Originally Posted by
Paul Barnard
We cannot ascertain from the video whether or not the officer was able to see it from the required 100-600 feet. We do know the officer said he couldn't. I thought the officer was pleasant and polite in his disposition, even if he was wrong about the light being required.
Frankly, if the cop stopped him to tell him he couldn't see him well riding that particular road without a light, I would have no problem with that. And if the guy really thought that he shouldn't give the cop the ID, he shouldn't have done it. There's no constitutional prohibition on the cop asking for it.
My state actually requires a rear light under those conditions, BTW. Illinois law seems rather stupid in this regard.