Brake lights mounted to bumper: legal or not?

[Gotenntitans]

Question for you guys. My factory brake lights will not work. My friend, who is a certified mechanic, could not find the break in the wires so he welded two trailer style brake lights on the bumper of my old truck.

They come on when I apply the brakes and work properly. Signal lights & taillights still work as from the factory.

Two young police officers pulled me over this morning and said that they were stopping me because my brake lights weren't "factory" and I needed to get the truck repaired back to factory specs. They agreed that the brake lights did come on when I stepped on the brake pedal, but they took exception to the red circular (trailer style) lamps being welded to my bumper.

My question is.......am I legal or not? I don't think I'm illegal, and these two police officers were young. I don't think they know what they're talking about. They gave me a verbal warning to get my truck's brake lights fixed back to factory specs. Should I go to the trouble to do this?

Anyone know the law?

Thanks Friends. GTT

[TATE228]

I don't know the laws where you live. but around here basically if the light is visible and functional you are just fine. My guess is they wanted to check paperwork, and/or check you out.

[biketopia]

Does your state have vehicle safety inspections? If so, the brake light requirements will be spelled out pretty clear in that. In VA, as long as red brake lights activate on both sides when the brakes are pressed, and the light is visible for XX amount of feet from the rear it passes.

[mongocanfly]

Around here it don't matter as long as you have working lights
Dug around Ark laws and found this...

According to the Arkansas Code Title 27, Transportation § 27-36-216, trucks in Arkansas must have stop lamps on the rear of the vehicle that meet the following requirements:
Visibility
The lamps must be visible from at least 100 feet away in normal sunlight.
Actuation
The lamps must be activated when the foot brake or service brake is applied.
Color
The lamps must display a red or amber light, or any color between red and amber.
Flashing
When activated, the lamps must flash to indicate the intended direction of turning.
Arkansas Code Title 27. Transportation § 27-36-215. Drawn vehicles--Tail lights
Current as of March 28, 2024

(a)(1) Every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer, and any other vehicle which is being drawn at the end of a train of vehicles, shall be equipped with at least one (1) tail lamp mounted on the rear, which, when lighted as required, shall emit a red light plainly visible from a distance of five hundred feet (500′) to the rear.

(2) In the case of a train of vehicles, only the tail lamp on the rearmost vehicle need actually be seen from the distance specified.

(3) Every mentioned vehicle, other than a truck tractor, registered in this state and manufactured or assembled after June 11, 1959, shall be equipped with at least two (2) tail lamps mounted on the rear, on the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable, which, when lighted as required, shall comply with the provisions of this section.

(b) Every tail lamp upon every vehicle shall be located at a height of not more than seventy-two inches (72″) nor less than twenty inches (20″).

(c)(1)(A) Either a tail lamp or a separate lamp shall be so constructed and placed as to illuminate with a white light the rear registration plate and render it clearly legible for a distance of fifty feet (50′) to the rear.

(B) It shall be a violation of this subsection for any other color of light to be displayed around the registration plate or for white light to be excesssively  1 used so as to render the registration plate illegible from a distance of less than fifty feet (50′).

(2) Any tail lamp or tail lamps, together with any separate lamp for illuminating the rear registration plate, shall be so wired as to be lighted whenever the headlamps or auxiliary driving lamps are lighted.

(d)(1) Every new motor vehicle sold and operated upon a highway, other than a truck tractor, shall carry on the rear, either as a part of the tail lamps or separately, two (2) red reflectors.

(2) Every motorcycle and every motor-driven cycle shall carry at least one (1) reflector, meeting the requirements of this section.

(3) Vehicles of the type mentioned in § 27-36-219 shall be equipped with reflectors as required in those sections applicable thereto.

(e)(1) Every reflector shall be mounted on the vehicle at a height not less than twenty inches (20″) nor more than sixty inches (60″) measured as set forth in § 27-36-204 and shall be of such size and characteristics and so mounted as to be visible at night from all distances within three hundred fifty feet (350′) to one hundred feet (100′) from the vehicle when directly in front of lawful upper beams of headlamps.

(2) Visibility from a greater distance will be required of reflectors on certain types of vehicles.

[Steeveedee]

Sounds legit. It's interesting that before June 11, 1959, only one tail/stop lamp was required.

[Gotenntitans]

Thanks Guys. I teach high school math and I found our resource officer and talked with him about it. He was a city police officer for years and he said that they probably wanted to check my paperwork. He also added that one officer might have been training the other and they may have used me for a routine check.

He says I'm legal and good to go.

So here's my opportunity to say that they detained me this morning and made me almost late for work, but I wasn't gonna be rude or cause a big scene. They did their job and I let them do it.

[Boog]

Thanks Greg for finding that. You beat me to it.
Some or most pickup trucks before 1959 were produced with only one tail lamp. A second one was an option. A license plate was mounted beneath the driver side tail lamp. A rear bumper was an option. I had dual tail lamps on my '56 Ford truck and the license hung beneath the left tail lamp. I later put a factory rear bumper on it which partially covered the plate but it was in the factory location. The factory bumper did not have provisions for mounting a plate to it. I got stopped once by a young twerp of an officer about it. After him pressing the issue of plate needs to be fully visible from the driver seat in his big old Pontiac cruiser and telling me I HAD to move the plate further up on the bed, I said yes, sure I'll take care of it. Of course I did not. He wasn't interested in the truck at all even though it was in real good shape and was very much modded by then. Some time later I caught him driving with no brake lights and called in on him. I said "I almost rear ended him in down town traffic". Operator said "oh he turned the lights off on the night shift and forgot to turn them back on". She just blew it off.
John, good of you to let them go.

