..Back'em Up Lights..Law?

[jim-bob]

Is there a law stating we must have back-up lights on these trucks?
Thanks..

[special-K]

I guess state laws vary, but this could be a federal thing. What I know says if a light came on a vehicle it needs to be operational to be road legal. But I don't know that backups were ever mandated. They are more of a convenience item than hiway safety equipment. My first years of driving were in vehicles that never had them. Make for a more aware driver for sure. Now people feel they need cameras when all you need to do is observe your surroundings before hopping in and back up with caution.

[palallin]

In MO, they are not checked on the state inspection.

[Jrainman]

I would think if they came from the factory its Law you must have them and they must work, I recently Failed my state inspection for this and had to adjust my switch and it was PIA ,you need tiny fingers .......

[7tee]

Just call me crazy but if it was or is on my truck, I want it to work... ...

[hamjet]

In NY they must work. when I switched to auto trans I put a toggle switch with small red LED light under the steering column mounted to the dash to manually turn on or off. the light is in circuit so I'd know if I left it on. Its illegal to have them on while driving..

[100%Chevy]

They were optional on Chevy/GMC trucks until 1966 when they became standard equipment.
I don't know if they were ever required by law.
Mike.

[coreyjhen]

Yes, FMVSS requires backup lights: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-20...sec571-108.xml. That being said, I've never heard of anyone being ticketed for lack thereof.

[pappy 2]

If the back-up lights must work, how do the 69 thru 72 trucks that have had the front ends from a 67 added, with no marker lights get by? My thinking is if the vehicle came with the lights, then they should probably work. Not sure if this would pertain to back-up lights though. Think they are more of convenience than a necessity.

[HO455]

I believe that 67 was the year that the feds required all vehicles to have back up lights. 1967 SM420's are the only ones to have a back up light switch in them. (Hard to find). The SM465 came out in 68 and they all have a reverse light switch (correct me if I'm wrong). But I do find it hard to believe that the General would go through the expense of modifying the tranny for one year of production unless they were forced to.

[Jason Banks]

I'm pretty sure my truck passed inspection in Texas without them. They didn't work when I first got the truck...but I have since repaired them.

[Willie Makeit]

Originally Posted by HO455

I believe that 67 was the year that the feds required all vehicles to have back up lights. 1967 SM420's are the only ones to have a back up light switch in them. (Hard to find). The SM465 came out in 68 and they all have a reverse light switch (correct me if I'm wrong). But I do find it hard to believe that the General would go through the expense of modifying the tranny for one year of production unless they were forced to.

1966 was first year for C-10's

[jocko]

why not just fix them?

['68OrangeSunshine]

They would only get by at the cop's discretion. Most cops wouldn't notice minor details about a 49 year old truck. Wouldn't know the difference between '68 and a '67. But I did get a comment about my '68's side marker lights not being operational from a Safford County Mountie one Thanksgiving country road trip long ago...
He said his cousin had a '72 Chevy truck and those lites all worked. I had to explain about Federal Regulations changing in successive MYs '67, '68, '70, '72: with no markers/ reflector-only markers/lighted side lights/ turn-signalling side lights, as the series progressed.
He believed me about the side reflectors, but I still got the speeding ticket.

[Toms67]

I would think the clear part the tail light would be a giveaway.

[LongBox]

First, I like to have back up lights, makes it easier to see what's behind you when backing at night. Second, I doubt if most cops know or care about things like back-up or marker light regulations.

My 69 has front marker lights, and what look like marker lights at the rear, but they are just reflectors, with no wiring or sockets. What's to say some cop who doesn't know how these trucks were originally equipped would not figure that they had been deliberately deleted, and write up a ticket?

[LEEVON]

Originally Posted by palallin

In MO, they are not checked on the state inspection.

Ditto, not "required" lighting equipment in Missouri. I think they are more of a convenience. I think an LEO would have to be having a really bad day to use that as probable cause. But check the laws in your state. My '71 has them and they work well.

[un4gvn!]

I think it would be convenient to let the guy behind you that you want to let him know you want to back up so he can back up out of your way.

