Why do cops love pulling over someone in a zx? got pulled over as they said my fog lights are on just bought the car and had the lights taken off as they come on with the normal lights, also why are the normal lightd so bad at night? can something be be done about that, are these running lights or not? These are the lights direclty at the bottom level at the front. does anyone know? cheers

rob

If you're talking about a jap spec, those lights are side lights. When I imported my car the side lights weren't working and it would have failed the MOT if I hadn't had them fixed. The fog lights are in the same housing as the side lights though, but obviously brighter.

 

What did the police do?

 

 

[This message has been edited by Dave Marley (edited 19-02-2002).]

I've been pulled for this as well. I just showed the cop the lights with the fogs on & off, and let him see the difference.

 

He was a bit awkward at first and claimed that you have to have sidelights in the same housing as the headlights, but when I pointed out it had been through an SVA he finally agreed that when they were sidelights and let me go.

Are the UK models different ? Do they have sidelights in the headlights ? Didn't notice them in the cars I've looked at.

That copper must have his brains in his y-fronts!

 

UK spec have the side-lights next to the indicators, below the headlights. In the Jap cars, these are fog lamps i believe, and the indicators are further around the side.

 

I suggest carrying a selection of fresh kipper in the glove box, just so you can slap him around the face next time he pulls you over!

 

Simon.

That must have smelt bad - I mean, what with all the talking out of his arse he was doing?

 

I trust after he mentioned it you pointed out the MR2, MKIII Supra, Celica, s13 200SX, Corolla, etc etc all of which have sidelights as a seperate light?

Thanks for everyones comments.Dave the car is not import are you saying that the lights at the front the square ones at the bottom are normal running lights and not fog lights?

the reasone why I say this is those lights did come on when I put the normal running lights on! now I've just got the small "very crap" round lights and the side lights by the indicators, nightmare for dring in the dark, I;ve resorted to putting on the highbeams no seems to notice when I'm driving

 

re: dave he or it told me I needed to get the lights changed, also got pulled over at the same time for having letters in a private reg incorrectly spaced and a dirty plate on the rear, no shit it;s been raining what a cunt!, anyway as you can imagine I was extreamly pissed off. called my garage up they told me they where normal lights. Then I called the police station and told them to correct the officers mistake, his mate at the time of pulling over said I was been unreasonable, bastard. now I drive at night with just those shitty round headlights, just don't whant the trouble

Rob:

 

On a Japanese car;

 

One click on the lights column should turn the rear running lights on, and front sidelights, which are in the same housing as the foglamp (the square one). They will be so dim as to not even illuminate the road at night.

 

Two clicks and you get the round lamps in the main unit - your dipped beam, and the sidelights.

 

Full beam obvious

 

If yours were so bright that it made a difference to your driving, then either your fogs were turned on, or someone wired the fogs to come on with the dipped beam. Yes it makes seeing where you are going easier, but a) people coming toward you can't see a f'king thing, and b) it is an offence to drive with your foglights on if the conditions do not warrant it..

 

So he was probably within his rights to pull you over unless you could demonstrate that they were of variable brightness (like John Dixon did)... Of course, it would still have been an offence to be driving with your fogs on, and you'd probably still get a producer... sorry..

 

All IMHO E&OE yada yada

thanks for the clarification yes I think someone had wired up the fogs to the main lights I've disconnected them now

hehehe try putting on those blue washer jet lights like i have, that really pisses em off. Highway code states flashing blue lights, are they flashing, NOPE

Lots of older European cars have side lights in a seperate housing..often down on the bumper.The old Z31 also has this arrangement.

Basically the cop was talking out of his rear end!

The law only applies to when your car was built, so if there is now a law that states you have to have the sidelights in the same housing, then this will only apply to new cars being built now, not older models from 10 years ago!Doh!

Why don't they go and hassle some Peugeot or Renault drivers, who always seem to drive with their front fogs on day or night?

 

[This message has been edited by Banzai (edited 20-02-2002).]