LEO and headlights

[mar]

So, I am in Pleasanton this week and notice a motocycle at a traffic light waiting for the light to change. As is my habit, I take a closer look at the bike to identify it. Turns out to be a LEO.
This LEO is riding without a headlight on. Am I mistake or don't ALL motorcycles sold after 1979 required by law to have headlights on?

 

[Kornholio]

The Police Road Kings have a switch to turn off the headlight. Officer probably forgot or did it on accident and hadn't realized it yet.

 

[Tharkûn]

Our BMWs can turn off also.

Unless I'm actively pacing someone or if I'm parked with the key on looking for violations, I always have my lights on. Some people like to turn them off pretty much all the time so they can be more stealth but I'd rather not get hit.

 

[Kornholio]

So in other words the law does not apply to police motors?

 

[Razel]

So, I am in Pleasanton this week and notice a motocycle at a traffic light waiting for the light to change. As is my habit, I take a closer look at the bike to identify it. Turns out to be a LEO.
This LEO is riding without a headlight on. Am I mistake or don't ALL motorcycles sold after 1979 required by law to have headlights on?

25650.5. Every motorcycle manufactured and first registered on and after January 1, 1978, shall be equipped with at least one and not more than two headlamps which automatically turn on when the engine of the motorcycle is started and which remain lighted as long as the engine is running. This section does not preclude equipping motorcycles used as authorized emergency vehicles with a switch to be used to turn off the headlamp during emergency situations or when the light would interfere with law enforcement, if the switch is removed prior to resale of the motorcycle.

They get to turn theirs off if they need to.

So in other words the law does not apply to police motors?

I see a cellphone-usage type of discussion coming on ...

 

[Kornholio]

I don't think cruising in Pleasanton working your beat is an example of "interfering with law enforcement", Ray.

 

[CAmudgeon]

Ha - I once saw a PD Harley in Vegas waiting at a light at night with his light off. I gestured to him (beer in hand) and he promptly fired up the engine and gave me a thumbs up at which point the light came on - d'oh on my part! Guess the Harleys overheat sitting at lights in Vegas...

 

[Razel]

I don't think cruising in Pleasanton working your beat is an example of "interfering with law enforcement", Ray.

Ah, so you know what he was doing at the time?

 

[Kornholio]

Ah, so you know what he was doing at the time?

Sitting at a stop light in Pleasanton, out in the open, hardly implies that anything would be interfered with requiring his headlight to be off.

 

[Traq]

Sitting at a stop light in Pleasanton, out in the open, hardly implies that anything would be interfered with requiring his headlight to be off.

So a patrol officer riding around looking for violations isn't out enforcing the law all the time?

It's at the officer's discretion. You're picking at semantics that only existing in your head.

 

[Kornholio]

So a patrol officer riding around looking for violations isn't out enforcing the law all the time?

It's at the officer's discretion. You're picking at semantics that only existing in your head.

So does the officer get the same opinion from you when they're picking semantics in their head regarding something you weren't doing on purpose? Gotta love that whole "officer's word against yours", and the fact that they're always right in a court of law because they're a cop, right? God forbid anyone else could have a valid and rational thought in regards to LEO's.


Settle down. I was just jabbing at Ray.

 

[Razel]

So does the officer get the same opinion from you when they're picking semantics in their head regarding something you weren't doing on purpose? Gotta love that whole "officer's word against yours", and the fact that they're always right in a court of law because they're a cop, right? God forbid anyone else could have a valid and rational thought in regards to LEO's.


Settle down. I was just jabbing at Ray.

Yeah, but ... he's right. Well, maybe his last sentence was a bit harsh.

 

[Kornholio]

Yeah, but ... he's right.

Says who? I'd put money on the fact that he didn't even know it was turned off.

 

[Razel]

Says who? I'd put money on the fact that he didn't even know it was turned off.

You're moving to San Diego. How'm I gonna collect?

 

[Traq]

So does the officer get the same opinion from you when they're picking semantics in their head regarding something you weren't doing on purpose? Gotta love that whole "officer's word against yours", and the fact that they're always right in a court of law because they're a cop, right? God forbid anyone else could have a valid and rational thought in regards to LEO's.


Settle down. I was just jabbing at Ray.

You seem to be the one wound up about nothing.

Your argument just smelled like the same tired old internet nitpicking I've heard over and over..."but the sign says one CAR per green!"

Says who? I'd put money on the fact that he didn't even know it was turned off.

For every CHP motor I see with the headlight on I easily see 20 with the light off. Maybe you only just see motor cops when it's dusk or dawn, or at the end of their shifts going back to the office.

 

[LongGoneJohn]

I used to ride my motor with the headlight off. The BMW headlight drowned out my forward facing reds/blues, so no one would pull the fuck over. Turned the headlight off, and walla, the red/blues worked better.

No one saw me either way, light or on off, so I didn't really notice any increased "danger."

 

[NorCalBusa]

I used to ride my motor with the headlight off. The BMW headlight drowned out my forward facing reds/blues, so no one would pull the fuck over. Turned the headlight off, and walla, the red/blues worked better.

No one saw me either way, light or on off, so I didn't really notice any increased "danger."

Sounds like you need better reds/blues...

 

[silversvs]

I'm guessing the officer didn't realize the light was off. I know all the motors in our area and don't know any of them intentionally leaving the light off. On the BMW the switch is in a stupid place and occasionally I hit it without realizing it. The HD has an "idiot" light to tell you the headlight is off. The BMW does not.

 

[Mayhem]

daytime headlights are required in cali, you should of given him a verbal warning and tell him if you see him again with no lights on your gonna give him a ticket...i would. the law is the law.

 

[mar]

The LEO I saw was on a HD and the light was probablly broken.

Seriously, why would the police bikes come equiped with the off switch in the first place? I don't mind saying, I wish all my bikes had a switch. I know I can buy then from europe for about $250. That is just too much for my little quirk.

I don't like to start my bikes with the headlight on and there are times when I like to be less noticed .I feel that while headlight might make you more visable, there are times when having them on is just an annoyance.

And that is a different topic.

I am just courious why a LOE can get the switch and the public can't.