DOT approval- Any one really know the rules when it comes to, Turn signal lenses Options

[hwgunner]

So, I have a question. Wat are the DOT rules when it comes to NEW turn signal lenses. If an item is DOT approved does it have to say "DOT" on it?? I know that some parts can be DOT approved with out saying DOT on them. An example are the Troutman SS Brake lines. They have a logo that they stamp in the flats of the hose ends and this logo is registerd with the DOT and denotes a product that has passed the DOT testing. Are lenses the same or different? I ask because I got a lens that is suposed to be OEM but does not say DOT on it and does not have the manufacturers name on it. There are a few markings on the lens like a small square w/ an "A" in it and a circle with "E1" in it and a string of numbers I can not remember below that. Like I said this is a NEW lens and is suposed to be OEM. I got a Genuine lens for the other side and it has the manufacturers name on it along with "DOT" and some other marking. The 2 lenses also differ a little in color and in the thickness of the "Black Frame" around the edge. The one without the DOT marks says made in Germany on the box and the onw with the DOT marks says made in the Checz republic. Any ideas?? Sorry for the ramble. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[marks914]

Front or rear?

DOT approval stamping is supposed to be on all lenses if they are indeed legal> Yes, this is true< I have designed many exterior lamps and the supplier always wants to put the legal stuff in the worst possible place. The writing must also be right-side up, meaning you cannot have a lens that is the same for left and right unless it stays in the same orientation.
As for what makes it DOT approved, thats a whole different ball of wax. If its a replacement part, it should have the same light output, light able area, lit angles that apply and red side reflex(rear) amber (front) if a US vehicle in not remote on the body. If your are not a major OEM supplier, I wouldn't worry about it for yourself, but if something happens to someone else, and they are not indeed certified DOT legal, you will get sued to the poor house, but thats why you have product liability insurance right?
Mark

[realred914]

the rules would be with the DOt probably very complicated at that, for new lenses, that would be for new cars, for you old car any "new" lenses would need to comply with the rules in place for your car when it was new.

for the marking on the lense, dont worry so long as the lense has about the right color and brightness no one will tiocket you for missing the DOT printing on it. sure it may be points off in a car show, but so long as they look about right to the average cop, I would not worry about being DOT complient or not. the rules the DOT has are very draconian, and burocratic, but so long as the light looks right I'd have no worries abot your "black market" lense.

the DOT is now proposing rules to require jammers for cell phone use in cars. no mention on how they intend to deal with passengers use of phones. got to love the government. soon are cars will be more complex than the Apollo moon ship

[Mike Bellis]

soon are cars will be more complex than the Apollo moon ship

They already are. NASA only had about 500MB of computing power...

In California, I would not worry about your lens DOT status. The only agency that would possibly inspect for it a the Highway Patrol and they have bigger issues to deal with. California only cares about Smog Check Money.

[EdwardBlume]

California only cares about Smog Check Money.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

[jim_hoyland]

I recently read an opinion regarding DOT regulations for motorcycle muffers. It sounded like the regulations pertain mainly to manufactures and not so much to what an owner might do to change the original equipment.
Since DOTs are mainly Federal in nature, local authorities aren't directly interested.
Having said that, there are still state regulations that insure safety, and there are penalties for those violations.

[hwgunner]

Front or rear?

DOT approval stamping is supposed to be on all lenses if they are indeed legal> Yes, this is true< I have designed many exterior lamps and the supplier always wants to put the legal stuff in the worst possible place. The writing must also be right-side up, meaning you cannot have a lens that is the same for left and right unless it stays in the same orientation.
As for what makes it DOT approved, thats a whole different ball of wax. If its a replacement part, it should have the same light output, light able area, lit angles that apply and red side reflex(rear) amber (front) if a US vehicle in not remote on the body. If your are not a major OEM supplier, I wouldn't worry about it for yourself, but if something happens to someone else, and they are not indeed certified DOT legal, you will get sued to the poor house, but thats why you have product liability insurance right?
Mark

Thank you Mark, that was to the point and what i was looking for. to the others I do not care about California, I wanted to know if a DOT approved lens had to have "DOT" printed on the lens. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[904svo]

Lens used in the US must have DOT or SAE mark on them. It means they meet the minimum light requirements for safety requirements. The inspector check my lights on my kit car for approved lights.

