Amber reflectors required in Texas?

E90076 · 04-05-2008, 10:53 PM

Anyone know if it is a requirement in Texas to have the amber reflectors ahead of the front wheels? I'm looking to get a painted pair but don't need to give Texas' finest another reason to pull me over.

Sniper1690 · 04-06-2008, 08:49 AM

Technically yes the amber reflectors are required on all cars in the United States. DOT (federal) requires some sort of amber reflector to be visable from the side of the car...which when I initially heard I thought was BS as many cars seem not to have them. However, upon further examination you can almost always find the reflectors in the headlight assembly wrapping around to the side of the car in foreign and domestics cars.

Texas has over 500 pages of Transportation Code laws, however a specific mention of amber reflectors visable on side of car never appears. BUT, there is a catch all law that states anything not specifically mentioned in Texas Transportation Code that is required by DOT (federal) shall also be required by Texas.

I've had my E46 for 9.5 years (Nov 98 - current) with clear side markers and no reflectors and never had an issue with inspection or fix-it tickets. I recently had my E92 335 painted side reflectors installed an do not anticipate problems either.

You are 100x more likely to be stopped for no front plate than not having amber reflectors. How do I know you ask? Well, I am a Texas Peace Officer and I know that less than 1% of the 5-0 I've worked with are aware of amber reflector requirement, but EVERYBODY knows about front plate law.

livnlegacy · 04-06-2008, 09:08 AM

^that sums it all up quite nicely...

E90076 · 04-06-2008, 11:21 AM

Thanks guys, don't want to break any laws on purpose but I just can't stand those amber reflectors...

akack79 · 04-06-2008, 11:32 AM

So Sniper1690, do you ride w/o a front license plate, just curious.....

OP, the E92 side reflectors are hideous and must be deleted asap!!!

E90076 · 04-06-2008, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akack79

So Sniper1690, do you ride w/o a front license plate, just curious.....

OP, the E92 side reflectors are hideous and must be deleted asap!!!

I know, they are horrible!

JacobT · 04-06-2008, 04:41 PM

No a problem. I've been drive without amber reflector for the last 8 years in TX and have never been pulled over even once for that reason. I got pulled over for no front license plate one time, but only got a warning

Sniper1690 · 04-07-2008, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akack79

So Sniper1690, do you ride w/o a front license plate, just curious.....

Ha. Yeah, I do ride sans front plate.

. I had no front plate on my E46 car with the M-Tech front bumper when I became LEO and never put it on. I never made a no front plate stop in my time in a black and white...a matter of principle.

Keep in mind that at least 20% of the cars in DFW are without front plate. Further, there are dozens of obscure Transportation Code Laws regarding equipment that a majority of cars are violating yet nobody is ever stopped for.

livnlegacy · 04-07-2008, 06:20 PM

I installed a temp-plate on my recent trip to New Mexico and back...a little fancy velcro job and it worked great.

04-05-2008, 10:53 PM	#1
E90076 Lieutenant 235 Rep 506 Posts Drives: X3M, M2CS, M5CS Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Amber reflectors required in Texas? Anyone know if it is a requirement in Texas to have the amber reflectors ahead of the front wheels? I'm looking to get a painted pair but don't need to give Texas' finest another reason to pull me over. Last edited by E90076; 04-06-2008 at 11:17 AM..
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04-06-2008, 08:49 AM	#2
Sniper1690 Second Lieutenant 20 Rep 216 Posts Drives: Dinan Stg. III E92 335i Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Dallas iTrader: (0)	Technically yes the amber reflectors are required on all cars in the United States. DOT (federal) requires some sort of amber reflector to be visable from the side of the car...which when I initially heard I thought was BS as many cars seem not to have them. However, upon further examination you can almost always find the reflectors in the headlight assembly wrapping around to the side of the car in foreign and domestics cars. Texas has over 500 pages of Transportation Code laws, however a specific mention of amber reflectors visable on side of car never appears. BUT, there is a catch all law that states anything not specifically mentioned in Texas Transportation Code that is required by DOT (federal) shall also be required by Texas. I've had my E46 for 9.5 years (Nov 98 - current) with clear side markers and no reflectors and never had an issue with inspection or fix-it tickets. I recently had my E92 335 painted side reflectors installed an do not anticipate problems either. You are 100x more likely to be stopped for no front plate than not having amber reflectors. How do I know you ask? Well, I am a Texas Peace Officer and I know that less than 1% of the 5-0 I've worked with are aware of amber reflector requirement, but EVERYBODY knows about front plate law. __________________ "...here's a word of advice for those who have been saving their lunch money and patiently waiting for the E92 M3 V8 to come to our shores: If you encounter a 335i with a Dinan badge on the trunk, don't throw down for pink slips. This car is so fast in a straight-line drag that you'll have to hitchhike home." Roundel, April 2008 \|\|08 E92 335i 6MT / Montego Blue / Dinan Stage III, IC, OC, exhaust and Stage 1 Suspension / Morr VS8
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04-06-2008, 09:08 AM	#3
livnlegacy Original Member 14 Rep 560 Posts Drives: Alpine E36 M3, 02 325iT Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (6) Garage List o7 E90 335i [0.00]	^that sums it all up quite nicely...
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04-06-2008, 11:21 AM	#4
E90076 Lieutenant 235 Rep 506 Posts Drives: X3M, M2CS, M5CS Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Thanks guys, don't want to break any laws on purpose but I just can't stand those amber reflectors...
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04-06-2008, 11:32 AM	#5
akack79 Brigadier General 142 Rep 3,161 Posts Drives: '18 F80 M3 ZCP Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: T E X A S iTrader: (18)	So Sniper1690, do you ride w/o a front license plate, just curious..... OP, the E92 side reflectors are hideous and must be deleted asap!!! __________________ 2018 F80 M3 6MT ZCP
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04-06-2008, 04:41 PM	#7
JacobT Captain 72 Rep 751 Posts Drives: 08 E90 335i JB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Austin TX iTrader: (2) Garage List 2008 BMW E90 335iA [9.50] 1999 Lexus GS400 [0.00]	No a problem. I've been drive without amber reflector for the last 8 years in TX and have never been pulled over even once for that reason. I got pulled over for no front license plate one time, but only got a warning __________________ 08 E90 335i Jet Black/Black/Piano Black Step/PS ZSP ZPP PDC CA KW V2/AG M550/ACS roof/Pedals/CF Roundels/M3 rep bumper/Lux 5.0/Yellow fogs/Alpina B3/JB4 G5/VRSF FMIC/ER CP/Tial BOV/Muffler Delete
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04-07-2008, 06:20 PM	#9
livnlegacy Original Member 14 Rep 560 Posts Drives: Alpine E36 M3, 02 325iT Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (6) Garage List o7 E90 335i [0.00]	I installed a temp-plate on my recent trip to New Mexico and back...a little fancy velcro job and it worked great.
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