Wipers on, lights must be on

[enki]

So, would you LEOs tell me how often how pull over cars during rainstorms to cite drivers for not having their lights on when they are running their windshield wipers.

I'm sure this is a high priority for you (thanks to our brilliant legislature) on rainy days when there are dozens of crashes and spinouts.

 

[Kornholio]

While I'm a proponent of the "wipers on, lights on" mentality (and my truck turns them on when the wipers are turned on at any speed automatically anyway), the law says:

(b) A motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, shall be operated during darkness, or inclement weather, or both, with at least two lighted headlamps that comply with subdivision (a).

(c) As used in subdivision (b), “inclement weather” is a weather condition that is either of the following:

(1) A condition that prevents a driver of a motor vehicle from clearly discerning a person or another motor vehicle on the highway from a distance of 1,000 feet.

(2) A condition requiring the windshield wipers to be in continuous use due to rain, mist, snow, fog, or other precipitation or atmospheric moisture.

Many vehicles these days have multiple settings for intermittent wipers. My truck has something like eight of them. Intermittent ≠ continuous use. That would be the basic low or high. For me, I rarely need to have my wipers in low or high mode as it just doesn't rain hard enough in California for me to not be able to see perfectly fine with just the intermittent settings. Thus, I can't imagine how an officer could write a ticket for a violation of CVC 24400 (b) unless they could show that the vehicle's wipers were in a continuous use mode and the headlights were not illuminated.

 

[ScottRNelson]

And if we get an answer from a LEO on that one, how about how often you write tickets for any of the following:

• Burned out headlight
• Burned out brake light (way too common) or tail light
• Cover over rear license plate making it nearly unreadable
• No front license plate on a car (I've been guilty of this one since the year 2000)
• Tinted windows in driver's door or windshield
• Driving at night with high beams on too close to other vehicles
• Headlights mis-aimed so they're up in the rearview mirror of normal cars
• Truck jacked up too high (some would have their front bumper come right over my trunk if they ran into me)

I've been wondering for a long time how often people get pulled over for all of these annoying little things wrong with their cars and burned out brake lights is at the top of my list, since I can rarely go five minutes in stop and go traffic without seeing at least one car with that issue.

 

[Stormdragon]

And if we get an answer from a LEO on that one, how about how often you write tickets for any of the following:

[*]Truck jacked up too high (some would have their front bumper come right over my trunk if they ran into me)
[/LIST]

And out here Scott, the one that really bugs me is:
No mudflaps on an even mildly lifted truck, tossing stones at my windshield.

 

[Shaggy]

So, would you LEOs tell me how often how pull over cars during rainstorms to cite drivers for not having their lights on when they are running their windshield wipers.

I'm sure this is a high priority for you (thanks to our brilliant legislature) on rainy days when there are dozens of crashes and spinouts.

In 7 years, I've probably written two(?). I like work at night, so if you don't have headlights on there are other things I'm worried about. I'm also not a big traffic enforcer.

And if we get an answer from a LEO on that one, how about how often you write tickets for any of the following:

• Burned out headlight
• Burned out brake light (way too common) or tail light
• Cover over rear license plate making it nearly unreadable
• No front license plate on a car (I've been guilty of this one since the year 2000)
• Tinted windows in driver's door or windshield
• Driving at night with high beams on too close to other vehicles
• Headlights mis-aimed so they're up in the rearview mirror of normal cars
• Truck jacked up too high (some would have their front bumper come right over my trunk if they ran into me)

I've been wondering for a long time how often people get pulled over for all of these annoying little things wrong with their cars and burned out brake lights is at the top of my list, since I can rarely go five minutes in stop and go traffic without seeing at least one car with that issue.

• Almost never.
• Almost never.
• Almost never.
• Almost never.
• Almost never.
• Never.
• Never.
• Never.

I stop people for those violations regularly, but only as a pretext. I want to keep it in play so the next time they are riding dirty with drugs/guns or high/drunk I know there will be a mechanical violation to legally stop the car.

