Originally Posted by
Maelochs
Nope. The government does quite enough, thank you. if a rider chooses to run a cheezy and nearly useless light ... what, cops should issue tickets? Jail riders who don't meet the standard? Police forces should all buy new detectors to measure actual on-site lumens?
There are so many really good and fairly cheap lights out there ... anyone who doesn't have one isn't trying. And if the law required lights of a certain brightness ... then people too poor to buy them would get busted and fined. Considering how many lights are made overseas and imported by small businesses (likely some guy with a big garage and a little initiative) or sold on EBay, etc., by overseas vendors ... enforcement would be a nightmare.
No doubt enforcement would be a nightmare.
But, a 1 lumen taillight and a 1000 lumen taillight are both equally inappropriate.
And, when that battery drains on that 1 lumen taillight, down to 1/4 lumen?
Or the battery drains on that 1000 lumen taillight, and so it suddenly blinks OFF.
In theory DOT is supposed to inspect vehicle lighting, tires, trailers, etc. And, at least reputable dealers will sell DOT approved equipment.
At the moment, we lack anything for manufacturers or consumers to decide what is acceptable.