Strobes and Wig-Wag Kits

DRaider90

DRaider90

Uwharrie Off-Road Volunteering
Joined
Oct 23, 2007
Location
Weddington, NC
After reading the flashing lights + siren thread I figured I would post up about this. It seems putting strobes and wig wag kits on your 4x4 rig is becoming a more common thing. I don't know if one could argue any "safety" factor to it, but more than likely it is because people think it looks cool.

So what are your guys opinions on this? I think the cost ratio outweighs the "neat/cool" factor that may be had. $200 for a kit to make your turn signals/tail lights flash rapidly isn't worth it in my book.

Here is an example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iMOwAoLBC4

Another Example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7oytOXdJ_4

This is a whole different direction that will probably bring up other issues not related, but it is interesting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmOMV5Z1Zss
 
Other than emergency vehicles, flashing lights are illegal, with the exception of turn signals used for what they were designed for.

Only colors allowed in the front of a non emergency vehicles is amber, and while. Only light allowed on the rear is red or clear.

Operating any type strobes in a non emergency situation, will get you a big fat ticket
 
upnover said:
Operating any type strobes in a non emergency situation, will get you a big fat ticket
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How do the private road crews (some have BLUE LEO lights mounted in late model Crown Vics!) & city landscaping/garbage flunkies justify them?

While I'd agree it's dangerous to work on/near the roadways, paving/raking mulch/collecting roadkill/taking a nap under a large tree :rolleyes: ain't exactly emergency situations... :shaking:
 
pretty sure you can run flashing amber all you want. ie on your tow rig when towing or etc..seen it a bunch. just like a wrecker or running your hazard lights...I know wigwags are a big ass fine if caught playing with them on the road
 
only kind of flashing light that is legal on your ride around here is something like this:
awww.zorin_industries.co.uk_host_zorin_ebay_rotatingf_1241459615_15655.jpg


strobes, wig wags, blue or red lights and pretty much anything cool is illegal to run on the street or in town.
 
Strobes are legal...you just can't use the same colors as emergency vehicles. I've had whites in my rigs (headlights and reverse lights) for quite a few years and have run them in several other vehicles, and it's always the same story...stay away from blues and reds.
 
UTfball68 said:
Strobes are legal...you just can't use the same colors as emergency vehicles. I've had whites in my rigs (headlights and reverse lights) for quite a few years and have run them in several other vehicles, and it's always the same story...stay away from blues and reds.
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There are only two vehicles that can legally have flashing headlights or strobes in the headlights. Those are ambulances and law enforcement vehicles. Fire trucks are technically not allowed to have them in NC. Some of our older reserve trucks do have flashing headlights but they are still illegal. You can have flashing amber lights. And ANY rear facing clear lights are illegal unless they are reverse lights. You will not even see an emergency vehicle with clear strobes in the rear. The law pertains to moving vehicles. For stationary purposes the law is different.
 
SolarYellow05 said:
There are only two vehicles that can legally have flashing headlights or strobes in the headlights. Those are ambulances and law enforcement vehicles. Fire trucks are technically not allowed to have them in NC. Some of our older reserve trucks do have flashing headlights but they are still illegal.
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So the local PD and install shops don't know WTF they're talking about? Really not trying to argue, but from those sources, I've always been told it was fine as long as it wasn't blue or red.
 
I've been on several apparatus spec committees for fire apparatus and ambulances and that is the law we have to follow. Whether or not the law is known or enforced is a whole different story. I'm sure it's hard for leo's to keep up with every law and I guess that isn't one they really worry too much with. And pretty much as long as you're not impersonating a gov't official I don't think they make a big deal of it.
 
Alright thanks...like I said, wasn't trying to argue, but be enlightened. Because this is the first time I've ever heard they were illegal and was shocked considering my prior conversations.
 
I have a federal signal clear corner strobe kit for sale for $75. It comes with 4-bulbs, 4-wires, 1-controller, and instructions for install. We have them in all our company vehicles, but I live in SC. PM me if anyone wants it. Its new in the box. Just dont need it.
 
It is legal to have flashing headlights, HOWEVER, you can't alter the factory wiring, so that limits you to installing a strobe or secondary bulb in the headlight housing.

White isn't allowed on the rear of a moving vehicle. Amber and red in the rear is cool, and clear/white/amber are the only things allowed in the front.

I used to run my amber rears and white strobes up front when I was towing my rig with my old dually. Never had anyone bother me.
 
strobes

question..

than how can volunteer firefighters and EMT's get away with it. i see many in my area using red strobes and sirens too...
i've seen it many times...
(when i lived in Pa and ran ambulance, we had to have permission to use and buy them...)

i can dig around a little..

but really, why would you want it on there??..if you cause an accident using them, i'd think you be in big trouble....

don't they eat up your battery too??
 
viper red cj-7 said:
but really, why would you want it on there??..if you cause an accident using them, i'd think you be in big trouble....
don't they eat up your battery too??
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I use them to look pretty in parades and shows on some of my rigs, other rigs I use them while plowing and yanking folks out of ditches. The latter isn't as prevalent down here...but it carried over from when I lived in Wisconsin. As for battery usage...never had an issue with a single battery and a 3g.
 
viper red cj-7 said:
question..
than how can volunteer firefighters and EMT's get away with it. i see many in my area using red strobes and sirens too...
i've seen it many times...
(when i lived in Pa and ran ambulance, we had to have permission to use and buy them...)
i can dig around a little..
Click to expand...

Um - when their lights are on, aren't they serving as an emergency vehicle? That pretty much fullfills the requirement stated above.
 
I figured there would be a lot of discussion about legalities, and I did learn a thing or two. But it basically re-enforced what I figured earlier, clear/amber is usually acceptable and stay away from red/blue in most cases (for on-road use anyway).

But I was really wondering about people using them off-road where the legal issue isn't a factor. I have seen trail leaders running them while wheeling (guys at the front of a group). A guy was arguing that they are for safety, and alert other wheelers that they are coming on the trail. I still figure he just thought they looked cool (he was running amber/clear up front with wig wag headlights, and red/amber in the back).

Now one thing I didn't think of, but during the summer at Uwharrie on the service roads I think it would be a plus. Because some people don't put their lights on and it can get interesting in the dust clouds trying to avoid on-coming traffic. I think in that case you could make an argument for running clear/amber strobes based on safety, and not just "cool" factor".
 
Even if I was doing something for off-road only where you could run blue/red it is just something I wouldn't mess with. I think for a situation like the dust bowl at Uwharrie on the service roads amber/clear could be useful. But on the trail I don't see a major argument to use them for safety. Unless you think on night runs when the trails aren't busy anyway you think they would help.:confused:

So any other comments on trail/off-road use of strobes etc? :beer:
 
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