[special-K]

I assumed the Op was considering eliminating them and filling the holes or making larger tail lamps after modifying the body. If that's the case, leave it alone. I used to think up all sorts of ways to modify these truck bodies before I realized the best way is leave as is. They were well designed since day 1, isn't why they are so popular all these years later? We are also used to seeing certain things and it would probably look funky to most people.

Eliminating side markers on a post-67 will fail inspections since they were federally mandated. But, historic/street rod tags forego inspection in most states and the law on the street doesn't know the year of the truck going down the road. I peeled all the stickers on my Harley when I bought it, even one on the down tube with the VIN on it. Took the reflectors off, too. It's a Heritage Softail made to resemble a '50s Harley and what I've done is to take it farther that way. The VIN is stamped into the frame. I also run straight pipes, have no turn signals, and the '50s tail lamp would not be DOT approved. Now it's historic, so if I get hassled after 27 years of no issues, I'll just put historic tags on it.

There is a difference between what year back-ups came on our trucks and what year they were mandated. Often such changes appear prior to the mandate

['68OrangeSunshine]

I got stopped by TPD while driving my '71 GMC Jimmy home from work about 6 months ago. Sunday night about 2200. The female officer said my License Plate lamp was out. I told her it had never worked since
I bought the truck 25 years ago, and this was the first time anybody had a problem with that. Also I had a bright yellow 1969-72 Arizona YOM plate and it should be bright enough to read just by the reflective coating alone.
I handed her my drivers license, registration and proof of insurance.
She wrote up a written warning, not a repair order.
Then the Sgt showed up at the open passenger window and asked if I had any weapons. I said no. Then he said "Do you know why we pulled you over?"
"Possibly it has to do with the Year-of-Manufacture plate... Not every one on patrol may be familiar with the new rule?"
"Well that's partly it. It looked like a New Mexico plate... But you looked safe and I wanted to break-in the trainee Patrolwoman with a nightime traffic stop... How did she do?''
''I thought she was professional'', I said, ''but she did alarm me by putting her hand on her Taser, when I instinctively almost opened my door to see the burned-out light for myself.''
When the Patrolwoman handed me the written warning I asked if this was a repair order, did I have to fix it? "You don't hafta do nuthin'', she said. "Have a nice night.''
Anyway the next bright day off, I was under the rear bumper disssembling and reassembling the License Plate Lamp. New bulb. No joy. Cleaned up grounds. No joy. Unmade and remade connections. Still no joy. So I left it alone. Forget about it.
Last month, before going to PHX on a job, I checked all my lights and the damn License Plate Lamp was ON. Go figure?

[Hook'em]

Originally Posted by Jason Banks

I'm pretty sure my truck passed inspection in Texas without them. They didn't work when I first got the truck...but I have since repaired them.

Its based upon state laws. Texas safety inspection does not require working reverse lights. The following are what is checked in Texas:

(1) tires;
(2) wheel assembly;
(3) safety guards or flaps, if required by Section 547.606;
(4) brake system, including power brake unit;
(5) steering system, including power steering;
(6) lighting equipment;
(7) horns and warning devices;
(8) mirrors;
(9) windshield wipers;
(10) sunscreening devices, unless the vehicle is exempt from sunscreen device restrictions under Section 547.613;
(11) front seat belts in vehicles on which seat belt anchorages were part of the manufacturer's original equipment;
(12) exhaust system;
(13) exhaust emission system;
(14) fuel tank cap, using pressurized testing equipment approved by department rule; and
(15) emissions control equipment as designated by department rule.



Texas law permits backup lights and has specifications that must be followed if the are used (amber or white only on when vehicle is not moving forward).

[SeniorVerde]

http://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/...icle-1/part-2/

I think in Georgia, you might be fine. I couldn't find anything that specifically mentions reverse or backup lights.

[100%Chevy]

We have no inspection in Mississippi!
They did away with it in July of last year!
We can still be cited for safety violations as always.
Mike.

[CG]

Personally I like it when all my outside lights work as they are supposed to. Why give an officer a reason to stop you? Plus its a pretty good feeling of accomplishment cause sometimes its a real biatch getting everything to work correctly lol.

[JCD]

I've had a few 65 Corvairs that didn't have backup lights.
What you got was a stamped aluminum piece that screwed on like the lens.