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  1. #1
    Registered Member One Ring Dr. Zoiberg's Avatar
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    Clear Corners and the Law

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    I'm sure that most of you that read this have either replaced your headlights with ones that have clear corners or performed a mod to remove the amber lens inside. lately, i've been thinking of doing this, but when i was looking around at other cars, ALL of them seem to have either the amber lens or an amber reflector on the front of the car. so but my question is this: is there a legal requirement which states that one must have an amber corner or reflector on the front of the car? or does the turn-signal bulb just have to be yellow? Thanks a ton

    I'm in California, if that helps.
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  2. #2
    Veteran Member Four Rings Rhynolite's Avatar
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    Re: Clear Corners and the Law

    I'm in Cali too and I've been rocking white bulbs in my corners and sidemarkers for a few months now and not a single cop has hassled me about them.

  3. #3
    Veteran Member Four Rings sixfiveoh's Avatar
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    Re: Clear Corners and the Law

    Pretty sure it's a law that you have to have an amber reflector. However, I've been running my ecodes with amber bulbs and haven't had any problems for almost a year now. It's on of those laws that isn't really enforced too strongly.
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  4. #4
    Veteran Member Four Rings Rhynolite's Avatar
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    Re: Clear Corners and the Law

    Quote Originally Posted by sixfiveoh View Post
    Pretty sure it's a law that you have to have an amber reflector. However, I've been running my ecodes with amber bulbs and haven't had any problems for almost a year now. It's on of those laws that isn't really enforced too strongly.
    Yeah one of my friends got blue corners in his Civic (go figure right ) and actually went around looking for cops so he could turn his signals on to see if they would pull him over. Not a single one did.

  5. #5
    Veteran Member Four Rings SeKKeY's Avatar
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    Re: Clear Corners and the Law

    yup, ive gotten that ticket on my corolla. on my audi, nope
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  6. #6
    Veteran Member Four Rings biketsai's Avatar
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    Re: Clear Corners and the Law

    I really doubt cops are going to get you for that unless they have nothing else better to do.
    Just to be safe, I would get bulbs that were yellow when lit.
    I havent had a problem yet.
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  7. #7
    Established Member Two Rings Idrive's Avatar
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    Re: Clear Corners and the Law

    yea i'll attest to that too, i've been with clear bulbs for a year now and have never been hassled about it

    if you're still concerned about it just rock it all the time with the city lights on

  8. #8
    Veteran Member Four Rings Seerlah's Avatar
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    Re: Clear Corners and the Law

    I am no law expert, but I believe the law requires the blinker to lumintate yellow. The color of the bulb can be whatever, but when turned on, it must be yellow. They are distracting to other drivers like underglows.

  9. #9
    Veteran Member Four Rings speedydragon's Avatar
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    Re: Clear Corners and the Law

    I've been clear cornered since 2002, and no hassle from cops what so ever. I'm in Cali too
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  10. #10
    Registered Member One Ring
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    Re: Clear Corners and the Law

    I'm in Nor Cal and new to Audis, where's the best place to get clear corners for my 03 a4 cabriolet?

  11. #11
    Veteran Member Four Rings .Mad Hatter.'s Avatar
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    Re: Clear Corners and the Law

    i have clear corners with amber stealth bulbs...no issues, i love the setup

  12. #12
    Veteran Member Four Rings Seerlah's Avatar
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    Re: Clear Corners and the Law

    Quote Originally Posted by justincab View Post
    I'm in Nor Cal and new to Audis, where's the best place to get clear corners for my 03 a4 cabriolet?
    There ya go. And welcome to Audizine. There are many advertisers on this site, Puremotersports is one of them. Peace!

  13. #13
    Veteran Member Three Rings
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    Re: Clear Corners and the Law

    newer (not the brandy new ones...I think B5.5) passats came from the factory with no amber in the headlights
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  14. #14
    Veteran Member Four Rings
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    Re: Clear Corners and the Law

    yeah but they probably have amber reflectors on the front bumper. theres some sort of law that requires amber reflectors on the front, either in the headlights, or around that area if not in the headlights.

  15. #15
    Senior Member Three Rings Black_97 A4's Avatar
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    Re: Clear Corners and the Law

    I dont know about in Cali, but in PA your supposed to have amber reflectors on the front so that someone can see you from the side, with lights on and off. So without that it should make it hard to see you and probably wont pass...but cops shouldn't bother you, they're stupid..
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  16. #16
    Veteran Member Four Rings SykoraA4's Avatar
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    Re: Clear Corners and the Law

    yeah i heard you might not pass inspection if you try and sell your car but im not sure
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  17. #17
    Veteran Member Four Rings b6onboost's Avatar
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    Re: Clear Corners and the Law

    Google is your friend:

    "The amber reflector and the amber blinking bulb are a US DOT requirement (FMVSS 108). Every car that is made in the US or imported into the US must comply with these Federal regulations. Individual states can vary this requirement (ie. California allows clear or amber turn signal bulbs)."

