integrated taillight fix it ticket

[gundamit1]

Hello board,

I was wondering if anybody has gotten pulled over for having integrated tail lights on there bike?

My story is that i was recently pulled over for not having tail light stalk blinkers and was told that my integrated tail light was illegal. So I was ticketed for that and not for my watsen flushies on the front of the bike which he commented that those need to be visible up to 500ft in broad day light(I was like WTF). I just checked the state law here in Nevada for turn signals and here is what is stated:

NRS 486.271 Turn signals.

1. Every motorcycle manufactured after January 1, 1973, which is sold or offered for sale and which is intended to be operated upon the highways of this State shall be equipped with electric turn signal lamps.

2. Such lamps shall be located on the front and rear and shall indicate an intention to turn by flashing lights in the direction toward which the turn is to be made.

3. The lamps showing to the front shall be mounted on the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable and, when signaling, shall emit white or amber light, or any shade of light between white and amber.

4. The lamps showing to the rear shall be mounted on the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable, and, when signaling, shall emit red or amber light, or any shade of light between red and amber.

(Added to NRS by 1971, 1469; A 1973, 731)

Now I have the clear alternatives on my bike and the web site clearly states that they are D.O.T approved(usually If I see for off road use only I just avoid it for this type of hassle). Now there is nothing specific saying that these are illegal in the state Law or the website. The law only stating that they are to be mounted the "same level and as wideley spaced laterally as practicable", now from my understanding the tail light from CA fall within the law here in NV.

Am I wrong or is johnny law right for citing me? Are there any other sources that may be more in depth where I am able to check?

Funny thing is the cop pulled me over as soon as the light turned green(going straight). So I thought, well I'm not speeding so maybe he just wants to check out the bike!

Can I win if I fight this? I'm I missing something here or is there a reference I need to check? This Sh!t is frustrating.........


Link to finding NV state MC laws for my reference Linky

[gundamit1]

A little side note: They have "Las Vegas Extreme" on the front page of CA website as a distributer.

[03R6nCobra]

I'd say the area you have to worry about is how far apart they are spaced. In MD I believe they have to be X inches apart. That is probably the reason you were cited for it.

[gundamit1]

I understand that portion, the officer had mention that they were just illegal and that i needed to have turn signal stalks. He never said they had to be X inches apart.

Even on the ticket it says no turn signals....

So do I just sell the clear alternatives and pick up some turn signals? Or do I have a valid argument to try and plea to the desk jockey to sign off on my ticket?

Anyone else have a similar incident?

[03R6nCobra]

Gotcha so the officer took the stance that since the "turn signals" (in your case integrated brake lights) didn't have a stalk, they weren't turn signals. I would go talk to a lawyer and find out if you have a case because technically you do have turn signals. Can't you go get an opinion from a lawyer for free? Unless there's a lawyer on here that can chime in and is familiar with your state laws.

[gundamit1]

I wish I could talk to a lawyer for free. But you are correct on the position the officer took. Here in the state of NV I can remedy the fix it ticket by putting some turn signal stalks back on and just find a Officer,trooper, etc. to sign off on the ticket as it being fixed.

Now my way of thinking is I don't mind fixing it if I was in the wrong. But I refuse to if the law is open to interpretation like that.

Now what else can I do or should try to remedy this....?

[NVKrawler]

You're all good man, it does not state in there in any way that they cant be right next to eachother, it has to state specifically how far apart.

Remember, us Nevadans live in a free state, in Reno that would have not happened, Vegas must be more strict... I can see that happening in Cali but, here? What a fucker!

[dazhahs23]

Originally Posted by gundamit1

NRS 486.271 Turn signals.
4. The lamps showing to the rear shall be mounted on the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable, and, when signaling, shall emit red or amber light, or any shade of light between red and amber.

This portion says nothing about the actual distance required. "As practicable" is "as practicable" when using an integrated light.

Originally Posted by gundamit1

Now there is nothing specific saying that these are illegal in the state Law or the website. The law only stating that they are to be mounted the "same level and as wideley spaced laterally as practicable", now from my understanding the tail light from CA fall within the law here in NV.

I agree

Originally Posted by gundamit1

Am I wrong or is johnny law right for citing me?

No...I think it is easily arguable.

Originally Posted by gundamit1

Can I win if I fight this? I'm I missing something here or is there a reference I need to check? This Sh!t is frustrating.........

I think you should be able to fight it...Plead not guilty, take a video of your bike's integrated light with the brake light depressed, then each blinker. In court, question the officer about his reasoning for the citation and then play the video in court and ask the officer to see if he can see the blinkers. If he says yes, which he has to when they blink, point out that these meet the criteria of the vehicle code in Nevada. Should be a straight forward win...good luck

[gundamit1]

Originally Posted by NVKrawler

You're all good man, it does not state in there in any way that they cant be right next to eachother, it has to state specifically how far apart.

Remember, us Nevadans live in a free state, in Reno that would have not happened, Vegas must be more strict... I can see that happening in Cali but, here? What a fucker!

I totally agree about us being a free state. They are more on edge here though as it is a bigger city.

Funny thing is I used to live in Reno up in the north valleys and I cant even recall when the last time I got pulled over...lol

We should set up a mini meet next time I get over there. I most likely have to rent or borrow one of my buds bikes.

Thanks for the input.

[gundamit1]

Originally Posted by dazhahs23

This portion says nothing about the actual distance required. "As practicable" is "as practicable" when using an integrated light.


I agree


No...I think it is easily arguable.


I think you should be able to fight it...Plead not guilty, take a video of your bike's integrated light with the brake light depressed, then each blinker. In court, question the officer about his reasoning for the citation and then play the video in court and ask the officer to see if he can see the blinkers. If he says yes, which he has to when they blink, point out that these meet the criteria of the vehicle code in Nevada. Should be a straight forward win...good luck

:


I figured as much and I will double check to see if there is any specific county law that might contend with the state law.

Most likely before the court date I will stop by a substation and see if there is an officer (I believe it's called officer of the day down in Cali) who can sign off on it as being o.k. and rectify it on the computer.

If not I will fight this in court, but great idea about video taping it as well.

If anything I would like to avoid going to court as it is well out of the way. But it seems that this has already been an inconvenience.

Thanks to all for the input.