To add insult to injury, my 1 month old Supercrew King Ranch was rear-ended last night. The FHP cop who reported the crash ticketed me for "improper equipment", stating that the L taillights were illegal. I pointed out that if that was the case, then Ford is selling Lightnings from the factory that are illegal. He insisted.. I didn't want to argue, because after all, I need a good crash report to get mine fixed by my insurance company.

What I need, though, is some help on where I might find the laws, statutes, or information on which taillights are legal, illegal, or some reference to this. I put in a call to Ford Research, and they are looking as well, but I have found numerous helpful tidbits on this site, so I thought I would try here.

Also, a warning, some other @$$h*le cop may ticket you for them. This is Florida, where I know they are *****$ about things like that, but just a warning...

Any help would be very much appreciated.

------------------
2001 F150 SuperCrew King Ranch Edition
Charcoal Blue/Arizona Beige
5.4L V8
3.55 LS
Power Moonroof
Class III Towing Group
King Ranch Package
-Lighted Cab Steps
-Sliding Rear Window
-Premium Sound w/ 6-disc changer
-Fog Lamps
-King Ranch Wheels 17x7.5
-King Ranch Leather Quad Captain's Chairs w/ front heated seats
2001 Lightning Taillights
Clear Corner Lenses
Leer 100R Cap
Visteon Mach MP3 w/ factory 6-disc changer
Soundstream Reference Class A 10.0 1000W amp
(4) Cerwin Vega "Vega" 124's
K&N Air Filter
18"x9.5" HD Replica Wheels w/ 285/50R18 Pirelli Scorpion Zero Tires

 

If you have the parts of the tail lights they have a Dated DOT markings that you can see from the outside and I bet they have a Ford part number cast into them somewhere. If you have the recipt or possibility a photo from the Ford part book. O would bet a judge would throw that ticket out. If they were aftermarket... you are hosed.

Andy

 

Mine have this SAE AIRST DOT if that helps and they are aftermarket Altezzas. That is a BS ticket and will be thrown out anyway. Your third brake light was working I'm sure.

 

like awhittle said these taillights are dot legal,so are all aftermarket "altezza style"
tails,the ones which arent are the all clear with the red bulbs.since there are only ford and lexus using them from the factory,the officer must have assumed they were aftermarket .

 

I heard the APC altezza's were DOT approved finally, but I don't know if it's 100% truth.

 

These are the actual Visteon Ford factory ones, not aftermarket ones. This is what strikes me as odd. Like trashguy noted, the cop told me the only ones that were legal in Florida are the Lexus ones. Maybe these are so new that no one knows about them.

I just don't want them to use that against me in my accident so I can't get insurance coverage from the guy at fault (he owned a 97 F150 by the way).

Keep the replies coming, I would like to know where I can find information about the legality of these things.

Andy

------------------
2001 F150 SuperCrew King Ranch Edition
Charcoal Blue/Arizona Beige
5.4L V8
3.55 LS
Power Moonroof
Class III Towing Group
King Ranch Package
-Lighted Cab Steps
-Sliding Rear Window
-Premium Sound w/ 6-disc changer
-Fog Lamps
-King Ranch Wheels 17x7.5
-King Ranch Leather Quad Captain's Chairs w/ front heated seats
2001 Lightning Taillights
Clear Corner Lenses
Leer 100R Cap
Visteon Mach MP3 w/ factory 6-disc changer
Soundstream Reference Class A 10.0 1000W amp
(4) Cerwin Vega "Vega" 124's
K&N Air Filter
18"x9.5" HD Replica Wheels w/ 285/50R18 Pirelli Scorpion Zero Tires

 

dufunnel
Try this [URL=http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/handbooks/
Click under English Manuals river,then under chapter five:Equipment Standards...Maybe this will help.

[This message has been edited by Y2KBLKLITNIN (edited 06-23-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Y2KBLKLITNIN (edited 06-23-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Y2KBLKLITNIN (edited 06-23-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Y2KBLKLITNIN (edited 06-23-2001).]

