Laws Regulating the Installation of LED Warning Lights

Let’s say you’ve already equipped your car, truck or SUV with auxiliary LED warning lights. You’re driving down the road one night, and the police pull you over. Now, you’ve got a ticket – and you’re being told that you’re going to need to remove or replace your onboard lighting.

Could that actually happen?

Unfortunately, yes. State and federal laws regulate the installation of LED warning lights, such as LED light bars or emergency LED dash lights – and if you’re not in compliance, you may be compelled to correct the situation. For that reason, you’d be wise to research the rules before you shop for onboard lighting. And since the regulations on auxiliary vehicle lights vary by region, we can’t tell you about the specific laws in your neck of the woods.

But, we can give you a general idea of what regulations you may need to follow. Below, the LED Equipped team explains the basic legalities of LED warning lights.

Anyone Can Legally Buy LED Warning Lights

Auxiliary vehicle lights are widely available, and you don’t need to have any special credentials to purchase them. Buying LED warning lights isn’t against the law, regardless of where you live.

Onboard lighting distributors can legally sell their products to anyone, and you can shop for any type of vehicle lights you like. When you purchase an LED light bar, LED dash lights or any other auxiliary lighting, no one will be checking to make sure it’s legal for use in your locality.

Installing LED Lights on Official Service Vehicles

If you’re a law enforcement officer, EMT or volunteer firefighter, the rules on adding auxiliary LED lights to your car, truck or SUV are different than the rules civilians face. The same may be true if you’re in another profession – construction workers, private security personnel, tow truck drivers, road maintenance crews and utility service technicians often have precise regulations they must follow.

Your workplace may have details on the types of LED warning lights you can legally install, or you can always check with a local law enforcement agency. If you opt to do a Google search instead, keep in mind that the information you find may be inaccurate or incomplete.

Installing LED Warning Lights for Off-Road Use

If you’re a civilian who’s planning on installing auxiliary vehicle lights for increased visibility and safety when driving, be aware that using your onboard lighting on public roads may be prohibited. And in some areas, lights are only be street legal if they’re kept covered.

That said, equipping a vehicle with LED warning lights for off-road use is typically within the law. As long as you only drive on your own private property – and not out on the open road – you should be able to use any type of auxiliary lights. But to make sure you don’t end up in legal hot water, you may want to confirm this with the local authorities.

Common Regulations on LED Warning Lights

As we’ve mentioned, laws regarding the installation and use of auxiliary vehicle lighting differ from region to region – what’s legal in your location may not be legal in other parts of the country. However, the regulations in many areas are quite similar. When you look into your local laws, you can expect to find restrictions on the following:

Brightness

In most regions, there’s a limit to how bright LED warning lights can be when used for city driving. Because of the potential for distracting or confusing other motorists, local laws typically mandate that auxiliary lighting can’t be as bright as a vehicle’s headlights or brake lights.

Colors

Local laws regarding the color of auxiliary lighting are common. Blue LED lights are often legal only for vehicles driven by law enforcement officers, while red auxiliary lighting is restricted to ambulances, fire trucks and police vehicles. White and green LED warning lights may also be reserved for specific uses.

Flash Patterns

In areas where using auxiliary vehicle lights on public roads is legal for civilians, displaying certain types of visual effects is frequently against the law. When driving on city streets and highways, turning on flashers, rotating LED lights or strobe lighting could land you in legal trouble.

Placement

Mounting LED warning lights in certain positions on a vehicle may also be illegal. Some regions prohibit the installation of front-facing auxiliary lights, and in some parts of the country, rear-facing lighting is not allowed. Restrictions against undercarriage vehicle lights are also found in many states.

Buying LED Lights that Meet Your Needs

Countless online and local stores sell LED warning lights, but you’re going to want to make sure you’re shopping with a reputable lighting distributor – like LED Equipped.

Product quality is important, and the fact is, some retailers don’t have much to offer in that department. Shop at LED Equipped, and you’ll see a selection of high-tech, high-performance LED lights at affordable prices. Plus, when you buy your auxiliary vehicle lighting from us, it’ll come backed by a 3-year guarantee.

We offer a vast range of LED lighting solutions from the world’s most-respected manufacturers. You can turn to us for top-of-the-line:

• LED light bars, which can be mounted on the rooftop or bumper of a car, truck or SUV
• Spotlights, which offer a concentrated beam of illumination when placed on the roof of a vehicle
• Floodlights, which allow for clearer visibility in inclement weather when installed on a vehicle’s front bumper
• Grill lights, running board lights and hideaway lights, which provide ample illumination and are flush-mounted to remain out of sight when not in use
• Dash lights and beacon lights, which can be kept inside a vehicle and temporarily mounted on the exterior when additional lighting is needed

And, those aren’t the only types of auxiliary lighting we have available. But you don’t have to sift through all of the options on your own – the LED Equipped team is here to help you find the LED lights that best meet your needs. Just give us a call, and our friendly and knowledgeable lighting specialists will answer your questions, explain your options and guide you toward warning lights that will work for you and your vehicle.

LED Equipped has accreditation and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau — and we’re proud to be a Shopper Approved lighting distributor with nearly 1,500 reviews and 4.6 out of 5 stars. Law enforcement agencies, fire departments, ambulance fleets, towing services, construction companies, private security firms and utility providers across the country get their LED lighting from us, and you can trust us to meet your needs.

Visit the LED Equipped website to browse our catalog of high-quality LED lights, accessories and mounting equipment – and if you’re planning on a multi-light setup, be sure to check out our discount bundle packages. You can place an order online or, if you prefer, contact us for expert guidance in selecting the right auxiliary lighting for your personal vehicle. We want you to make a wise investment, and we’ll do whatever we can to help make sure that happens.

At LED Equipped, you can count on superior customer service. Plus, when you shop with us, you’ll get the LED warning lights you need at a price that makes you smile.