By Eric N (Grnrvr) on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 12:50 pm: Edit

Went to three different Gas stations to get my truck saftey inspected and was told that I had to remove the lamp guards on the brush bar covering the head lights and the guards covering the tail lights as well or they wold reject me. They all told me that the state police have been giving them all a hard time about passing people with them. Said that they shouldn't even be putting them on at the dealers.. Now could it be that the officer that checked the stations were wrong they were all very close together so they may be checked by the same trooper. Any body know of a place to go and get an inspection that wouldn't care.

By Kyle on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 01:14 pm: Edit

Its installed from the factory so I would have to wonder about the trooper.... I think Land Rover investigated it a little more then he did..


Kyle

By Eric N (Grnrvr) on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 01:19 pm: Edit

Ya, I'm going to try some other places farther away from home and see what they say.

By Dean Brown (Deanbrown3d) on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 01:25 pm: Edit

Why oh why are lamp guards a problem?

By 94Rover on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 01:27 pm: Edit

Hey Eric, as you know I'm out here in Maryland, and I've never heard any of that crap. Did you ask the inspection station inspector to show it to you in writing. Any failures are usually listed in writing and issued as a statewide compliance. If you contiue to fail, request to see it in writing. Or check out you local www.dmv.org and it should be listed it there of course under VA- since VA is a large state, it would have to fall under every county, and I know for a fact that that stupid stuff you were told around your way is not true for the few people that I know down in southern VA-

keep us posted.

94Rover

By Eric N (Grnrvr) on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 01:42 pm: Edit

They didn't fail me. They told me up front that I should remove them and then come back. So I don't have a rejection sticker or any thing like that. I'm going to try a few other places on Friday and see what happens. Worse case I pull them off. The whole bar is going to come off and get sold in a couple of months any way so I'm not too worried about whether they are on or off.

By mantaray on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 01:58 pm: Edit

Eric - i experienced the same thing with my Jeep last year. i had stone guards on the headlights and was told to take them off in order to pass. the reason they gave is the bars obstruct the beam of the lights. it's a bunch of BS if you ask me, but according to the mechanic, VA troopers pick one thing to be really picky about each year and this year it's this nonsense.

By Robbie on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 02:44 pm: Edit

Eric - got my truck inspected with the brush guard and tail light guards last May out in Herndon. No beef there. I also had it done at a Shell station the year before in Vienna, no problems (that station no longer exists though). A few years ago, I did have a Z24 with headlight covers, and was pulled over for that, even though it was daylight. But that is understandable as it significantly dims the lights. I'm guessing it was just a local thing, where some trooper is harassing them. Probably try something a few miles away on the other side of town.

-Robbie

By Eric N (Grnrvr) on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 02:49 pm: Edit

Ya, that's what I'm going to do on Friday.. I'll see what happens. Maybe some place here in Reston will do it.

By David Gage (Davidg) on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 02:56 pm: Edit

I have heard of the problem of failed inspections in Bristol too. But here in Tennessee, we ain't got no stinkin inspection...(of course our insurance is double yours too)

By JEEPETR on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 03:04 pm: Edit

Kyle,

I doubt Land Rover Researched their Lamp gaurds legality in any state. These aren't factory installed parts, they are dealer installed accessories, and I'd be willing to bet that if you look in an accessory brochure there will be a disclaimer that reads something along the lines of "Please check your state and local laws before installation. Some items may not meet local regulations."

~Scott T.
'95 D-90 (JEEPETR)
'96 Discovery (5-Speed)

By Eric N (Grnrvr) on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 03:26 pm: Edit

Very well could be but, this is the first time I have had this problem. The other two years before it wasn't an issue this year it is. Well at least at the three places I went to. The first one of which has inspected my Disco the first 2 times and never said anything about it. Just wanted to let people know that they may get told the same thing and to be ready for it.

By Rob Davison (Pokerob) on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 05:38 pm: Edit

i have the problem here in PA with my isuzu trooper.

they made me remove then and the rear light guards. i know riding around with my light covers off is illegal too but i'll take my chances

rd

By Kyle on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 05:49 pm: Edit

Scott , they are offered on the Trucks right from Land Rover,,,these arent add ones that can only get put on later... The whole blocking the beam thing is complete bullshit as well. Its just a Trooper that is having problems translating a law... It happens all the time... Happens near me with the side lights on the fenders... Maryland State police will tell you they are illegal , the same with the ones on the mirrors. They come on Mercedes...

