legal eagles with spare time?

[hyunelan2]

http://www.legis.state.il.us/legislation/ilcs/ilcs2.asp?ChapterID=49

Please read through that above link and find the part where they mention vehicle lighting, and what is and isn't legal. I know it's in there, I just can't find it... only things on rotating lights, and requirements for headlights/taillights. My A-hole neighbor keeps telling me it's illegal to drive with fog lights on... I'm trying to find anything that might specify what's legal (foglights) and not (neon lights). I can't even find a topic of neons though.

Below: Things I found

(625 ILCS 5/12‑602) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12‑602)
Sec. 12‑602. Mufflers, prevention of noise.
Every motor vehicle driven or operated upon the highways of this State shall at all times be equipped with an adequate muffler or exhaust system in constant operation and properly maintained to prevent any excessive or unusual noise. No such muffler or exhaust system shall be equipped with a cutout, bypass or similar device. No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise of such vehicle above that emitted by the muffler originally installed on the vehicle, and such original muffler shall comply with all the requirements of this Section.
(Source: P. A. 77‑37.)

(625 ILCS 5/12‑607) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12‑607)
Sec. 12‑607. Suspension System.
(a) It shall be unlawful to operate a motor vehicle on any highway of this State when the suspension system has been modified from the original manufactured design by lifting the body from the chassis in excess of 3 inches or to cause the horizontal line from the front to the rear bumper to vary over 3 inches in height when measured from a level surface of the highway to the lower edge of the bumper, except that it is unlawful to operate a street rod or custom vehicle when the suspension system has been modified from the original manufactured design so that the horizontal line from the front to the rear bumper varies over 7 inches in height when measured from a level surface of the highway to the lower edge of the bumper.
(b) Nothing in this Section shall prevent the installation of manufactured heavy duty equipment to include shock absorbers and overload springs, nor shall anything contained in this Section prevent a person to operate a motor vehicle on any highway of this State with normal wear of the suspension system if normal wear does not affect the control or safe operation of the vehicle. This Section shall not apply to motor vehicles designed or modified primarily for off‑highway racing purposes while such vehicles are in tow or to motorcycles or motor driven cycles.
(Source: P.A. 92‑668, eff. 1‑1‑03.)

(625 ILCS 5/12‑610.5)
Sec. 12‑610.5. Tinted registration plate covers.
(a) It shall be unlawful to operate any motor vehicle that is equipped with tinted plastic or tinted glass registration plate covers.
(b) A violation of this Section or a similar provision of a local ordinance shall be an offense against laws and ordinances regulating the movement of traffic.
(Source: P.A. 89‑245, eff. 1‑1‑96.).

(625 ILCS 5/12‑611) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12‑611)
Sec. 12‑611. No driver of any motor vehicle within this State shall operate or permit operation of any sound amplification system which can be heard outside the vehicle from 75 or more feet when the vehicle is being operated upon a highway, unless such system is being operated to request assistance or warn of a hazardous situation.
This Section does not apply to authorized emergency vehicles.
Any violation of the provisions of this Section shall be a petty offense punishable by a fine not to exceed $50.
(Source: P.A. 91‑919, eff. 1‑1‑01.)

(625 ILCS 5/12‑612)
Sec. 12‑612. False or secret compartment in a motor vehicle.
(a) Offenses. It is unlawful for any person to own or operate any motor vehicle he or she knows to contain a false or secret compartment. It is unlawful for any person to knowingly install, create, build, or fabricate in any motor vehicle a false or secret compartment.


(625 ILCS 5/12‑503) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12‑503)
Sec. 12‑503. Windshields must be unobstructed and equipped with wipers.
(a) No person shall drive a motor vehicle with any sign, poster, window application, reflective material, nonreflective material or tinted film upon the front windshield, sidewings or side windows immediately adjacent to each side of the driver. A nonreflective tinted film may be used along the uppermost portion of the windshield if such material does not extend more than 6 inches down from the top of the windshield. Nothing in this Section shall create a cause of action on behalf of a buyer against a dealer or manufacturer who sells a motor vehicle with a window which is in violation of this Section.
(b) Nothing contained in this Section shall prohibit the use of nonreflective, smoked or tinted glass, nonreflective film, perforated window screen or other decorative window application on windows to the rear of the driver's seat, except that any motor vehicle with a window to the rear of the driver's seat treated in this manner shall be equipped with a side mirror on each side of the motor vehicle which are in conformance with Section 12‑502.

[dragonfighter60]

625 ILCS 5/12‑207) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12‑207)
Sec. 12‑207. Spot lamps and auxiliary driving lamps.

(b) Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed three auxiliary driving lamps mounted on the front at a height not less than 12 inches nor more than 42 inches above the level surface upon which the vehicle stands.

Wouldn't that mean fog lights?

Edit: found this

(625 ILCS 5/12‑210) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12‑210)
Sec. 12‑210. Use of head lamps and auxiliary driving lamps

(d) Nothing in this Section shall prohibit the use of auxiliary driving lamps, commonly referred to as "fog" lamps, when used in conjunction with head lamps, if such auxiliary driving lamps are adjusted and so aimed that the glaring rays are not projected into the eyes of drivers of oncoming vehicles.
(Source: P.A. 85‑1144.)

I didn't find anything about neon lights.

[southpawboston]

yep. it would include fog lights.

[JacksonJ]

Edit - Guess I was beating to it. :cool:

I seen this which states that you may have upto 3 "auxilarly lights as long as they are pointed in a manner to blind someone. mounted on the front at a height not less than 12 inches nor more than 42 inches above the level surface upon which the vehicle stands.

