Got blue lighted on way to work this morning

[Venturous Randy]

As I was coming to work at about 7am, I came upon a city cop in front of me that quickly moved into the right lane on a 40mph 4 lane city street. After I passed, he moved back in behind me and paced me for close to a mile. He then blue lighted me and I stopped, blocking the right lane. I knew I was not speeding, so I was curious as to why he stopped me.

When he came up beside me, he advised me that running a strobe in my headlight was against the law. I told him that it was interesting that I have had a strobe in my bike for 13 years and was within about 30 miles of putting 100,000 miles on it and he was the first that had ever taken issue with it. I also told him that I had the flash frequency set slower so that it would not be confused as an emergency vehicle. When he told me that for sure I had better not be caught by a Tennessee State Trooper. I told him I had been pulled over by a TST for a strobe, but it was in my taillight lens, activated by the brake. The TST told me that he pulled me over because I had it behind a red lens and a colored strobe was not legal. I also told the city cop that I showed the TST my headlight strobe and he did not take issue with it.

I told him I did it to be seen for safety"s sake and he admitted there had been 5 cyclist's death in our area so far this year. He then told me that he also rode a motorcycle. When I asked him what he rode, he would only say that he had two "sport bikes".

He told me that he was not going to give me a ticket, but he sure did have an arrogent attitude.

I wonder if I can go another 13 years and 100,000 miles without getting pulled over for a strobe?

RandyA

[juggler]

As I was coming to work at about 7am, I came upon a city cop in front of me that quickly moved into the right lane on a 40mph 4 lane city street. After I passed, he moved back in behind me and paced me for close to a mile. He then blue lighted me and I stopped, blocking the right lane. I knew I was not speeding, so I was curious as to why he stopped me.

When he came up beside me, he advised me that running a strobe in my headlight was against the law. I told him that it was interesting that I have had a strobe in my bike for 13 years and was within about 30 miles of putting 100,000 miles on it and he was the first that had ever taken issue with it. I also told him that I had the flash frequency set slower so that it would not be confused as an emergency vehicle. When he told me that for sure I had better not be caught by a Tennessee State Trooper. I told him I had been pulled over by a TST for a strobe, but it was in my taillight lens, activated by the brake. The TST told me that he pulled me over because I had it behind a red lens and a colored strobe was not legal. I also told the city cop that I showed the TST my headlight strobe and he did not take issue with it.

I told him I did it to be seen for safety"s sake and he admitted there had been 5 cyclist's death in our area so far this year. He then told me that he also rode a motorcycle. When I asked him what he rode, he would only say that he had two "sport bikes".

He told me that he was not going to give me a ticket, but he sure did have an arrogent attitude.

I wonder if I can go another 13 years and 100,000 miles without getting pulled over for a strobe?

RandyA

 

He's dead wrong - Federal law says modulated head lights on motorcycles are legal in all states. Check with ABATE on this.

[Venturous Randy]

He's dead wrong - Federal law says modulated head lights on motorcycles are legal in all states. Check with ABATE on this.

 

There is a difference between a modulating headlight and a strobe and I have strobes.

RandyA

[BoomerCPO]

All the riders I know that have the headlight modulators also have a copy of the Federal Law on their bike with them.

 

To be fair....Not all LEO's are aware or are kept abreast of legislation concerning lighting on MC's.

 

Boomer.......who kicks his middle finger into "modulate mode" when needed.

[Guest seuadr]

Boomer.......who kicks his middle finger into "modulate mode" when needed.

 

oh that must be what i'm doing wrong.. i just turn mine on and leave it on

[ken]

There is a difference between a modulating headlight and a strobe and I have strobes.

RandyA

 

Correct! There is a difference between modulating and strobe! If I recall not long ago a member posted pics of his rear strobes and I tried to caution him and got jumped all over. Glad you didn't get a ticket, but it could happen.

[BuddyRich]

I think you may be heading for a ticket. There is a difference between a strobe flash and modulating a headlight. Here's the way it reads. If you get a ticket you'll lose. You'll notice it does not say anything about a flash of a secondary bulb and that it states the LO or HI beam which would be the bulb in the system

 

S7.9.4 Motorcycle headlamp modulation system.

S7.9.4.1 A headlamp on a motorcycle may be wired to modulate either the upper beam or the lower beam from its maximum intensity to a lesser intensity, provided that:

(a) The rate of modulation shall be 240 40 cycles per minute.

(b) The headlamp shall be operated at maximum power for 50 to 70 percent of each cycle.

© The lowest intensity at any test point shall be not less than 17 percent of the maximum intensity measured at the same point.

(d) The modulator switch shall be wired in the power lead of the beam filament being modulated and not in the ground side of the circuit.

(e) Means shall be provided so that both the lower beam and upper beam remain operable in the event of a modulator failure.

[juggler]

There is a difference between a modulating headlight and a strobe and I have strobes.

RandyA

 

 

Strobes as it the light goes completely off then on again? If so then your looking for trouble.

[Zfrebird4]

Blue is the color for the cops. They also use yellow, but we can use yellow strobes, too, as a caution and as long as they do not impair on coming vision. Mine are very small LED strobes, one UNDER my headlight, and one on each side of my faring. I intend to have another installed on the rear when I am cash ready. I DO carry the statement with me they are legal for non-police motorcycle riders. I bought them in Denver from the company that sells to motorcycle cop shops. Carring the paper on them is essential. I've never been stopped, and have been riding strobes since my second year of riding. HOWEVER, they don't mean a damn to a deer, as one took me down at 20 mph wanting a motorcycle ride on my front tire! LOL. I lived, the bike was State Farm parted out to save other first gen vrs. I am on my SECOND 1st gen VR, which is also an 86. I WAS INSTRUCTED to NEVER make any hand movements to suggest to riders in front to pull over! LOL.

 

NEGATIVE: I do have rides in front that do slow down, so I wave to them, turn them off and on, and wave bye bye. They take off. And, ... naturally, I do look for cops around before I do that.

 

I will be posting the source of purchase and a copy of the legal document I carry on line here, and so identified. Well, that is when CO warms; we are at the rare line of 1 degree above with 6 below last night; BUT the rest of this and the next week is in a warming mode. I ride again soon on Zfrebird4! (saddly, with no one on the Queen Seat; looking for that special one though; rare and hard to find).

 

JackZ

[Flyinfool]

I will be posting the source of purchase and a copy of the legal document I carry on line here, and so identified. Well, that is when CO warms; we are at the rare line of 1 degree above with 6 below last night; BUT the rest of this and the next week is in a warming mode. I ride again soon on Zfrebird4! (saddly, with no one on the Queen Seat; looking for that special one though; rare and hard to find).

 

JackZ

 

It should be warming up by now.

I need more lights.