Kyle

By len braz on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 08:14 pm: Edit

I never had a problem with mine but I live in NY. My cousin that lives in NJ also has a disco and he had to remove his or fail. He took them off right in front of the guy. Then before he left screwed them back in.

braz

By ravensjk on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 08:43 pm: Edit

I was just at the LR dealership in Richmond, VA and while looking at their set of used 98s and 99s I saw a few with the lamp guards removed. The salesman said they had to take them off according to state law. I am not sure if it is true or not, but I have no idea why the dealership would remove them if they didn't have to?

By drew on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 08:54 pm: Edit

it is true the lamp guards in va are not allowed. the troops can pull you over give you a ticket if they want to. troops say they block the lights. land rover richmond has gotten in trouble with the state police for passing rovers with them on. thats way they take them off now.
Drew

By Ron on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 09:10 pm: Edit

People's republic of virginia

Try driving a new black suburban with NY plates around and see how much crap you get you think the lamp gaurd thing is bad. I got pulled with a radar dector on 81 and then hid it and refused a search (I am big on ACLU stuff) the bastard trooper spent 45 minutes doig a full "safety check" of my truck.

NO ticket for me though. The burban was squeaky clean.

Thats when I started driving the scout full time instead.



Ron

By Gabriel Guay (Gearhead) on Thursday, December 13, 2001 - 12:12 am: Edit

I got my truck in VA beach VA and live in NC just south of the VA border. I was told VA passed a law that was amended last year to tickit cars with head light & brk light covers. I think it was written to address the pimped up honda's you see with dark covers but, the troopers interpret this law to mean any thing over the lights. I drive in VA all the time with my NC plates and have never been ticketed but saw plenty of VA trucks get pulled over. I think this similar to when tinted windows got out of hand, only now we are paying the price for the ones that took it too far.

By Leslie N. Bright (Leslie) on Thursday, December 13, 2001 - 12:13 am: Edit

Okay all....

I'm not an attorney. However, I AM an employee of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and part of my job is specifically to ensure that state code is followed (albeit for coal mining!). Because of this, I happen to know how to find things like this (because I use it daily to bust people myself).

Now, I'm not going to do it all, but here's a relevant bit:

For Virginia, current as of Va.R. July 2, 2001:

19VAC30-70-510. Headlamps.

A. INSPECT FOR AND REJECT IF:
9. Foreign material is placed on or in front of the headlamp lens or interferes with the beam from the lamp. No glazing may be placed over or in front of the headlamps unless it is a part of an approved headlamp assembly. Reject if the vehicle has wire, unapproved plastic covers, any other materials which are not original equipment or any colored material placed on or in front of headlamps.


Now, AGAIN, let me say that I am not a lawyer, nor, even as a state employee, I'm not employed in this particular Department. However, the way "I" would read this particular code hinges on the phrase included that says "original equipment".

I would "think" that, if you point that out to the inspector, then they "should" pass it. If you point that out to a trooper, they "should" not ticket you. If you are ticketed, and point it out to a judge, it "should" be dismissed.

In any case, they may NOT pass it, or not ticket you, nor dismiss it. But, if it got to that point, I think that a decent lawyer "should" be able to assist.

Hope that helps!

-L


Reference:
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+reg+19VAC30-70-510

By Leslie N. Bright (Leslie) on Thursday, December 13, 2001 - 12:30 am: Edit

Also pertinent to Land Rover owners (uh, I should say Series Land Rover owners, for the most part! ):

19VAC30-70-50. Approval stickers and decals.

C. ...(If the vehicle is normally operated from the right side, the sticker must be placed one inch to the left of the vertical center of the windshield.) On passenger vehicles not equipped with a windshield, the sticker shall be placed on or under the dash and protected in some manner from the weather.


So you know....

-L

By DougC on Thursday, December 13, 2001 - 12:33 am: Edit

Eric--I have no idea where you are in VA, so this might be out of left field (it is based on common sense). Here in Texas the cost of an inspection is the same regardless of who does the inspection. And, as one of the other posts stated, the light covers are original to your car. Finally, as Mr. Bright has pointed out, the second half of the rule states that the rule does not apply to original equipment. So, if you are close to a dealer, they are authorized to inspect your truck, and the cost is the same, why not go to the dealer for the inspection. I'm willing to bet that they won't fail you.