    So apparently you are allowed to have clear corners, but the bulb must illuminate amber, and there must be an amber reflector on the car.

    Enforcement however depends on location and type of car. Drive a riced out civic and you'll probably get hassled...drive an audi and 99% of people won't even notice you removed the amber lense. (except other Audi owners).

  18. #18
    Account Terminated Four Rings mike-2ptzero's Avatar
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    Re: Clear Corners and the Law

    Quote Originally Posted by b6onboost View Post
    Google is your friend:

    "The amber reflector and the amber blinking bulb are a US DOT requirement (FMVSS 108). Every car that is made in the US or imported into the US must comply with these Federal regulations. Individual states can vary this requirement (ie. California allows clear or amber turn signal bulbs)."

    So apparently you are allowed to have clear corners, but the bulb must illuminate amber, and there must be an amber reflector on the car.

    Enforcement however depends on location and type of car. Drive a riced out civic and you'll probably get hassled...drive an audi and 99% of people won't even notice you removed the amber lense. (except other Audi owners).
    Too bad most people in the world dont use their blinkers at all.


    BTW you cant have "clear corners" and have a amber reflector on the car. So your 1 sentence up above makes no sense, it has to be one or the other since the bulb sits behind the reflector.

  19. #19
    Veteran Member Four Rings onemoremile's Avatar
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    Re: Clear Corners and the Law

    DOT says no clear corners. You have to have amber reflectors to be legal. Most officers don't seem to care and it is treated a bit like tint or a loud exhaust. If they are bored and want to pull someone over to look for more then you've just given them another reason.

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  20. #20
    Veteran Member Three Rings
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    Re: Clear Corners and the Law

    Quote Originally Posted by onemoremile View Post
    DOT says no clear corners. You have to have amber reflectors to be legal.
    this is confusing.

    clear corners + amber reflector on bumper = Legal

    just so we're clear :)
    Last edited by ModifiedA4; 03-31-2008 at 07:31 AM.

  21. #21
    Veteran Member Three Rings generik777's Avatar
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    Re: Clear Corners and the Law

    Quote Originally Posted by mike-2ptzero View Post
    BTW you cant have "clear corners" and have a amber reflector on the car.
    Yes you can. The headlight assembly itself can be completely clear, with clear corners. But the turn signal must have an amber bulb when lit. The amber reflector can be anywhere in the front corner of the car, It does not have to be in the headlight or turn signal assembly. An example would be to look at the newer audis which have a reflector on the bumper rather than the headlight assembly. I know some cars still have this reflector light up with a bulb, But it is not required. And to tell you the truth I dont think most cops would even think to check if your car complies.

  22. #22
    Account Terminated Four Rings mike-2ptzero's Avatar
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    Re: Clear Corners and the Law

    Quote Originally Posted by generik777 View Post
    Yes you can. The headlight assembly itself can be completely clear, with clear corners. But the turn signal must have an amber bulb when lit. The amber reflector can be anywhere in the front corner of the car, It does not have to be in the headlight or turn signal assembly. An example would be to look at the newer audis which have a reflector on the bumper rather than the headlight assembly. I know some cars still have this reflector light up with a bulb, But it is not required. And to tell you the truth I dont think most cops would even think to check if your car complies.

    I meant that it doesn't make sence for a B5, last time I checked thats what we owned seeing that this is the B5 A4 forum not the B7 or OT forum.


    In general I know it applies to other cars because I know they have other refectors on the front of the car. But the subject was about our B5 car which has the reflector in the head light.
    Last edited by mike-2ptzero; 03-31-2008 at 07:47 AM.

  23. #23
    Veteran Member Three Rings generik777's Avatar
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    Re: Clear Corners and the Law

    Quote Originally Posted by mike-2ptzero View Post
    I meant that it doesn't make sence for a B5.
    Ooh, Disregard then

  24. #24
    Veteran Member Four Rings onemoremile's Avatar
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    Re: Clear Corners and the Law

    Or older cars. I'm pretty sure this is still the B5 A4 forum though. Anyone want to stick an amber reflector in their bumper?

    Jim

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