I think BARF has a huge misconception about how cops spend their time. I probably only make 3-5 car stops per shift on average. The rest of the time is spent responding to calls, writing reports, booking evidence, processing prisoners, etc...

There is a huge difference in philosophy between CHP (or traffic cops in general) and your average patrol officer. I usually only write speeders if they are 15+ over the posted limit, stop signs at 10+ mph roll through, etc... Basically the violation has to be egregious. Don't do something where a citizen would say "I can't believe the cop just sat there and watched" and you'll be fine 99% of the time.

 

[Kornholio]

I think BARF has a huge misconception about how cops spend their time. I probably only make 3-5 car stops per shift on average. The rest of the time is spent responding to calls, writing reports, booking evidence, processing prisoners, etc...

There is a huge difference in philosophy between CHP (or traffic cops in general) and your average patrol officer. I usually only write speeders if they are 15+ over the posted limit, stop signs at 10+ mph roll through, etc... Basically the violation has to be egregious. Don't do something where a citizen would say "I can't believe the cop just sat there and watched" and you'll be fine 99% of the time.

Many folks think all police officers in a cruiser are working traffic.

 

[Rel]

I've written it once, and the one time I did I got soaked..... I just drive around and flash my headlights at vehicles hoping that the drivers turn them on.

And if we get an answer from a LEO on that one, how about how often you write tickets for any of the following:

• Burned out headlight
• Burned out brake light (way too common) or tail light
• Cover over rear license plate making it nearly unreadable
• No front license plate on a car (I've been guilty of this one since the year 2000)
• Tinted windows in driver's door or windshield
• Driving at night with high beams on too close to other vehicles
• Headlights mis-aimed so they're up in the rearview mirror of normal cars
• Truck jacked up too high (some would have their front bumper come right over my trunk if they ran into me)

• Every now and then.
• Every now and then.
• All the time.
• All the time.
• All the time.
• All the time.
• Not to often.

 

[Junkie]

In 7 years, I've probably written two(?). I like work at night, so if you don't have headlights on there are other things I'm worried about. I'm also not a big traffic enforcer.

• Almost never.
• Almost never.
• Almost never.
• Almost never.
• Almost never.
• Never.
• Never.
• Never.

I stop people for those violations regularly, but only as a pretext. I want to keep it in play so the next time they are riding dirty with drugs/guns or high/drunk I know there will be a mechanical violation to legally stop the car.

I think BARF has a huge misconception about how cops spend their time. I probably only make 3-5 car stops per shift on average. The rest of the time is spent responding to calls, writing reports, booking evidence, processing prisoners, etc...

There is a huge difference in philosophy between CHP (or traffic cops in general) and your average patrol officer. I usually only write speeders if they are 15+ over the posted limit, stop signs at 10+ mph roll through, etc... Basically the violation has to be egregious. Don't do something where a citizen would say "I can't believe the cop just sat there and watched" and you'll be fine 99% of the time.

I suppose by not writing the ticket for minor equipment violations it means they're less likely to fix it, and you're more likely to be able to pull them over late for it if you want.

 

[Shaggy]

I suppose by not writing the ticket for minor equipment violations it means they're less likely to fix it, and you're more likely to be able to pull them over late for it if you want.

Exactly! Keep it in play for me or the next cop to catch 'em ridin' dirtay.

 

[bojangle]

While I'm a proponent of the "wipers on, lights on" mentality (and my truck turns them on when the wipers are turned on at any speed automatically anyway), the law says:



Many vehicles these days have multiple settings for intermittent wipers. My truck has something like eight of them. Intermittent ≠ continuous use. That would be the basic low or high. For me, I rarely need to have my wipers in low or high mode as it just doesn't rain hard enough in California for me to not be able to see perfectly fine with just the intermittent settings. Thus, I can't imagine how an officer could write a ticket for a violation of CVC 24400 (b) unless they could show that the vehicle's wipers were in a continuous use mode and the headlights were not illuminated.

