OkieRover.com

That title reminds me of those cheesy Driver's Education Movies they made us watch that warm summer of 1979. I was attending Driver's Ed, as it is called in the states. I had just turned 15 and a half and would walk the 2.5 miles one way to school for the driving class.

On the Solihull Society website forum in the General Vehicle Discussion, there is a discussion of auxillary lamps. One member in Colorado was concerned about the number of lamps they had on their Rover because of an urban myth a neighbor of his was propagating.

Running my Hella 4000s with the clear covers and had heard from my off-roading neighbor that the troopers or the local police can ticket me for not "having them covered" meaning the OEM white Hella covers. Supposedly this is because I could maliciously use the high beams and the aux lights to make someone crash or vote for John Kerry or whatever ills may befall them.

I posted that I was concerned with that. Basically if we understand his neighbor correctly you can get a ticket because you "might" violate the law? Where do people come up with this stuff? His neighbor must also be a conspiracy theorist of the 3rd order and possibly a registered democrat.

First the disclaimer.

I am not a lawyer, I have never been a lawyer, nor have I ever played a lawyer in a popular or even less-than popular television show. I have never in my life ever wanted to be a lawyer, pretended to be a lawyer, or even had carnal knowledge of any lawyer. These laws may change with any sitting of the Legislature of Oklahoma or the Congress of the United States. Local statutes may apply. One size fits most. Do not allow children under the age of 3 to handle. Lather, rinse, repeat.

The text you are about to read comes from this link. Oklahoma Statutes Title 47, Motor Vehicles. It's worth a read and you should probably memorize the more fun parts like this first one regarding the maximum height of the head lamps. So the next time you see that infamous Chevy Z71, you know the one. It's the one with the 2 foot lift kit, drives year around with mudders and has the rope ladder to get into the cab. Yeah you know the one, with it's headlights at or above your head while your standing next to it. Each time you see it remind yourself that these laws apply only when the law enforcement official that just pulled you over wants them to apply.

I'm going to focus on three parts of the Oklahoma codes.

§47-12-203 - Head lamps

§47-12-203.1 - Number of forward projecting lamps

§47-12-217 - Definition of an auxiliary driving lamp

§47-12-203. Head lamps on motor vehicles.

A. Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with at least two headlamps emitting a white light with at least one lamp on each side of the front of the motor vehicle on the same level and as far apart as practicable. The headlamps shall comply with the requirements and limitations set forth in this chapter.

B. Every headlamp upon every motor vehicle shall be located at a height of not more than fifty-four (54) inches nor less than twenty-two (22) inches to be measured as set forth in subsection B of Section 12-202 of this title.

C. The headlamps on motor vehicles shall be so arranged that the driver may select at will between distributions of light projected to different elevations and such lamps may, in addition, be so arranged that such selection can be made automatically, subject to the following limitations:

1. There shall be an uppermost distribution of light, or composite beam, so aimed and of such intensity as to reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least six hundred (600) feet ahead for all conditions of loading;

2. There shall be a lowermost distribution of light, or composite beam, so aimed and of sufficient intensity to reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least two hundred (200) feet ahead; and

3. On a straight, level road under any condition of loading none of the high-intensity portion of the beam shall be directed to strike the eyes of an approaching driver.

D. Every motor vehicle which has multiple-beam road-lighting equipment shall be equipped with a beam indicator, which shall be lighted whenever the uppermost distribution of light from the headlamps is in use, and shall not otherwise be lighted. Added by Laws 1961, p. 394, § 12-203, eff. Sept. 1, 1961. Amended by Laws 1996, c. 18, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1996; Laws 2003, c. 411, § 23, eff. Nov. 1, 2003.

§47-12-203.1. Number of driving lamps required or permitted.

A. At all times specified in subsection B of Section 12-201 of this title, at least two lighted headlamps shall be displayed, one on each side at the front of every motor vehicle, except when such vehicle is parked subject to the regulations governing lights on parked vehicles, as provided in Section 12-214 of this title.

