Pulled over by State Trooper! LEDs too bright?

[MojitoJLUR]

My first thought was since it was a holiday, this was a poor excuse for an officer to do an OWI check.

This was exactly it.

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[Armycop]

He was bored and looking for drunk drivers. Really weak probable cause for a traffic stop, the BS would have gotten the case dismissed from court.

 

[keviper]

July 4th. Went for a quick drive. Saw a VA State Trooper make a u-turn, didn't think too much of it. Not speeding. Immediately pulls behind me and flashes the lights. I pull over. He says I didn't do anything wrong, but tells me that I have illegal lights. I thought he was talking about my light bar and pod lights. Did I have them on? Nope. He asked if my headlights and fender lights were aftermarket or special addition. I said they were stock. He was surprised at how bright they were, he said that it made him turn his head away when we were passing. That was why he turned around. I told him this would be good for the forum and we laughed, he apologized for the inconvenience. Told him, no problem and be safe.

I guess these lights are that bright! Thought I'd share.

Waving from Richmond!

 

[am1978]

July 4th. Went for a quick drive. Saw a VA State Trooper make a u-turn, didn't think too much of it. Not speeding. Immediately pulls behind me and flashes the lights. I pull over. He says I didn't do anything wrong, but tells me that I have illegal lights. I thought he was talking about my light bar and pod lights. Did I have them on? Nope. He asked if my headlights and fender lights were aftermarket or special addition. I said they were stock. He was surprised at how bright they were, he said that it made him turn his head away when we were passing. That was why he turned around. I told him this would be good for the forum and we laughed, he apologized for the inconvenience. Told him, no problem and be safe.

I guess these lights are that bright! Thought I'd share.

Yes, they are bright, but a VA State Trooper is always lookin for this slightest thing to make revenue for the state.

 

[old8tora]

July 4th. Went for a quick drive. Saw a VA State Trooper make a u-turn, didn't think too much of it. Not speeding. Immediately pulls behind me and flashes the lights. I pull over. He says I didn't do anything wrong, but tells me that I have illegal lights. I thought he was talking about my light bar and pod lights. Did I have them on? Nope. He asked if my headlights and fender lights were aftermarket or special addition. I said they were stock. He was surprised at how bright they were, he said that it made him turn his head away when we were passing. That was why he turned around. I told him this would be good for the forum and we laughed, he apologized for the inconvenience. Told him, no problem and be safe.

I guess these lights are that bright! Thought I'd share.

I noticed same thing when a JL was parked directly in front of me waiting to turn left (east) , and I was in my JK parked directly in front of his Jl waiting to turn left (west) . I also thought that his headlights were unreasonably bright .

 

[wolfdog]

I think most of them are too bright to ocoming traffic! Just my opinion?

My grandson just got pulled over for his new LED license plate light, to "bluish"!!! Actually got a written warning and said "have it changed beore I see it again, town cop, MA!

Actually looked it up,can't be a blue light of any kind in front in but

 

[HiJinx69]

He was bored and looking for drunk drivers. Really weak probable cause for a traffic stop, the BS would have gotten the case dismissed from court.

Funny thing is, this happened in the morning.

 

[pittperson]

I've had people flash their brights at me more than once thinking my brights were one.

 

[Brad41]

I live in a rural area, and have oncomers flash their lights at me weekly. Had one unfriendly driver just leave their brights on the whole time they were in front of me even after I flashed. Of course my polite country upbringing prevented me from doing the same. (Uhhh huh!)

 

[NavyVet1959]

When I was stationed in Norfolk, I developed a bit of an opinion with respect toe VA cops -- they're assholes... But that was probably close to 40 years ago...

 

[JeepJL18]

Funny enough, he pointed to the fender lights that were the ones that blinded him.

I got the Diode Dynamics LED switchbacks which basically run like daytime running lamps. I haven't drove at night yet in my new but I'm just waiting for one if those mfers to pull that stunt!

 

[Shots]

My first thought was since it was a holiday, this was a poor excuse for an officer to do an OWI check.

Or maybe they're just bright, and it's not some big conspiracy by a person who is working on a day where everyone else is out enjoying picnics, family and fun. In just 8 replies there are 6 owners admitting they're bright. But you don't have to take my word for it. ↓↓↓

Yes, they are bright, but .......

..... I also thought that his headlights were unreasonably bright .

I think most of them are too bright to ocoming traffic! Just my opinion?.....

I've had people flash their brights at me more than once thinking my brights were one.

I live in a rural area, and have oncomers flash their lights at me weekly......

..... based on pure visual observation, they are definitely bright, but ......

 

[Shots]

Admittedly it could be an excuse to make a stop. However, it's not like he was making up pc. The Supreme Court says that ANY probable cause is valid to stop whether it's pretext to look for something else or not, so any subsequent charges wouldn't get thrown out as someone suggested. [SCOTUS case Wren vs. U.S. feel free to look it up]
I doubt that's the case though because it doesn't sound like it went much past the discussion of the lights. The op wasn't cited for anything, and it sounds like the interaction, in general, was light hearted. What's more is that on holidays, police tend to be extremely busy, and they're not looking for an excuse to stop someone. If anything they're looking for an excuse to take a 5 minute break not create more work for themselves.

All opinions guys/gals. Don't take my response personal. Just a different perspective at which view it. After all, we can clearly see he wasn't lying about the reason for the stop by the overwhelming responses affirming that our lights are bright.

 

[am1978]

Or maybe they're just bright, and it's not some big conspiracy by a person who is working on a day where everyone else is out enjoying picnics, family and fun. In just 8 replies there are 6 owners admitting they're bright. But you don't have to take my word for it. ↓↓↓

VA Troopers are known for being extreme sticklers—like NJ. I have lived in the area since 2003, hence why I don’t speed in VA, not even 5mph over. You shouldn’t be pulled over for bright headlights, unless they appear as obvious off road lighting. Unless the color was illegal or the lighting was higher than the headlights it comes off as an attempt at using it as probable cause for another violation. As a veteran, I have worked my share of holidays, it’s part of the job, as it is for him. As the son of a 40+ year SAPD officer, and nephew of another, I can say that both of them would chalk this up to enforcement for revenue.

 

[Karl_in_Chicago]

When I was stationed in Norfolk, I developed a bit of an opinion with respect toe VA cops -- they're assholes... But that was probably close to 40 years ago...

I lived in Norfolk and Quantico, twice each, across a fairly wide number of years . . . so had chance to interact with VA cops both north and south and I believe your assessment is spot on.

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