would this ever happen? Not sure but it's a risk I would not be willing to take!

Bob

[Bob Denman]

Bob Was that comment from Darth Vadar??( Let your conscience be your guide)

Actually; that comment would have been:
"The Force is strong within this one..."

[trikermutha]

Well reflectors or not there's lots of great thoughts on this topic.

[lou49]

That's incorrect. Reflectors cannot be replaced with lights legally. Reflectors are required for visibility when the vehicle lights are not on, when parked or disabled beside the road. That said not likely anyone will catch on.

Ok. I'll just keep the originals reflectors on my bag, and I'll have them ready with two sided tape that way if I get stranded on the road all is have to do is tape them over the existing ones! That's easy!

[Ben Burped]

I had this dicussion a while back with Stevedfive.
If your bike is parked and someone hits it in the dark, and you removed the reflectors, pretty sure insurance companies could claim due to the modification you caused the accident! The reflectors are there for a reason!
Would this ever happen? Not sure but it's a risk I would not be willing to take!

Bob

So you are suggesting not to turn your dead Spyder perpendicular to the flow of traffic if you no longer have side reflectors ? Is there reflective material in the factory tail lights ? Possibly it would be in everyone's best interest to leave their dead Spyder parallel to the flow of traffic so that any reflective qualities that remain will be exposed to any headlights that intoxicated drivers with no insurance may possibly see ? Just being real.

[bruiser]

Federal Lighting Equipment Location requirements. Basic equipment required on all trucks/buses/MPVs. (private motor vehicles)<br><br>http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/stan...y/TBMpstr.html

[stevedfive]

I had this dicussion a while back with Stevedfive.
If your bike is parked and someone hits it in the dark, and you removed the reflectors, pretty sure insurance companies could claim due to the modification you caused the accident! The reflectors are there for a reason!
Would this ever happen? Not sure but it's a risk I would not be willing to take!

Bob

What my insurance company said was, they could deny payment of the claim if was determined the removal of DOT minimum required equipment could have helped prevent the collision. Not a major issue for debate. Just clarifying.

[Bob Denman]

What my insurance company said was, they could deny payment of the claim if it was determined the removal DOT minimum required equipment could have helped prevent the collision.

In my opinion; this is pretty unlikely...
They're usually not going to find something, that they're not looking for.