laws and questions?

[jonathanmaples]

ok im cleaning up the kat for my wife to ride i dont have turn signals right now so i was thinking of buying the clears with amber bulbs. and changing the tail out to a newer tail that has the light like the busa's do,, except the clear intagrated brake and turns? how illeagle is this will i get stopped everytime i pass a cop??

[md86]

If you have signals , they must work . If they work , you are legal . If you have no signlas , you must use hand signals , which IS legal , though most no longer understand what they mean .

[Arstine]

If you have signals , they must work . If they work , you are legal . If you have no signlas , you must use hand signals , which IS legal , though most no longer understand what they mean .

Even some of the cops don't know what they mean. I got stopped the other day after making a right turn. The cop apparently thought I was waving at him rather than signaling my turn.

[Zepp]

If a cop doesn't know the hand signals, that is really bad

[Kreylyn]

Do a search for Texas DMV inspection and equiptment laws... you can find them pretty easily, and will cover everything you need to know for your state.

These laws vary pretty significantly state to state.

Krey

[The CyberPoet]

US DOT standard calls for the blinkers to be a minimum of 10 or 12" apart and 4" off the brake light, or some such on bikes. Most states have laws that require DOT compliance. As Kreylyn noted, check your local statutes for requirements.

Cheers
=-= The CyberPoet

[squiggy]

Texas motorcycle laws, Chapter II

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/msb/txmclaws.htm#chapter2

Specifically turn signal lamps law for motor vehicles.

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/msb/txmclaws.htm#trc547324

[jonathanmaples]

thats what i needed to know thanks guys i was told that if i put the clears on it it would be illeagle. doesnt look that way to me

[JokerZwild]

thats what i needed to know thanks guys i was told that if i put the clears on it it would be illeagle. doesnt look that way to me

so long as you are using amber bulbs the clear lens is fine.

[HemiKat]

Ive been stopped for things like this on cars (My 27 didnt even have brake lights, so I had to use hand signals, oddly enough 99% of people dont know hand signals, expecially the one for braking).... what they normally do it give you a "fix-it" ticket... meaning they give you 48 hours to correct the problem, get it veified by and officer and you wont have to pay a ticket. It most has to do with three things 1) Cops mood 2) Your attitude 3)Your driving record

[squiggy]

so long as you are using amber bulbs the clear lens is fine.

Right.

Many of OEM models are now going with clear signals with amber bulbs, which means they are DOT approved.

[STULER]

If you have signals , they must work . If they work , you are legal . If you have no signlas , you must use hand signals , which IS legal , though most no longer understand what they mean .

Hit the nail on the head with this one

[ICEG]

well if you were chuck noris laws wouldnt apply to you .....but since you are not just order some off of ebay

[40something]

Something to be aware of. When considering the undertail mods and intergrated taillight and turn sigs there are some cities that will ticket for these. We have seen a lot of this in Overland Park, Lexna and Leawood area of Kansas. The LEO's are ticketing due to the bike not having the stock taillight with the DOT approved reflectors and they are not allowing for any aftermarket rear facing reflectors. The judges are upholding these tickets as well so no one is getting off. Just something to think about.

[Psycho1]

Some states require a minimum size for turn signals also. WA requires something like 3 sq inches each and spaced a minimum of 9" apart, with no minimum distance from the tail/brake light. OR just says must have turn signals visable from both the front and rear. ANother funny little note on WA's required equipment would be that almost every motorcycle sold in the state brand new has been illegal. WA law states the rear fender must hang down behind the rear tire at least to the centerline of the rear axle. Most bikes rear fenders don't come down nearly that far.