NC State Laws regarding POV strobes...

[Car560EnRoute]

Hey guys and gals,

My names John, I'm from just outside Raleigh, North Carolina. I've been an EMT-P for going on 3 years now and a Firefighter for just a few months. I have a question regarding the laws here in NC, dealing with strobes being used in my POV.


I drive a Jeep Cherokee, marked with reflective 3M stickers/tape, a 8 inch EMS emblem on the rear window and loaded to the brim with Fire and Rescue gear. Obviously, by seeing the inside or outside of my vehicle, you can rather easily tell what I do for a living.

My question regards the use of my strobes. I know for a fact the lights I have been running for a while now are all a-o.k. with both my department and state laws here in NC. I've got a few LED dash and deck lights and 2 LED grille lights.

I recently purchased a set of "cheap" Hide-Away style strobes. They are not actually Hide-Aways though. Instead of spending $400+ on a kit from H-A, I purchased another kit that was priced much lower but still manages to deal a good amount of light. They are a set of 4 small LED lights that I placed inside my two rear reverse lights' housing and inside my two headlights' housing. When running, they blink 3-3 (3 one side, 3 the other) and have a slight blueish hue.

What I would like to confirm is the legality of this.

It is my understanding that installing a modulator/relay on your headlights (actually making your headlight bulbs blink, ie Wig-Wagging) is illegal, but using hideaways inside the housing is perfectly legal. I see MANY people in and outside of my department running set up's such as these, but I'd just like to confirm this before using them on a run.

If they are in fact legal here, my last question is about that blueish hue. What are the chances of a cop (like yourselves) saying something to me when responding to a call? I know most of the SO officers in my district to some degree (having at least met them once), so I don't see them giving me much hassle. It's the SHP that really worries me haha I just want to make sure I am within the law on all levels before flipping that switch next time the tones drop.



Any help is appreciated!

Thanks a lot guys!

-John

Any

[GoDirectly2Jail]

Hey guys and gals,

My names John, I'm from just outside Raleigh, North Carolina. I've been an EMT-P for going on 3 years now and a Firefighter for just a few months. I have a question regarding the laws here in NC, dealing with strobes being used in my POV.


I drive a Jeep Cherokee, marked with reflective 3M stickers/tape, a 8 inch EMS emblem on the rear window and loaded to the brim with Fire and Rescue gear. Obviously, by seeing the inside or outside of my vehicle, you can rather easily tell what I do for a living.

My question regards the use of my strobes. I know for a fact the lights I have been running for a while now are all a-o.k. with both my department and state laws here in NC. I've got a few LED dash and deck lights and 2 LED grille lights.

I recently purchased a set of "cheap" Hide-Away style strobes. They are not actually Hide-Aways though. Instead of spending $400+ on a kit from H-A, I purchased another kit that was priced much lower but still manages to deal a good amount of light. They are a set of 4 small LED lights that I placed inside my two rear reverse lights' housing and inside my two headlights' housing. When running, they blink 3-3 (3 one side, 3 the other) and have a slight blueish hue.

What I would like to confirm is the legality of this.

It is my understanding that installing a modulator/relay on your headlights (actually making your headlight bulbs blink, ie Wig-Wagging) is illegal, but using hideaways inside the housing is perfectly legal. I see MANY people in and outside of my department running set up's such as these, but I'd just like to confirm this before using them on a run.

If they are in fact legal here, my last question is about that blueish hue. What are the chances of a cop (like yourselves) saying something to me when responding to a call? I know most of the SO officers in my district to some degree (having at least met them once), so I don't see them giving me much hassle. It's the SHP that really worries me haha I just want to make sure I am within the law on all levels before flipping that switch next time the tones drop.



Any help is appreciated!

Thanks a lot guys!

-John

Any

Not trying to be a d***, but if you know the deputies in your locale why don't you just ask them to get your answer?

[Car560EnRoute]

I haven't ran into any of them since I installed the lights. Everybody I've talked to at the building has said it shouldn't be a big deal but I was wondering the true legality of it.

Can you give me an answer or no?

[PapaBear]

Contact the nearest post of the North Carolina Highway Patrol and either ask them the questions or set an appointment to have your system examined for compliance.

[Curt581]

I haven't ran into any of them since I installed the lights. Everybody I've talked to at the building has said it shouldn't be a big deal but I was wondering the true legality of it.

Can you give me an answer or no?

Since you insist on getting an answer from us instead of going to the source...

No, they are not legal. Remove them now.

Don't ask for details, just do it.

[retdetsgt]

A strobe in Oregon will get you a ticket. There was a short lived fad a few years ago with M/C riders putting them on so they would be seen. That disappeared pretty quickly.

I would go to your state's website, look up MV laws, subsection lighting and equipment. I imagine you will find your answer there. It will just take a little work.

[basher52]

Google is your friend. Do a search for NC vehicle and traffice laws and find the answer to the question you seek.