Topic: '3rd' brake light ??

[dwtaylorpdx]

Its considered federal safety equipment. Much like the cat converter its only mandatory where testing is done, but anywhere on  a public highway if a cop happens to somehow figure out you don't have one they can write you up... We all takes our chances.

I have had a lifetime of bad luck on the weird crap, I once got written up for non DOT seat belts in a car that didn't come with seat belts! I put Simpson belts in a 65 Baja Bug... I got a ticket for transporting alcohol within reach of the driver I had a case of beer bungeed on the luggage rack of my MGB,,,, I've gotten a speeding ticket on a bicycle 50 in a 35.. (Ok I deserved that one...  ) I got a ticket for missing wipers, while driving a jeep with the windshield taken off.. One fo rdriving too slow on a highway,, The bicycle ticket was the only one that cost me money... 

At one time I had a easter basket full of fixits and non moving violation citations, most collected in my late teens when I owned a screaming 60 hp Datsun 1200 cc pickup.. Painted Chrysler Corona Taxi Yellow... Would just barely hold 70 on the freeway if I had a hill to get up to speed.

Cheers...

Dave

[sharpxmen]

it is FMVSS, standard 108, but apparently it is directed at manufacturers

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a legislative mandate under Title 49 of the United States Code, Chapter 301, Motor Vehicle Safety, to issue Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and Regulations to which manufacturers of motor vehicle and equipment items must conform and certify compliance. FMVSS 209 was the first standard to become effective on March 1, 1967. A number of FMVSS became effective for vehicles manufactured on and after January 1, 1968. Subsequently, other FMVSS have been issued. New standards and amendments to existing standards are published in the Federal Register.

These Federal safety standards are regulations written in terms of minimum safety performance requirements for motor vehicles or items of motor vehicle equipment. These requirements are specified in such a manner "that the public is protected against unreasonable risk of crashes occurring as a result of the design, construction, or performance of motor vehicles and is also protected against unreasonable risk of death or injury in the event crashes do occur."

it is however a DOT compliance requirement for trucks manufactured after '94 or cars after '86 so i'm not sure how that works (if a cop can write you a ticket for removing the 3rd brake light assembly on the Jeep, you could get pulled over if you have it and it doesn't work)

[Jeffy]

it is FMVSS, standard 108, but apparently it is directed at manufacturers
it is however a DOT compliance requirement for trucks manufactured after '94 or cars after '86 so i'm not sure how that works (if a cop can write you a ticket for removing the 3rd brake light assembly on the Jeep, you could get pulled over if you have it and it doesn't work)

I doubt any cop would pull you over just for a non-working Centre High Mount Stop Lamp (CHMSL).  You only need two working stop lights to be legal.  It's one of those more obscure laws that rarely gets written up.  You're more likely going to get pulled over for having a, or in this case two rear tail lights out then for a missing CHMSL.

I think the cop was just being nice by not writing it up for all the other stuff he could have.  Though he got lucky on the Jeep being a '94.  I doubt he knew that trucks had a different cut-off date.

[grumpygy]

I doubt any cop would pull you over just for a non-working Centre High Mount Stop Lamp (CHMSL).  You only need two working stop lights to be legal.  It's one of those more obscure laws that rarely gets written up.  You're more likely going to get pulled over for having a, or in this case two rear tail lights out then for a missing CHMSL.

I think the cop was just being nice by not writing it up for all the other stuff he could have.  Though he got lucky on the Jeep being a '94.  I doubt he knew that trucks had a different cut-off date.

I was pulled over for none working 3rd brake light that was why I pulled it off.

[dwtaylorpdx]

Kind of like driving a Semi truck most have way more lights than technically required, but if you pull through a scale with one out they will write you a ticket... (Delivered heavy equipment for a couple years... ) And that's all DOT not the regular laws so you can get jacked for the most unlikely crap..

I push the odds, I have had to on occasion drive as part of my job, I have put over 200K on 5 vehicles and lord knows how many more on the ones that got bought and sold on a whim... Or the company cars...

Cheers
Dave

[SDWE61988]

I guess I should either get my 3rd light working again  or yank it off.  I have benn luck so far. 

[Jeffy]

I guess I should either get my 3rd light working again  or yank it off.  I have benn luck so far. 

Well most LEO's will only care that you have at least 2 rear brake lights.  Doesn't matter which two.  Still if you don't have it on there at all, you'll be less likely to be on the radar of those who ticket broken 3rd lights.