I have seen wording thating the side reflectors in the front must be amber in color. I'll give it a quick look to see if i can find official wording but i'm not gonna go nuts.


To the OP, toss an amber bulb in and don't sweat it.

 

the CFR (code of federal regulations) is going to read the same - just different regulation numbers.

You will not find an OEM vehicle in the US that does not have amber lights visible from the side of vehicle mounted somewhere in the front. And no state will have a law that is different.

 

I can assure you there is no "legal" definition using the term "reflectors" as it relates to this subject... it's generally termed "clearance lamp".

 

Ok, i found this. This is CA law, so unsure if this applies to every state


24609. (a) A vehicle may be equipped with white or amber reflectors
that are mounted on the front of the vehicle at a height of 15
inches or more, but not more than 60 inches from the ground.


24607. Every vehicle subject to registration under this code shall
at all times be equipped with red reflectors mounted on the rear as
follows:


http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cacode...600-24617.html




But then i found this

Auto Recall Date: MAR 13, 2006


Vehicle Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
Estimated Vehicles Affected: 292000
Model Affected
2003 NISSAN ALTIMA


2003 Nissan Altima Defect Summary:
CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.¿


Defect Consequence:
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.


Remedy:
ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.


Estimated Vehicles Affected: 292000


SO nissan recalled some altimas because they didn't have the amber reflector in the headlight?

 

25102. In addition to the lamps otherwise permitted by this chapter, any motor vehicle may be equipped with lamps on the sides thereof, visible from the side of the vehicle but not from the front or rear thereof, which lamps, together with mountings or receptacles, shall be set into depressions or recesses in the body of the vehicle and shall not protrude beyond or outside the body of the vehicle. The light source in each of the lamps shall not exceed two candlepower and shall emit diffused light of any color, except that the color red is permitted only on authorized emergency vehicles.

There are plenty of provision in addition to the requirement... read the way the "white" front reflector provision is written: "May be"... there are things you can do, but require certain guidelines... then there are things that must be done as defined.

I can post the entire vehicle code as it pertains to lighting and reflectors if someone is interested.

The point is, you must have an amber clearance light on the side-front... meaning it must illuminate yellow - it doesn’t matter what color the lens is or whether or not it reflects... you may add reflective material and certain other lighting provided they meet with certain criteria - but that’s not what the thread topic is.

 

I was ticketed with a previous car a few times for having clear side markers here in AZ. They always gave me "fix it" ticketes so I put the old ones on and got it taken care of.


Also, I'll be in Oklahoma City Tues-Thurs for some FAA DER training.

 

was the bulb clear or amber?... if amber you should be able to turn on your lights and show them its amber and they'll be on their way... I’ve studied many aspects of vehicle codes and regulations (mainly commercial vehicles though) - and have never seen anything that says front sides must reflect.

 

Just get some Sylvania Silver Star turn signal bulbs and you will be all set. they are clear/chrome blue when off and when lit emit a 100% legal orange light.

http://www.sylvania.com/ConsumerProd...verStarSignal/

They are available at most automotive parts stores.

 

I just found the Federal Vehicle Code

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text....2.7.8&idno=49


At the bottom of the long *** page where they have the charts...they specify the front "reflex reflectors" on a passenger vehicle must be amber in color.



I'm trying to find the official wording in that paragraph, but its a ton of stuff to read.

 

I've seen those, but my original question is not the bulb color, but the reflectors themselves.

WOW, I had no idea this thread would blow up the way it has, a simple yes/no is what I had in mind. The only reason I was asking about this subject in the first place is because I don't want to get pulled over for them at night and then they find out I've been drinking an end up with a DUI

I know, you shouldn't drink and drive but lets be honest, who hasn't?? It's not like I'm *too* drunk to drive, but I am over the limit.. Now that I think about it, what is everyone's alcohol laws? might be a good thread if it isn't already posted... here it's .08% (I believe)

Anyways, I'll probably spend a few minutes in the cold before I head out to the bar tonight and change that bulb back to amber.. Thanks for all the quick replies and input

 

I see you have a black G35x. How about smoked corners?? In the day time, you can't even see them so they blend in perfectly with the car and are not noticable. At night, with an amber bulb, they look stock.


I'd show you pics, but my car is covered in salt and i'm not washing it since it's 5 degrees out

 

My brother was ticketed for clear lenses with the white bulb. Was given a fix it ticket and was told to put an amber bulb in. This was in MD btw...

 

no, it's not. i'm sure by way of the law i've driven drunk before. i'm sure, by way of the law i'll do it again. but i rarely drink, and honestly, i'm 6-6 and weigh about 240... over a three hour period i can drink about 4 beers and only register a .01... but be impaired enough to drive... i think the bac is an inherintly flawed test, and i'd rather be tested physically and mentally.

 

Most G coupes that I see in my area have clear corners. Like most of the other posters have said, this isn't really a cop attention grabber. I have hyper white bulbs in the corners and I haven't had any problems so far. The only lighting mods I think you would get pulled over for are exterior blue lights or anything else that is excessively bright.

In my opinion use amber or clear bulbs, which ever you like. If you get pulled over for something else be as polite as possible to the officer, and you should be just fine. If he nitpicks your car he would've done it regardless of your clear corners/bulbs.

 

Point "proven" it seems. You don't have to be an "alchy" to use the "alcky" logic.