Just a thought...DougC

By Eric N (Grnrvr) on Thursday, December 13, 2001 - 08:27 am: Edit

Doug, my dealer doesn't do inspections. I'll just pull them off. I'm not going to spend all day arguing with inspectors that my brush bar is a dealer installed option when I can just take the thing off, get it inspected, and then put it back on. Not worth the hassel as after you argue with the guy I'm sure he will look for anything else he can get you for. At least they were all cool enough to tell me before they even did anything so that I didn't get a rejection sticker.

By Jon Williams (Jonw) on Thursday, December 13, 2001 - 08:47 am: Edit

Mu

By Jon Williams (Jonw) on Thursday, December 13, 2001 - 08:52 am: Edit

By Jon Williams (Jonw) on Thursday, December 13, 2001 - 08:54 am: Edit

Must be a Northern Virginia thing. I've never had any problems getting my truck inspected with the grilles in the brush bar. The only thing they got picky about recently was my IPFs not being covered, since they were off-road lights and not intended for street use. I retrieved the covers from my glove box, put them on the lights, and said, "There, they're covered." I passed. Somebody is over-interpreting the inspection code. The "foreign material" referred to is those tacky smokey plastic lens covers people put on to "black-out" their lights. I just got my truck inspected for November, so if it became a statewide issue, looks like I missed it. I guess if they ever rejected my guard (because the threads stripped inside the "A" frame on both sides, and I can't get the damn screws out anymore) I'd take that opportunity to get an ARB bar

If nothing else, I can always show the invoice for my truck which indicates the guard was included in the sale price of my truck when I bought it new and was on the vehicle when I took delivery. Then if all else fails, I'll have to do like I've done before: I simply remind them "YOU passed it last year."

By Jon Williams (Jonw) on Thursday, December 13, 2001 - 08:59 am: Edit

?

...had a bit 'o trouble, there.

By len braz on Thursday, December 13, 2001 - 09:57 am: Edit

I have a better question, have the troopers & the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia have nothing else better to do?

By JEEPETR on Thursday, December 13, 2001 - 10:10 am: Edit

Well,

Knowing how much you dislike me Kyle, I should have had no doubt you would have told me I was wrong. However, just for shits and giggles, I pulled out a few old land rover sales brochures. And sure enough, there was a disclaimer printed under the brush guards, light guards, etc that installation may violate state or local laws, and Land Rover Strongly recommends checking your local regulations before installation. I'm sure you will tell me I'm wrong, but again, I highly doubt that Brush guards, and lamp guards are factory installed options, I believe they are dealer Installed.

On another note, I agree that the laws are complete bullshit, and that their installation does not effect beam patters, or visibility of marker/stop/turn lamps. There are allot of Bullshit laws, but they do exist in many states, and bullshit or not, that means Police officers can legally hassle you, and that inspection stations are required by law to fail vehicles that don't comply. It’s a pain, its not fair, and it sucks, but we have to live with it…

~Scott T.
'95 D-90 (JEEPETR)
'96 Discovery (5-Speed)

By Kyle on Thursday, December 13, 2001 - 10:25 am: Edit

I dont know you enough to Dislike you allot Scott I just dislike you, ,,, As far as the law is concerned . There are plenty of "Light guards" out there and the law was not written for Land Rovers. It was more then likely written for some "Yo boy" cars and trucks that have tinted guards and the like. I remember when all this came about some years ago and what the reasons were. The big crack down on tint and neon lights and all that bullshit came at about the same time..

Kyle
P.S You eaten any Jeeps lately ??

By Bill Leek on Thursday, December 13, 2001 - 10:58 am: Edit

Arguing with a Safety Inspector is like wrestling with a pig in the mud: you end up covered in mud and pig-doo, and you realize that the pig actually enjoys it.

By Eric N (Grnrvr) on Thursday, December 13, 2001 - 10:13 pm: Edit

Took them off, got the inspection, passed with flying colors, put them back on. Done deal.. Of course I had to rip the knobs off and pry the damn things off but, I got them off and got my sticker.