I will add that by DOT regulations every lamp on a vehicle must be functional in regards to semi trucks and trailers and I would imagine that would apply to passenger vehicles also. ?

[kwmech]

Personally I'd find another mechanic that can trace a wire. It'll be both the yellow (L) and green (R) for the brakes. Nothing at either indicates a bad brake switch (which seems to working at the moment) or the turn signal switch, bulbs or the socket not grounding. Should take less than 15 minutes for somebody that knows what their doing

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Gotenntitans

Question for you guys. My factory brake lights will not work. My friend, who is a certified mechanic, could not find the break in the wires so he welded two trailer style brake lights on the bumper of my old truck.

That's where they were factory on '78 and above El Camino.

K

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Gotenntitans

but they took exception to the red circular (trailer style) lamps being welded to my bumper.

Red circular (trailer style) lamps were factory on stepside up until the square "Grote" lamps came on board during the square body era.

I had those same lamps on my open trailer.

K

[Gotenntitans]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Red circular (trailer style) lamps were factory on stepside up until the square "Grote" lamps came on board during the square body era.

I had those same lamps on my open trailer.

K

Mine look like the red truck, except they're mounted directly on the rear bumper.

Those young guns were just messing with me, I think. One was a young lady officer.......did I mention that? I'm sure SHE was all up to date on her factory specs from 1967.

[old Rusty C10]

they were just looking for some excuse to pull you over... theres a tv show i watch the cops pull everyone over and always smell weed . a decent number of times there is none its all about the revenue they can get

[Palf70Step]

As you czn tell, it varirs stateto state. I would imagine that inmost states it wouldbe legal.

[mongocanfly]

Heck..you stopped???
I thought it was mandatory in Arkansas to run, get pitted at 140mph,and wind up on utube...haha

[Sheepdip]

(b) Every tail lamp upon every vehicle shall be located at a height of not more than seventy-two inches (72″) nor less than twenty inches (20″).

Not sure how high your bumper is off the ground but this could be it.

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Heck..you stopped???
I thought it was mandatory in Arkansas to run, get pitted at 140mph,and wind up on utube...haha

I love watching those eejits get their due.

I do wonder, though, if the perps have to pay for the damage to the police cruiser. Some of those things get pretty banged up, in the process.

[Boog]

I tell you what. Our ASP will pit a runner at 160 mph if they have to. And some times a driver gets ejected. They don't run anymore.
Some states will not pit without upper authorization first and will not pit above 35 mph.
It seems our ASP officers make the call but advise dispatch first of course. That may come with rank most likely. Going by the vids our officer Jacob Byrd is said to be the one they call for chases and pits.

[Steeveedee]

I took a HAZMAT training course many years ago. Some of the trainers were LAPD officers. I lived in LA at the time. I was told that if an officer wrecks a vehicle, they are pretty much assured that they are off the promotion list. So, it takes someone pretty far up the food chain to authorize a PIT maneuver there.

[72c20customcamper]

I would think if the lights are DOT approved there isn’t an issue .

I’ve had run ins with some cops about seat belts ie no shoulder belt in the truck . Also with my 64 Harley that I had . No turn signals and only one rear view mirror . I had to carry the NY state V&T statute that prior to 73 no turn signals required and one mirror was legal . You have to remember most LEOs weren’t even born yet when these cars ,trucks and motorcycles were made .

Even inspection inspectors don’t know the law had one argue with me that all vehicles have to have backup lights . In 62 back up lights were pretty much an option on cars unless it was a higher end car . My 62 lark didn’t even have back up light lenses on it I did add them as it was a pain trying to back up in the dark

[truckster]

Personally, the most concerning part of this story is that your mechanic couldn't find a fault in the wiring and correct it. I'd probably be finding a different mechanic, or learn to do it yourself. It's not rocket science.

[kwmech]

I agree in post 8. Had a gal drop off her 71 gmc last week b'cuz she kept blowing out brake controllers. She had taken it to 3 other mechanics. I traced the wires down the frame to find the blue wire pinched under the spare tire bolt in the frame rail. Found it in about 10 minutes. Ran new wires down the frame rail and actually zip tied them out of the way. I'm her new hero now. She's already dropped off her toyota for repair and had 3 of her friends call me for work. It's not hard making money working on cars when you're able to do things right and not rip people off. I'm retired and making and extra 5-600 a week goofing around

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

I would think if the lights are DOT approved there isn’t an issue .

I’ve had run ins with some cops about seat belts ie no shoulder belt in the truck . Also with my 64 Harley that I had . No turn signals and only one rear view mirror . I had to carry the NY state V&T statute that prior to 73 no turn signals required and one mirror was legal . You have to remember most LEOs weren’t even born yet when these cars ,trucks and motorcycles were made .

Even inspection inspectors don’t know the law had one argue with me that all vehicles have to have backup lights . In 62 back up lights were pretty much an option on cars unless it was a higher end car . My 62 lark didn’t even have back up light lenses on it I did add them as it was a pain trying to back up in the dark

Back up lights were on option on my '65 GTO.

I just noticed my 2022 Escape camp trailer does not have backup lights.


K

[Boog]

^^^

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Back up lights were on option on my '65 GTO.

I just noticed my 2022 Escape camp trailer does not have backup lights.


K

I’m glad you clarified that you were talking about an escape camp trailer, I was getting ready to say WTF? Keith is driving a ford???

[Gotenntitans]

Originally Posted by 57taskforce

I’m glad you clarified that you were talking about an escape camp trailer, I was getting ready to say WTF? Keith is driving a ford???

I'm in my Grandpa's 67. Here's a pic of the right side so you guys can see what the brake lights look like.