Turn Your Lights On!

[Geek King]

The only problem with that is, in Wisconsin, the law says headlights are to be on from a half hour before sunset until a half hour after sunrise.

When the sheriff doesn't know the law, what hopE is there for anyone else?

I would double check that. It would make sense to write it that way, but in Ohio it is written the exact way that is quoted by the sheriff's office. Lights are legally to be on from a half hour after sunset til a half hour before sunrise, and in certain weather conditions.

Last Minute note: I got some gumption based on boredom today and looked it up real quick. Looking at Item (23) from the Wisconson definition of terms (Chapter 340) listed here, 'hours of darkness' is defined as the office of the sheriff stated: A half hour after sunset until a half hour before sunrise.

[Andara Bledin]

My take on lights is, if you want to run your running lights during the day, that's cool.
<< snippage>>
I do hate people who drive with their HEADlights on even during clear conditions, though.

Around here, driving with only your running lights on is a ticketable offense. I couldn't tell you why, just that you can get ticketed for it.

And properly adjusted headlights are seriously unlikely to cause most people any problems, even in the dark of night. The vast majority of all headlights are grievously misadjusted.

I remember a friend commenting that in the case of SUVs, they adjust the headlights before they set up the suspension, meaning that the lights are set for a vehicle the height of a sedan, and not one the height of an SUV.

May favorite headlight story takes place many moons ago on Memorial Day weekend, heading north on the 15. The time is just after sunset.

I'm in my mother's car, heading to visit relatives, and her speedometer doesn't work. I'm using traffic and random mile markers to gauge my general speed. I figure I'm doing about 80mph (the speed limit back then was still 55) and I glance over to notice that I'm being passed by a CHP officer. A couple miles down the road, I see the officer with a car pulled over. Not only had that car been going faster than me (they had passed me earlier), but the only reason I had noticed the car in the first place was because the idiots didn't have their lights on, yet, and it was nearly too dark to see them without.

Last Minute note: I got some gumption based on boredom today and looked it up real quick. Looking at Item (23) from the Wisconson definision of terms (Chapter 340) listed here, 'hours of darkness' is defined as the office of the sheriff stated: A half hour after sunset until a half hour before sunrise.

You know, that's pretty stupid, actually.

Isn't twilight, the time just before sunset, one of the most dangerous times to drive due to visibility issues caused by fading light levels?

^-.-^

[hecubus]

I would double check that. It would make sense to write it that way, but in Ohio it is written the exact way that is quoted by the sheriff's office. Lights are legally to be on from a half hour after sunset til a half hour before sunrise, and in certain weather conditions.

Last Minute note: I got some gumption based on boredom today and looked it up real quick. Looking at Item (23) from the Wisconson definision of terms (Chapter 340) listed here, 'hours of darkness' is defined as the office of the sheriff stated: A half hour after sunset until a half hour before sunrise.

Okay. Thanks for clearing that up for me.

[EricKei]

You know, that's pretty stupid, actually.

Isn't twilight, the time just before sunset, one of the most dangerous times to drive due to visibility issues caused by fading light levels?

^-.-^

I would think so, too...Especially given that waaaay too many people don't fell the need to have any lights on at all during those times, even if it's still rather dark out.

[Geek King]

You know, that's pretty stupid, actually.

Isn't twilight, the time just before sunset, one of the most dangerous times to drive due to visibility issues caused by fading light levels?

^-.-^

I agree that it doesn't make the most sense, but it is the letter of the law. It sounded good to someone when they voted on it.

[blas]

Must control the urge to bitch about people who think that their brights substitute for their regular headlights and that it's perfectly ok to drive around with their brights on in the middle of residential and commercial areas where other vehicles are around at night?!

Ugh, people who don't dim their lights when someone is coming.

People who are so damn paranoid or scared that anytime after dark, they have their brights on.....driving all over town with their brights on.....

[Geek King]

People who are so damn paranoid or scared that anytime after dark, they have their brights on.....driving all over town with their brights on.....

Perhaps they fear being eaten by grues.

[EricKei]

People who are so damn paranoid or scared that anytime after dark, they have their brights on.....driving all over town with their brights on.....

That's actually illegal here. You can't have your brights on at all within city limits unless you're on the interstate. Granted, it's never ever ever enforced, but it's still on the books.

[DGoddessChardonnay]

Perhaps they fear being eaten by grues.

I doubt grues would dare to eat them. They'd probably develop indigestion.

[Geek King]

I doubt grues would dare to eat them. They'd probably develop indigestion.

Ah, but the grues don't know until its too late. Its dark, after all.

[BookstoreEscapee]

A few people around here have them, but it's like they're set on a timer so as soon as it's 6:00 pm (or whatever the timer is set to), the lights come on.

My last car had a light sensor in the dashboard. When it got dark enough, the lights came on. If it was dark when you started the car they came on as soon as you took it out of park.

(b) use those thrice-damned "blue halogen" headlamps.

After the accident that totaled my last car, I went to the other driver's court date (just wanted to see what happened to him). We were there for a while before his case was called. Probably half of the cases we saw were for illegal window tinting, or illegal lights. Poor bailiff kept having to go outside to verify that the idiots had removed the illegal items from the car.

[HYHYBT]

You don't get twilight while the sun is in the sky. Only between dawn and sunrise and between sunset and dusk.

[AlleyCat]

Sounds like you guys need vehicles like 1995ish and newer Canadian vehicles, Low Beams always on when in not in PARK position.

[mattm04]

My 02 Chevy SUV has a sensor in the middle of the dash to automatically turn on the headlights, but also has DRLs. I know some GM models (notibally Cadillac) let you disable the auto headlights via a switch which I kind of like for certain situations.

[mharbourgirl]

I like the way my MIL's car is set up. 2004 Mazda 3, it has daytime running lights, and a neat little quirk: The dash lights will not come on unless you turn the headlights on. So you can't see the dash if it's dark.

I wish ALL cars came with this 'feature'. You have to be pretty damn stubborn to drive with no console lights AT ALL.