So I allready ordered a set of Hella FF1000s for my subie, but now debating how much use they might get. I hope to use them on the road. Not necesarily the highway all the time, but out in the boondocks theres not many people out at night. I also have a bunch of gravel roads that i drive on. But, it would be nice to occasionly use these when im on the highway to watch for deer, etc.

I live in WI, and have looked up most of the laws for it. Ive also sent emails to state patrol, but havnt heard back yet. Only reason I worry about this, is cops in my small town have nothing better to do. Allready pulled over in my car twice, and these lights will just draw more attention--great :) ,not really :(

In WI, i can have auxiliary lights as stated in the regulations, as long as the are mounted certain spots with certain hieghts, aimed this way, etc. There is just one line in all of it that says the use of off road lights is illegal to use on highways, and lights must be covered at all times. I consider my FF1000s to be driving lamps, since this is what the beam pattern is, but in the end im sure the cop wont care i tell him there driving lamps and not off road lights.

So, will i pretty much be screwed in using these lights on the roads? Or are these truly driving or auxiliary lights that i will be legal to use. If anyone has any experiance of using these lights in WI, or if anyone has ever been pulled over, let me know what all happened.

Do you go to Tech?

I've only ever seen anyone get in trouble in wisconsin for too many lights on a vehicle. My buddy has 4 driving lights on his impreza when he's ripping it in mqt and never has an issue, however down by milwaukee I haven't seen too much of an issue. Mostly they don't wnat a rack of 8 kc lights. You should be fine, it's technically illegal to have blue license plate lights, but I never got pulled over for them, and when i did get pulled over, they didn't say a word about um and you can't miss them taking down my plate

Do you go to Tech?

ya i do, this will be my 3rd year. You go to tech?

I've only ever seen anyone get in trouble in wisconsin for too many lights on a vehicle. My buddy has 4 driving lights on his impreza when he's ripping it in mqt and never has an issue, however down by milwaukee I haven't seen too much of an issue. Mostly they don't wnat a rack of 8 kc lights. You should be fine, it's technically illegal to have blue license plate lights, but I never got pulled over for them, and when i did get pulled over, they didn't say a word about um and you can't miss them taking down my plate

Ya, im sure if i do get pulled over, they may just tell me to take them off. Ill just try keeping the covers on them driving through town. The cops in our city really have nothing to do, but pull people over just to check things out. I got pulled over once here in my 3 years of driving, for a headlight out on my dads new 08 GMC because my brother hit something. Ive had my WRX for two months now, and local cops have stopped me twice. One at night cuz my tint is too dark-w/e, and the other becuase apparently i was speeding. I guess going 25 on the speedo in a 25 is speeding, seeing as I saw the cop and was making sure i was going to limit. I think that time they just wanted to see who was driving my car.

i would just wire them up to come on with your high beams and most cops are fine with that. as anytime you use your high beams nobody is around you anyways.

Shane

did that with mine, along with a rocker switch so they are not always active with highs...only in the boonies
chris

you wont have a problem... its not like you have a rack of 8 kc lights on the top of your jeep and blinding the crap out of everyone.

people get so paranoid about cops pulling them over for little things like this. a set of driving lights should not bother a cop. thats what tint and loud exhausts are for.

+1 for wiring them to your highbeams though. if you need help with that i did a write up thread i can link yo to.

you wont have a problem... its not like you have a rack of 8 kc lights on the top of your jeep and blinding the crap out of everyone.

people get so paranoid about cops pulling them over for little things like this. a set of driving lights should not bother a cop. thats what tint and loud exhausts are for.

+1 for wiring them to your highbeams though. if you need help with that i did a write up thread i can link yo to.
I am allready going to wire them into my high beams, and also have a switch in the car to leave them off. Im not worried about the wiring, my dad is an electrical engineer, and after playing around with the relay on my horns I have a pretty good idea. But, if you could link to the thread that would be great, thanks.

I live in a town of 1800, we have more cops than most big cities do, its rediculous. They really have nothing better to do than pull people over. Ya, im a little more paranoid about it now because of the car i drive, and if i get a ticket how much more insurance will go up.

pay to play.


but the driving lights, other than increased attention, are legal if they're wired to only come on with highs. that's how mine are wired, they have a switch and relay so if the switch is on they're on but the switch can only be active and the lights will only be on when then the high beams are also on.

i did it with my own wiring harness as well for the lights that feeds off the battery so basically if i flash my highbeams my lowbeams come on too. i want it so that my lowbeams stay on when the lights are on and i go to highs, but when i'm just flashing my highs the lowbeams stay off. i don't know if there's an easy way to do that.

but basically they're legal nationwide if they're wired correctly and they're the only auxillary lighting you have on your car.

According to WI state law, you can only have 4 forward facing lights on at one time. So if your low beams and foglights are one, that's 4. Once you turn your high beams on, your foglights go out (in factory condition anyway) and your low beams stay on. You still have 4 lights on. Technically, it's illegal to wire your fogs on with your highbeams, but who cares. I'm not sure how they would regard aftermarket driving lights, but I'm guessing they are for "off-road use only", hence why they want them covered up when you're driving down the road. I say mount them up like you have planned with a switch and high-beam use only. Make sure you mount them according to WI heights, etc. and you shouldn't have any worries.

^ yeah, the 4 at a time is a general rule. What I wonder though is while bugeyes have one low/high headlight and bulb, lot of cars have either 1 hi 1 low bulb, or physically distinct low/hi headlights (or projectors). What happends then when you turn your highs on while the lows remain on too? Counts as 4 and prevents you from using driving lights?

ff1000 are NOT 'fogs' they are either 'driving' or 'pencil' beam

and even with the stock 55w bulbs they are VERY bright and will illuminate/blind oncoming traffic a LONG way away---think in the 1/2 mile range

i would do like one of the above posters and wire them with the hibeams and have a seperate 'on-off' switch

here ya go. http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1500244

this writeup was intended for a 2002-2003, but i am sure you can use it as a guide for your specific MY.

this diagram uses the stock foglight switch, and does not require any extra wiring to be installed through the firewall. heck, you dont even have to go under the dash.

^ yeah, the 4 at a time is a general rule. What I wonder though is while bugeyes have one low/high headlight and bulb, lot of cars have either 1 hi 1 low bulb, or physically distinct low/hi headlights (or projectors). What happends then when you turn your highs on while the lows remain on too? Counts as 4 and prevents you from using driving lights?

# of bulbs makes no difference, it is the number of light emitting elements. (would have said filaments, need to cover those HID guys too...) Anyway, 1 or 2 bulbs, makes no difference. You still have 2 distinct light emitting elements.