[flipb]

They already are. NASA only had about 500MB of computing power...

Around the time my Dad bought his first Saab (circa 1986), I remember a Saab ad touting that their cars had more computing power than Apollo capsules had. So apparently we crossed that line quite a while ago.

On another note... I'm wondering how the DOT certification relates to state-by-state regulations on vehicle lighting requirements. When I changed over to Euro-style tail light lenses, I did some research on local (State) regulations.

States specify the number of tail-lights for each function (signal, brake, lighting, license plate illumination), the acceptable colors for each, etc. Does DOT certification mean that a lens satisfies the various statutes of all 50 states? Or are they unrelated?

[70_914]

I recently read an opinion regarding DOT regulations for motorcycle muffers. It sounded like the regulations pertain mainly to manufactures and not so much to what an owner might do to change the original equipment.
Since DOTs are mainly Federal in nature, local authorities aren't directly interested.
Having said that, there are still state regulations that insure safety, and there are penalties for those violations.

The state of California just passed a regulation stating that all vehicles manufactured after 2013 need to have DOT legal mufflers. 99% of aftermarket mufflers are not DOT approved so changing your factory muffler to an aftermarket one is going to be illegal. Mufflers are a completely different situation though...

Regulations are different in every state and change all the time. If you ask a law enforcement officer they will not answer your questions with anything other than referring you to your states regulations. Here in Washington it is the RCW and I check online before I make any questionable changes to anything.

[904svo]

They already are. NASA only had about 500MB of computing power...

Around the time my Dad bought his first Saab (circa 1986), I remember a Saab ad touting that their cars had more computing power than Apollo capsules had. So apparently we crossed that line quite a while ago.

On another note... I'm wondering how the DOT certification relates to state-by-state regulations on vehicle lighting requirements. When I changed over to Euro-style tail light lenses, I did some research on local (State) regulations.

States specify the number of tail-lights for each function (signal, brake, lighting, license plate illumination), the acceptable colors for each, etc. Does DOT certification mean that a lens satisfies the various statutes of all 50 states? Or are they unrelated?

All states will accept DOT (Early years) or SAE (latter years) lights.

[hwgunner]

the rules would be with the DOt probably very complicated at that, for new lenses, that would be for new cars, for you old car any "new" lenses would need to comply with the rules in place for your car when it was new.

for the marking on the lense, dont worry so long as the lense has about the right color and brightness no one will tiocket you for missing the DOT printing on it. sure it may be points off in a car show, but so long as they look about right to the average cop, I would not worry about being DOT complient or not. the rules the DOT has are very draconian, and burocratic, but so long as the light looks right I'd have no worries abot your "black market" lense.

the DOT is now proposing rules to require jammers for cell phone use in cars. no mention on how they intend to deal with passengers use of phones. got to love the government. soon are cars will be more complex than the Apollo moon ship

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) Please read the thread before responding. The question was do DOT approved lenses (front) have to have "DOT" on them?

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) Please do not use my threads to espouse your political opinions.

[r_towle]

DOT means DOT...just like the TUV approved.
No stamp or logo means its not approved.

