Lightbars!?! Whats the deal?

[Dennis Sherrod]

As long as the lightbar helps you get more tornadoes - I say light 'em up

No rush, but if you could link me the law that mentions the protection I'd appreciate it. I just took a class on legal issues and EM work last semester, and I'll probably address it again in grad school so would be interested.

As you so often like to tell others, try searching for the answers. Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc.
http://public.findlaw.com/

 

[Adam Lucio]

This has got to stop. THE MADNESS IS SPREADING!

I recently joined another forum hoping for less drama and sensitivity within the community. I'm not a member for more than 3 days and what do I see staring at me on the first page I go to...

Although over there there is allot of support and suggestions/advice for them

 

[rdale]

As you so often like to tell others, try searching for the answers. Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc.
http://public.findlaw.com/

As I explained, I just took a class on this, and all the resources I found indicated that a police officer asking you to use your lightbar and direct traffic doesn't protect you legally. Thanks for your offer of more help, but I wasn't able to find the laws in the link you gave, so can you be more specific?

 

[D. Hayes]

This has got to stop. THE MADNESS IS SPREADING!

I recently joined another forum hoping for less drama and sensitivity within the community. I'm not a member for more than 3 days and what do I see staring at me on the first page I go to...

Although over there there is allot of support and suggestions/advice for them

haha I'm a long time member of F150online. On the extremely- and I mean extremely rare occasion do people bring up light bars. And 99% of the time they are for snow plows and volunteer fire response use. People get shot down very quick if they start asking about them for show.

 

[Adam Lucio]

Thats too funny - from what I gathered they would be for mostly offroad type stuff. Having them for show IS stupid but if there is a practical use then I see no problem, of course over there its more about style.

 

[D. Hayes]

Thats too funny - from what I gathered they would be for mostly offroad type stuff. Having them for show IS stupid but if there is a practical use then I see no problem, of course over there its more about style.

Actually that thread is about mounting bars for offroad lights. But yea flashing ambers do come up on occasion when new folks start asking about LED light bars for fun.

I don't think we have much talk on those types of light bars. Might be a good change of direction for the thread. Any takers?

 

[Kevin Green]

Lights, Lights, Oh My!

Hate to break it, but those lights (C.H.'s) in Illinois, are illegal. The IVC only allows certain vehicles lights, and Stormspotters/Chasers are not one of them. If you're operating under the flag of a EMA/OEM, then there are allowable exceptions for those. Otherwise, nuh-huh.

Aside from the illegal/code violations lightbars bring, consider the ramifications of having them as it relates to your insurance. In Illinois, if you are "assiting" the police by blocking the road, the city/town/county will not provide liability for you. You are not an employee or volunteer. Further more, if your vehicle is in violation of state law when it becomes involved in an accident, insurance companies can, and have dropped people and their policies.

 

[Dan Robinson]

I could see states beginning to include spotters/chasers into allowable supplimental lighting exceptions, possibly even requiring them in the future. The reasons they are required for most any other application are the same - a vehicle moving slower and/or stopping in unusual locations. A chaser/spotter providing reporting information to the NWS/EMAs should be a valid enough reason.

With that though, strict regulations would be in order regarding how the lights should be used, and what types/colors are allowable. For example, no usage while in motion except for extreme circumstances (low visibility, approaching a dangerous area such as a tornado road crossing, etc). Maybe a limit to 2 to 4 rear-facing light heads, maybe even a standardized unit approved for chaser/spotter use. Basically to prevent the 'whacker' element from overdoing it.

There are legitimate reasons to have lights when spotting/chasing. For those states that ban them outright, possibly some communication with legislators would be in order.

 

[Gene Moore]

Hail vs driving lights

Is there a brand of (driving) lights that has a "grid" cover strong enough to withstand hail? Most of the ones I've seen have plastic that I don't think will take a good tennis ball......suggestions?

 

[Brian Kluck]

I read these posts when they pop up and it is always interesting conversation. The thing Im surprized that I never see (or have not seen come up to my recalection) is the cost.

Some of the light bars I have seen on peoples vehicles are good quality. This usually equates to expensive. Some of the new full sized LED light bars are in the 1,000 dollar or more range (sometimes less but usually more). Now, I can think of alot of equipment I could purchase to document what I am seeing in various ways or to listen to what is going on with that kind of money. Ill be honest, I think warning lights have their place and can serve as a "safety item" if used with a little comon sense. I have a few discrete light heads on my personal vehicle, but I guess to me, spending a grand or so on a light bar seems a bit excessive.

 

[Joseph McAllister]

I have a single rotating beacon on the back driver side of my minivan, as I have been hit on the driver side with another vehicle while my hazards were on, being that i was on the shoulder ( the driver who hit me was an inexperienced "chaser" not paying attention to the road). I am also a hwy helper for those who are in need of help with flats, etc so the beacon helps other drivers see me so they do not run in to the back of me, and when severe weather I aid other drivers of pending hazards ahead until police arrives.
I also like things that flash.

 

[Joseph McAllister]

Actually that thread is about mounting bars for offroad lights. But yea flashing ambers do come up on occasion when new folks start asking about LED light bars for fun.

I don't think we have much talk on those types of light bars. Might be a good change of direction for the thread. Any takers?

That would be cool on a minivan,say a 92 Grand Caravan.

 

[Jerry Prsha]

Is there a brand of (driving) lights that has a "grid" cover strong enough to withstand hail? Most of the ones I've seen have plastic that I don't think will take a good tennis ball......suggestions?

I've been working on the same idea for my lighting. If you mount the lights on the bottom of a bar with a steel cover over them, it might save your lights for another day. They'd have to be the low profile lighting instead of the big round type...

 

[D. Hayes]

Those plastic grills are pretty dang tough since they are designed to withstand impacts from rocks. Really though how often do you come across horizontal hail? I've got that same model light on my truck for about 4 years now and they are still doing fine.

 

[Skip Talbot]

Really though how often do you come across horizontal hail?

Hail can come at you (nearly horizontal) anytime there is a good gust of wind, and especially if you are driving in the same direction. Wind blown hail is when its at its most destructive too.