General Cycling Discussion - HID legal issues

So, anyone ever been hassled by the law for HID lights? Or bright lights of any other kind?

I ask because the NHTSA has recently begun enforcing restrictions on the sale of HID retrofit kits for cars. Some of these are poor quality kits that put HID lights in halogen housing, but some are better quality. NHTSA is finishing its two year "review" of HID lighting in the U.S., so there may be new regulatory attention focused on these lights in near future.

I don't know that there is going to be any impact for cyclists. However, there may be more attention paid to HID lights in the near future by state legislatures and other bodies. It may occur to someone-- a local police chief, a city council member-- to hassle a cyclist, too.

I've had an HID headlamp for about a year. I was worried that the local constabulary would be hassling me, but that hasn't happened. Motorists, even, seem to be pretty understanding. I live in an area with a lot of unlit roads, and a fair number of irresponsible cyclists, so perhaps motorists are glad I've got lights at all.

Anyway, as I said, I'm curious about any legal or quasi-legal issues associated with your HID headlamps.

THey are junk and should be outlawed, along with changing factory tailights to anything other then spec. These riceboys with 80 Horsepower have been getting away with this crap for to long. And what in hell does a DID have to do with a cyclist. Are you referring to the bicycle lights that use this type of technology, if your police actually harass you for that something is very wrong in your town. These lights on bicycles dont danger anyone. THose annoying a$$ headlights are a danger. I know i sound like an old man but am not. I am 25.

Originally posted by djbowen1
These riceboys with 80 Horsepower have been getting away with this crap for to long.

:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao: :lol: :lol: :roflmao: :roflmao:

You must own a Mustang, djbowen1. Do they make kits for the Mustang?

hey whoa there...my saturn makes 85 horsepower...my saturn could beat any mustang in a race with any type of turning.

i have really poor night vision, and i get seriously blinded whenever i have to look into those cheapo retrofit HID kits. the ones found on high end BMWs and mercedes' etc on the other hand seem to be less blinding than the ones you find on your local ricemobiles....

That's true. OEM HID kits have a light deflector in front of the arc which makes the light less blinding. Aftermarket kits, however, do not have this shield, which makes them a lot brighter.

Originally posted by Chi
You must own a Mustang, djbowen1. Do they make kits for the Mustang?

Speaking of rice-kits...

http://www.neebu.net/~khuon/gallery/uber-riceburner

I wonder how many bikes he wasted building that??? ;)

No, a brand spanking new VW Jetta

Originally posted by djbowen1
No, a brand spanking new VW Jetta

*sniff* I miss my Jetta....

And I too am glad that here, non stock HID lights on a vehicle are not legal. I work on the road, I drive a lot at night, and let me tell you, they are too bright. Aside from the fact that it seems that most people who pilot the cars with theese aftermarket kits, well lets just say they tailgate alot, and those blasted lights are a nuscance.

If you cant see well enough with stock lights, you shouldnt be driving. Curb feelers come to mind.... am I the only one?

Man am I a kermudgin!! LOL

Some of the OEM lights are bad, too. I saw a new Cadillac Escalade on the interstate the other night. It looked as if it could have lit all four lanes.

Well, I think the HID lights should be illegal on bikes, too! They are too bright. It's just not natural.

I hate the way they blind me when some schmuck turns and "looks my way" with one on his helmet, I hate the way they cause leafs to curl and brown from 50 feet and I hate the way large airplanes swerve to "avoid" bikes riding up hills on trails when their HID is punching a searing hole 2000 feet out into the night.

Halogen is warmer in color and doesn't bleach rocks when you pass by.

They are a poor attempt at being a status symbol.

Originally posted by EBasil
Well, I think the HID lights should be illegal on bikes, too! They are too bright. It's just not natural.

I hate the way they blind me when some schmuck turns and "looks my way" with one on his helmet, I hate the way they cause leafs to curl and brown from 50 feet and I hate the way large airplanes swerve to "avoid" bikes riding up hills on trails when their HID is punching a searing hole 2000 feet out into the night.



Hmmnn... is this sarcasm?

You can have my HID light when you pry it from my cold, dead hand.

I'm too used to seeing the road, left, right, and 40 yards in front of me to go back to halogen. I'm not willing to start dodging traffic at intersections again, or riding into the ditch to get out of the way of traffic passing on the left.

It was these concerns that started this thread.

I've been wondering whether John Law is going to pull me over some night and give me a talking-to about my lamp. So far, no. In fact, they may well be supportive of such a light on dark roads. But you never know.

Not that I think there is any real concern about their legality. The bike HID's are much dimmer than car halogen lights, and if push came to shove it should be possible to make some sort of cowling to deflect light back down onto the road and spare oncoming drivers and pedestrians some glare.

But again, I'm just wondering about the views/experiences of others here.