ILBT

Rich

[realred914]

the rules would be with the DOt probably very complicated at that, for new lenses, that would be for new cars, for you old car any "new" lenses would need to comply with the rules in place for your car when it was new.

for the marking on the lense, dont worry so long as the lense has about the right color and brightness no one will tiocket you for missing the DOT printing on it. sure it may be points off in a car show, but so long as they look about right to the average cop, I would not worry about being DOT complient or not. the rules the DOT has are very draconian, and burocratic, but so long as the light looks right I'd have no worries abot your "black market" lense.

the DOT is now proposing rules to require jammers for cell phone use in cars. no mention on how they intend to deal with passengers use of phones. got to love the government. soon are cars will be more complex than the Apollo moon ship

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) Please read the thread before responding. The question was do DOT approved lenses (front) have to have "DOT" on them?

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) Please do not use my threads to espouse your political opinions.

i tried to answer your question, your welcome. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/stromberg.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/stromberg.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/stromberg.gif)

there is no political opinion here, just the facts, to bad you dont like the facts. now sanatize your eyes cuase you read this highly off topic post on YOUR thread.

what an ungreatful boy you is now go start your rag on red post. have at it baby.

[SirAndy]

Around the time my Dad bought his first Saab (circa 1986), I remember a Saab ad touting that their cars had more computing power than Apollo capsules had.

That sounds about right.

Interesting fact:
*All* of mission control combined (not just the capsule!) during the moon landing had about the same computing power as a Commodore C64...

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/upload.wikimedia.org-179-1291659029.1.jpg)



As for the DOT stamping, if it's missing, the lenses are not street legal in the US. Simple as that.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/grouphug.gif)

[hwgunner]

the rules would be with the DOt probably very complicated at that, for new lenses, that would be for new cars, for you old car any "new" lenses would need to comply with the rules in place for your car when it was new.

for the marking on the lense, dont worry so long as the lense has about the right color and brightness no one will tiocket you for missing the DOT printing on it. sure it may be points off in a car show, but so long as they look about right to the average cop, I would not worry about being DOT complient or not. the rules the DOT has are very draconian, and burocratic, but so long as the light looks right I'd have no worries abot your "black market" lense.

the DOT is now proposing rules to require jammers for cell phone use in cars. no mention on how they intend to deal with passengers use of phones. got to love the government. soon are cars will be more complex than the Apollo moon ship

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) Please read the thread before responding. The question was do DOT approved lenses (front) have to have "DOT" on them?

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) Please do not use my threads to espouse your political opinions.

i tried to answer your question, your welcome. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/stromberg.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/stromberg.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/stromberg.gif)

there is no political opinion here, just the facts, to bad you dont like the facts. now sanatize your eyes cuase you read this highly off topic post on YOUR thread.

what an ungreatful boy you is now go start your rag on red post. have at it baby.

Please show me where you answered the question! Do the lenses have to be marked DOT to be DOT approved? Not answered. Then your comment about the fact that you think the DOT rules are Draconian is just an opinion. The bit about no one caring as long as they are close is also an opinion. Not to mention the fact that I asked nicely. I just wanted some facts.

[zymurgist]

DOT means DOT...just like the TUV approved.
No stamp or logo means its not approved.

Yup, been thinking about going "naked" on my Ninja 500R with a pair of small headlights replacing the automotive style single light. Unfortunately all the lights I like are non-DOT.

[flipb]

Are the AA Repro Euro tail light lenses DOT approved? I'm afraid I know the answer, but they're already on my teener and I like them...

(My car's at the shop so I can't check them myself)

[hwgunner]

Are the AA Repro Euro tail light lenses DOT approved? I'm afraid I know the answer, but they're already on my teener and I like them...

(My car's at the shop so I can't check them myself)

I have no idea.

[Matt Meyer]

S5.8.10 Unless otherwise specified in this standard, each lamp,
reflective device, or item of associated equipment to which paragraph
S5.8.1 applies may be labeled with the symbol DOT, which shall
constitute a certification that it conforms to applicable Federal motor
vehicle safety standards.

The Federal Standard 59CFR571.108 S5.8.10 (above) says "may" which implies the DOT marking is NOT manditory.

Note Headlamps are required to be marked with DOT in paragraph S7.2.

CFR is here: 59CFR571.108.