B. Whenever a motor vehicle equipped with headlamps as herein required is also equipped with any auxiliary driving lamps or a spot lamp or any other lamp on the front thereof projecting a beam of intensity greater than three hundred (300) candlepower, not more than a total of four of any such lamps on the front of a vehicle shall be lighted at any one time when upon a highway.

C. The driver of any vehicle shall comply with the provisions of Section 12-217 of this title regarding the use of alternate headlamp equipment. Added by Laws 1961, p. 401, § 12-226. Amended by Laws 2003, c. 411, § 43, eff. Nov. 1, 2003. Renumbered from Title 47, § 12-226 by Laws 2003, c. 411, § 85, eff. Nov. 1, 2003.

2. "Daytime running lamp" means a lamp mounted to provide illumination to the front of a motor vehicle that will assist to identify its presence to other vehicles and pedestrians at times other than those specified in subsection B of Section 12-201 of this title;

3. "Front fog lamp" means a lamp mounted to provide illumination to the front of a motor vehicle during conditions of rain, snow, fog, dust, or other atmospheric disturbances;

4. "Rear fog lamp" means a lamp mounted to provide illumination to the rear of a motor vehicle during conditions of rain, snow, fog, dust, or other atmospheric disturbances;

6. "Spot lamp" means a movable lamp which emits a brilliant light with a focused beam for examining objects, street address numbers, and other things alongside the road.

1. Which has in use a spot lamp shall, upon the approach of another vehicle from any direction within one thousand (1,000) feet, immediately turn said spot lamp off;

1. A motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed two front fog lamps or two rear fog lamps which shall only be used when visibility, as described in paragraphs 3 and 4 of subsection A of this section, is limited to one-half (1/2) mile or less.

2. Front fog lamps shall be mounted on the same level on opposite sides of the front of the vehicle at or below the level of the headlamps. Front fog lamps may be used with lower beam headlamps or switch controlled in conjunction with the headlamps and may be used, at the discretion of the driver, with either low or high beam headlamps. Front fog lamps shall not be used in substitution of headlamps, when headlamps are required.

E. A motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed two auxiliary driving lamps mounted at a height of more than forty-two (42) inches from the ground. The auxiliary driving lamp or lamps shall only be used in combination with and to supplement the lawful upper beam of the headlamps and shall not be used alone or with the lawful lower beam of headlamps.

F. Every fog lamp or auxiliary driving lamp used upon a motor vehicle shall be so adjusted and aimed that no part of the high intensity portion of the beam shall, at a distance of twenty-five (25) feet, rise above the horizontal plane passing through the center of the lamp.

G. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a vehicle may be equipped with off-road lamps for use as headlamps while the vehicle is operated or driven off of a highway. The lamps shall be:

1. A motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed two daytime running lamps which conform to 49 C.F.R., Section 571.108, S5.5.11.

Added by Laws 1961, p. 398, § 12-217, eff. Sept. 1, 1961. Amended by Laws 1993, c. 13, § 3, emerg. eff. Mar. 24, 1993; Laws 2003, c. 411, § 34, eff. Nov. 1, 2003.

As stated in the Oklahoma Statute, the State of Oklahoma has ammended it's laws to include the Federal laws located here Code of Federal Regulations, Title 49, Subtitle B, Chapter V, Part 571. You should probably have a beer or two and try to cut through all that. Additional disclaimer, may cause blindness, do not drink and drive, not for the thinking impaired.

You can only have four lamps blazing away into the night. They can't be higher than 54 inches off the roadway. They can't be pointed at the oncoming traffic. You can't use your fog lamps unless it's bad weather. You can't use your off-road lamps on the highway, ever. And finally there is nothing in the statutes about them being covered.

And what does it mean to the OkieRover specifically. Well I will no longer drive with my fog lamps on. Even though they are better than the crappy headlamps I have. And, I need to upgrade my headlamps. And finally, that the Evil German dude is illegally running his offroad lights with his high beams!

Drive safely, don't blind the oncoming traffic, obey your local laws, don't believe everything you hear, and play well with others.

Auxillery Lights and "The Law"