...Unless you contact your senator or Sen. Ross at (304) 357-7973 or cglagola@mail.wvnet.edu and tell him you oppose bill S.B. 370.

Here's the article I read:

A bill (S.B. 370) has been introduced in the West Virginia legislature by senator Michael Ross that would only allow original vehicle manufactutur's equipment light bars. This bill would effectively ban the sale, installation, and use of aftermarket lighting equipment intended for off-highway use. The bill also mandates that the lights be installed or aimed by (or at the direction of) the vehicle manufacturer.


This could be worse than the whole mudflap ordeal (no, I don't mean the Mississippi Mudflap, A.K.A The Mullet).

Call the chump or email him today. We need to protect our rights.
:jeep:



Moderator: please make this a sticky.

Damn this crap is making me crazy; probably not the right response, but it felt good.
Here is what I wrote to the good Senator Ross.

"Senator Ross, I strongly oppose S.B. 370. As an Off Road Race promoter, running 3 different series of events from as far east as Texas, to the left shores of our glorious nation. We have many state laws that deal with aftermarket lighting, and adding another is unnecessary. Proper enforcement and education can solve any problems you are encountering. More laws will just add to the confusion that you lawmakers seem to crave. Many of our nations problems are caused from the lack of enforcement of existing laws and are in no way going to be solved just because you and others like your self think we need more laws on the books. I hope you can find it in your heart to help solve our country's problems, by working on solutions not restrictions.

Please have a nice life, and try to stay out of ours as much as possible.

Rich Klein
Concerned Citizen of the United States of America

Thanks Rich :D

why don't they just do a bill like NH's? All lights above headlight level must be covered while on public roads. That would cover all the issues of blinding that they're probably worried about...

sent him an e-mail asking for better enforcement of headlighht aiming laws on the books instead of another (stupid) one.

Originally posted by schuss
why don't they just do a bill like NH's? All lights above headlight level must be covered while on public roads. That would cover all the issues of blinding that they're probably worried about...


That's close to what Kali has.

Originally posted by SanDiegoCJ



That's close to what Kali has.

Certainly not what they enforce. Stupid H2's have a row of uncovered lights above the cab. Factory option.

Here's my version.


Dear Senator Ross,
I was just informed of the bill (s.b. 370) being considered to outlaw any sales, installation, or use of aftermarket lighting intended for off-highway use. I was quite shocked and disappointed to see this as unlike yourself, who sits behind a desk for a living, I sit behind the wheel of a dual purpose vehicle for a living. My vehicle is highway legal and used as a primary means of personal transportation as well as used for competitve off-highway events...I basically make my living off of driving a vehicle the REQUIRES the exact type of lighting you are considering outlawing. Without proper off-highway lighting, I could not compete in the night-time portions of the off-road ralley's I participate in. I am not the only type of professional that needs these lights. What about truckers, farmers, tow-truck and service vehicle operators, couriers, and all of the others that use some form of aftermarket lighting systems that are not highway approved? They need them when they are working in many places after dark.
I assume you wish to outlaw this accessory lighting as it can create a nuisance if used improperly on the streets. I agree that it can be a problem but is really so random that creation and enforcement of a simple law stating that all lights above the factory light locations must be covered while on the highway would go a long way toward solving the problem yet still allow those that need the lighting to have it at the ready. Furthermore, you need to consider the revenue brought in by the sales, installation, and maintanance of aftermarket lighting systems. I bet you would be surprised at the amount of business that would be lost if you pass a bill such as s.b. 370.
Bills are put on the table as someone thinks they recognise a problem that needs solving...not all of them are well thought out and many times could be handled in a much better way. This bill is one of those that could be handled differently to EVERYONE'S benefit.
Rock On,
Dustin "PAN" Webster
RedBull RockCrawling Team
1(619) 449-0003

I thought off-road lights have always been illegal for street use. Isn't that why they call them "off-road lights?" Because they are for "off-road use only."
I even know of some headlights that are not DOT approved for on-road use, so this would not just affect 4WD's. Virginia bans them if they are over a certain height on the car. This type of law does not surprise me. I see all kinds of people driving down city streets with bright aftermarket lights on. It's blinding and can really suck when someone does not have them aimed correctly in oncoming traffic or people behind you.

he got a piece of my mind..... but i was as polite as possible:)

SEE:
Dear Senator Ross,
I was just informed about bill S.B. 370 and as an avid off-roader I use these aftermarket lights and felt what your doing is wrong. I think that we both want the same thing to a certain extent, but you may be headed overboard. I agree that these lights SHOULD NOT be used on streets and I think any lights that arent headlights should be covered at all times when driving on the street. It would be irresponsible for the off road community to drive around with these blinding lights on or even uncovered because it may cause a glare. But outlawing them all together is just going too far, many people use these lights reponsibly and for nothing more than to see better when its dark and your are offroad and in a situation where sight is critical.
Basically what i'm trying to say is i think you should rethink this bill so it would enforce our laws we already have and not add more that will not be as enforced as you would like them to be. Thank you for your time.

Ernie Cheatham

Originally posted by CaptainFleXJ151
I thought off-road lights have always been illegal for street use. Isn't that why they call them "off-road lights?" Because they are for "off-road use only."


They are, but this bill is talking about Banning the sale and installation of these lights.. Not just Use. Meaning you will not be able to purchase or sell them anymore

Originally posted by schuss
why don't they just do a bill like NH's? All lights above headlight level must be covered while on public roads. That would cover all the issues of blinding that they're probably worried about...

I think that's what WV's laws already say. They refused to tag and title Liberties with the factory light bar on top because it didn't come with any kind of cover for street use.

Originally posted by ImKuNfusED


They are, but this bill is talking about Banning the sale and installation of these lights.. Not just Use. Meaning you will not be able to purchase or sell them anymore

Just go like the NRA and have a NORLA to defend the cause. Get some old fart who acted in big flicks to gob off and she'll be apples.

Yeah Jack Nicholson would be good..

wasn't it West Virginia that Jeep couldn't sell the Renegade version of the Liberty because of the factory installed light bar? I know I heard it somewhere.......

So what does PIAA and HELLA have to say about this?? :flipoff2:

My $0.005 that I just sent to Ross. Also, where is SEMA on this legislation?

Senator Ross:

I was just informed of the bill (S.B. 370) being considered to outlaw any sales, installation, or use of aftermarket lighting intended for off-highway use.

I STRONGLY OPPOSE S.B. 370.

There are many, many state laws across the nation that are already in place that deal with aftermarket lighting. The problem, as is inmost cases, proper enforcement of these existing laws. Your time would be better spent introducing a bill that would make enforcement mandatory of existing laws.

I hope that you will stop wasting the taxpayers and your constituents’ money on trivial non-problems, such as proposing legislation as S.B. 370, and turn your attention to the true problems of your state.

David R. Shields, Ph.D., P.E.
Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering

TTT for Friday evening crew...