Clear Corners and the Law

[Dr. Zoiberg]

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.

[Rhynolite]

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.

[sixfiveoh]

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.

[Rhynolite]

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.

[SeKKeY]

yup, ive gotten that ticket on my corolla. on my audi, nope

[biketsai]

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.

[Idrive]

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

[Seerlah]

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.

[speedydragon]

I've been clear cornered since 2002, and no hassle from cops what so ever. I'm in Cali too

[justincab]

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

[.Mad Hatter.]

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

[Seerlah]

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!

[Blake260]

newer (not the brandy new ones...I think B5.5) passats came from the factory with no amber in the headlights

[pac1085]

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.

[Black_97 A4]

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..

[SykoraA4]

yeah i heard you might not pass inspection if you try and sell your car but im not sure

[b6onboost]

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).

[mike-2ptzero]

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.

[onemoremile]

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.

And there is a D is Zoidberg.

[ModifiedA4]

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 :)

[generik777]

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.

[mike-2ptzero]

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.

[generik777]

I meant that it doesn't make sence for a B5.

Ooh, Disregard then

[onemoremile]

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?