That would mean I have to get wet, right?

 

[Kornholio]

That would mean I have to get wet, right?

 

[NorCalBusa]

Dude, you had me at use of the "not equal to" sign...Dayum!

While I'm a proponent of the "wipers on, lights on" mentality (and my truck turns them on when the wipers are turned on at any speed automatically anyway), the law says:



Many vehicles these days have multiple settings for intermittent wipers. My truck has something like eight of them. Intermittent ≠ continuous use. That would be the basic low or high. For me, I rarely need to have my wipers in low or high mode as it just doesn't rain hard enough in California for me to not be able to see perfectly fine with just the intermittent settings. Thus, I can't imagine how an officer could write a ticket for a violation of CVC 24400 (b) unless they could show that the vehicle's wipers were in a continuous use mode and the headlights were not illuminated.

 

[NorCalBusa]

Don't forget; Faulty high-beam indicator light

And if we get an answer from a LEO on that one, how about how often you write tickets for any of the following:

• Burned out headlight
• Burned out brake light (way too common) or tail light
• Cover over rear license plate making it nearly unreadable
• No front license plate on a car (I've been guilty of this one since the year 2000)
• Tinted windows in driver's door or windshield
• Driving at night with high beams on too close to other vehicles
• Headlights mis-aimed so they're up in the rearview mirror of normal cars
• Truck jacked up too high (some would have their front bumper come right over my trunk if they ran into me)

I've been wondering for a long time how often people get pulled over for all of these annoying little things wrong with their cars and burned out brake lights is at the top of my list, since I can rarely go five minutes in stop and go traffic without seeing at least one car with that issue.

 

[Kornholio]

Dude, you had me at use of the "not equal to" sign...Dayum!

 

[packnrat]

not a leo. but twice i have been pulled over for a lp light out.
different counties one a chp one a county leo.
even different pu trucks.
one at night (chp).
other leo during the day time. ( had my lights on cause it was raining over the pass..-hwy 88).
no ticket both times, guess they were fishing for a real problem.
yes fixed the lights. one burned out, other just a bad ground.

one post here a bout mud flaps. not required if the fender /body of the pu truck covers so much or extends so far back from the tire. ( no i do not have the number for such).

and no truck/cage is responsible for "objects" kicked up from the rd.

see this wording on a lot of belly bottom dirt haulers.

.

 

[Shaggy]

and no truck/cage is responsible for "objects" kicked up from the rd.

see this wording on a lot of belly bottom dirt haulers.

.

Just because there is a sign saying it doesn't make it true. If the vehicle lacks required equipment that would have prevented the damage, I'd bet pesos to donuts a civil judge with side with the plaintiff.

 

[Rel]

I was told, as a CHP officer, there are only two times a CHP officer's uniform should ever get wet......

First: A tear when the badge goes on.
Second: A tear when the badge comes off at retirement.

 

[JimE]

I've written it once, and the one time I did I got soaked..... I just drive around and flash my headlights at vehicles hoping that the drivers turn them on.

• Every now and then.
• Every now and then.
• All the time.
• All the time.
• All the time.
• All the time.
• Not to often.

Nice to know somebody is getting folks for the headlight stuff. Annoying and dangerous to other drivers. As for the plates I'm a fan so the LEO knows who I am NOT. As in "These are NOT the droids you are looking for"!

 

[Shaggy]

I was told, as a CHP officer, there are only two times a CHP officer's uniform should ever get wet......

First: A tear when the badge goes on.
Second: A tear when the badge comes off at retirement.

Does that include your Ackerman onesie?

 

[bojangle]

I was told, as a CHP officer, there are only two times a CHP officer's uniform should ever get wet......

First: A tear when the badge goes on.
Second: A tear when the badge comes off at retirement.

How's that workin out for you so far?