Good Information for CA offroad/aux lights

twc13 said:

Do you have off road lights, or do you have auxiliary lights, here is what the CHP, DOT and Supreme court say about it.

Save this link as a favorite in case you get cited for your lights

Enjoy.

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FJDave said:

For question 1, I had a response I posted from another forum. As far as lights in Calif, below are the vehicle code sections. As far as lights on while driving, in Calif it's 4 total white lights to the front....2 headlights and 2 driving lights. All other forward facing clear lights like roof lights, etc., need to be covered:

24402 CVC Auxiliary Driving and Passing Lamps:

(a) Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed two auxiliary driving lamps mounted on the front at a height of not less than 16 inches nor more than 42 inches (from the ground). Driving lamps are lamps designed for supplementing the upper beam from headlamps and may not be lighted with the lower beam.

(b) Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed two auxiliary passing lamps mounted on the front at a height of not less than 24 inches nor more than 42 inches. Passing lamps are lamps designed for supplementing the lower beam from headlamps and may also be lighted with the upper beam.



24405 (a) CVC Maximum Number of Lamps:

Not more than four lamps of the following types showing to the front of a vehicle may be lighted at any one time:

(1) Headlamps
(2) Auxiliary driving or passing lamps
(3) Fog lamps
(4) Warning lamps
(5) Spot lamps
(6) Gaseous discharge lamps specified in Section 25258

(b) For the purposes of this sectioneach pair of a dual headlamp system shall be considered as one lamp (seperate highbeam/lowbeam headlights like on a 1975 Mercury).

(c) Subdivision (a) does not apply to any authorized emergency vehicle.


24411 CVC Auxiliary Lamps: Off-Highway Use

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a vehicle may be equipped with not more than eight lamps for use as headlampswhile the vehicle is operated or driven off the highway. The lamps shall be mounted at a height of not less than 16 inches from the ground, or more than 12 inches above the top of the passenger compartment, at any place between the front of the vehicle and a line lying on a point 40 inches to the rear of the seat occupied by the driver, shall be wired independently of all other lighting circuits, and, whenever the vehicle is operated or driven upon a highway, shall be covered or hooded with an opaque hood or cover, and turned off.


There is a section for backup lamps too (if you want it). You can have any number from 1 to whatever, as long as they only illuminate while backing and must be red, amber or white light (CVC section 24606).

I hope this was as clear as mud for ya!!

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