 

yeah.. you have to have a red reflector in the tail light to be legal... so therefore, the 2001 lightning tail light is legal!

 

If they are DOT approved (any light) and YOURS are, then you have nothing to worry with.

Call the officer's sargeant and explain to him that you were ticketed illegally and that you will fight this in court, and that his officer has no clear understanding of the law. If his Sargeant is not willing to help you then contact Internal Affairs and tell them they have rogue cops out there not following proper procedures.

I'd have already done this. I've had similar instances (not involving faulty equipment) where I had this taken care of by the above means. The Chief of Police would probably be interested as well.

Remember, when you go to court, take a light w/ you if need be, show that they are DOT approved and that they are FACTORY standard equipment on ALL 2001 Ford Lightnings. Just the fact that they are DOT approved automatically voids this out.

Here's the problem: You'll go to court, you'll win, the officer will most likely NOT be there, so then this officer goes and tickets others the same way and then they have to contend with this. Stand up for you and for others and put your foot down and take action. This doesn't take a lot of self use to do this, so no need to not do anything.

Now, in the accident report does it state who was at fault? In AL they do by filling in the box that shows which vehicle (1, 2, or however many were involved) was the prime contributing factor.

He ticketed you, so he may have filled it in on the accident report that you were the cause.

Get back to me please.

BfB

 

Also contact http://www.dot.state.fl.us/

and

http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/

and the Main US DOT is here:

http://www.dot.gov/

BfB

 

Don't forget to write to Congress and e-mail the White House.

------------------
Regards,
Gordon

'99 Red Lightning
Johnny Lightning Superchip
Johnny Lighting Ram Air Kit
Century Tonneau
Best 1/4 mi. ET: 13.249 secs

 

Florida is a no fault state, so no fault is laid on either party. The guy who ran into me got a ticket for careless driving, so that is how the insurance companies determine fault. According to the officer, unless the other guy contests the ticket in court, my tail lights won't be a factor in the crash. However, I want to cover my *** so the insurance companies don't have an excuse to deny my claim.

The cop told me that the lights had to be approved by NHTSA (the same organization that provides crash test results). I have a number of requests in for information about this, and I will definitely call FHP Monday morning and ask.

------------------
2001 F150 SuperCrew King Ranch Edition
Charcoal Blue/Arizona Beige
5.4L V8
3.55 LS
Power Moonroof
Class III Towing Group
King Ranch Package
-Lighted Cab Steps
-Sliding Rear Window
-Premium Sound w/ 6-disc changer
-Fog Lamps
-King Ranch Wheels 17x7.5
-King Ranch Leather Quad Captain's Chairs w/ front heated seats
2001 Lightning Taillights
Clear Corner Lenses
Leer 100R Cap
Visteon Mach MP3 w/ factory 6-disc changer
Soundstream Reference Class A 10.0 1000W amp
(4) Cerwin Vega "Vega" 124's
K&N Air Filter
18"x9.5" HD Replica Wheels w/ 285/50R18 Pirelli Scorpion Zero Tires

 

BTW, the DOT CONTROLS the NHTSA.

He's TOTALLY wrong w/ his info. The DOT has to approve it.

2ndly, most states are No Fault, but that's a bunch of crock. In AL they tell you the same thing, but it's CLEARLY marked on the report what the prime contributing factor was. The officer is not suppose to tell you who was at fault, but he does put it down *hiddenly* for insurance companies sake.

Do you have a copy of that report? Do me a favor and scan it and then put it up on here. Blank out your private info. as well as the other driver's too, please. Even if you didn't and someone wanted to find it, it's public info. and anyone can get it from the local records department.

BfB

 

You should shoot an email to someone at Ford, too, informing them that some cops in Florida are giving y'all flack about having "clear" taillights. I'm sure Ford (or their lawyers) would like to have a little input in the situation.

 

The 01 L tails are legal...everywhere. Mr. Police officer is WRONG.