(625 ILCS 5/12‑207) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12‑207)
Sec. 12‑207. Spot lamps and auxiliary driving lamps.
(a) Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed one spot lamp and every lighted spot lamp shall be so aimed and used upon approaching another vehicle that no part of the high‑intensity portion of the beam will be directed to the left of the prolongation of the extreme left side of the vehicle nor more than 100 feet ahead of the vehicle.
(b) Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed three auxiliary driving lamps mounted on the front at a height not less than 12 inches nor more than 42 inches above the level surface upon which the vehicle stands.
(c) The restrictions of subsections 12‑207 (a) and 12‑207 (b) of this Act shall not apply to authorized emergency vehicles or equipment used for snow and ice removal operations if owned or operated by or for any governmental body.
(d) The minimum and maximum height restrictions prescribed in subsection (b) of Section 12‑207 shall not apply to privately owned motor vehicles on which a snow plow is mounted, while in transit between or during snow and ice removal operations. This exemption shall apply only during the period from November 15 through April 1, and only when the snow plow blade, commonly referred to as a "moldboard", is properly and securely affixed to the front of the motor vehicle.
(Source: P.A. 85‑1010.)

[jameswing]

But fog lights are "less than 12 inches... above the level surface upon which the vehicle stands."

[hyunelan2]

Thanks guys. The law does leave some room for question though. 1 part states

Whenever the driver of any vehicle equipped with an electric driving head lamp, driving head lamps, auxiliary driving lamp or auxiliary driving lamps is within 500 feet of another vehicle approaching from the opposite direction, the driver shall dim or drop such head lamp or head lamps and shall extinguish all auxiliary driving lamps.

While another states:

Nothing in this Section shall prohibit the use of auxiliary driving lamps, commonly referred to as "fog" lamps, when used in conjunction with head lamps, if such auxiliary driving lamps are adjusted and so aimed that the glaring rays are not projected into the eyes of drivers of oncoming vehicles.

The confusion occurs to be that since my lamps technically aren't 'fog' lamps, but are mounted in a fashion that makes them funcion as so, which applys?

There's also the explanation of why you can't have highbeams and headlights on with fog lights:

(b) Whenever a motor vehicle equipped with driving lamps as herein required is also equipped with any auxiliary driving lamps or a spot lamp or any other lamp on the front thereof, not more than a total of 4 of any such lamps on the front of a vehicle shall be lighted at any one time when upon a highway.
(Source: P.A. 86‑1236.)

I also found the section that would cover neon/led/other lighting

(c) Unless otherwise expressly authorized by this Code, all other lighting or combination of lighting on any vehicle shall be prohibited.
(Source: P.A. 86‑664.)

[dragonfighter60]

There's also the explanation of why you can't have highbeams and headlights on with fog lights:

(b) Whenever a motor vehicle equipped with driving lamps as herein required is also equipped with any auxiliary driving lamps or a spot lamp or any other lamp on the front thereof, not more than a total of 4 of any such lamps on the front of a vehicle shall be lighted at any one time when upon a highway.
(Source: P.A. 86‑1236.)

I thought that was only talking about "auxilary" lights.

[FordFasteRR]

they are talking about auxiliary lamps.. not factory installed lamps...

that means that you can install other lights in front of the car as long as they dont blind on-coming traffic...

thats what i make of it :)

[hyunelan2]

I thought that was only talking about "auxilary" lights.

Right, but that's the ambiguity of the law... mine aren't factory installed, so are they fog lamps or auxilary lights? Not that it's going to change the way I use them, I'm just here for intillectual debate.

[dragonfighter60]

Your headlights are right? I thought they were only talking about 4 auxilary/fog lights on, not including the headlights. I dunno, I guess I am getting thorughly confused.

[SWortham]

Sounds like you need to print this out and whip out your highlighter. Keep a copy in your glove compartment so you can present it to the police officer when he pulls you over. :D

He'll be like :confused: ... "carry on then."

[jameswing]

auxilary lights are what they put on trucks and other off-road vehicles, like Hella Lights.

[hyunelan2]

My 'fog lights' are Hella lights... continuing the never-ending debate and confusion that is legal babble.

How come we don't have any lawyers here on XD... oh yea, they've got Bimmers and Mercedes.

[jameswing]

Gut where they are they are lower than 12" and not pointed into the view of oncomming vehicles, or else they wouldn't sell stock cars with them.

I have noticed that when I turn on my high beams my fog lights turn off.

I found this (625 ILCS 5/12‑208) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12‑208)
The lamps showing to the front shall be mounted on the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable and, when signaling, shall emit a white or amber light, or any shade of light between white and amber. The lamps showing to the rear shall be mounted on the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable and, when signaling, shall emit a red or amber light. It is legal for you to have clear turn signals in the front.

And this:(625 ILCS 5/12‑209) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12‑209)
(a) Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than 2 side cowl or fender lamps which shall emit an amber or white light without glare.
(b) Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than one running board courtesy lamp on each side thereof which shall emit a white or amber light without glare. Sounds like neons to me.

[TheWickedestOne]

The secret compartment one is funny. If they find it, then I guess it isn't secret, is it?

[JacksonJ]

Here's a document I found quite a while ago, it should add much debate to this. And it may also clear things up too. http://www.aamva.org/Documents/vehEquipmentLightingFedMotorVehiclePresentation.PD F

The document was written by the Province of Ontario's Minister of Transportation (A Canadian) and was supplied to the US state officials.