Dear Cop - Usage of Fog Lights

People driving around with those stock Driving/fog lights on when conditions do not call for them. Is this legal or not? Thanks and keep up the great work out there.

The answer is simple, a driver may only use fog lamps when the conditions on the roadway is such that the use of normal head lamps would be at a disadvantage.(IE: FOG) If a driver is using fog lights on a vehicle, the headlights cannot be on. It is either one or the other. A driver may not have fog lamps illuminated when visibility is clear on the roadways.

Fog lamps

Section 4.11 (1) of the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations indicates that a motor vehicle may be equipped with 2 fog lamps, mounted on the front of the vehicle below the headlamps, that are capable of displaying only white or amber light.

(2) Each fog lamp must be
(a) mounted not more than 30 cm below the headlamps, and
(b) adjusted and aimed so that, at a distance of 8 m from the lamp, the centre of the beam is at least 10 cm below the height of the fog lamp.
(3) The fog lamp wiring and switch must permit simultaneous operation of the parking lamps, tail lamps, licence plate lamp and, if required, clearance lamps.
(4) The operator of a vehicle may use fog lamps instead of headlamps when atmospheric conditions make the use of headlamps disadvantageous.

I also see many vehicles with auxiliary driving lamps. An auxiliary driving lamp must operate so that it is illuminated only when the upper beam of a multiple beam headlamp is illuminated.

Auxiliary driving lamps

Section 4.09 (1) of the Motor Vehicle Act Regulation indicates that a motor vehicle may be equipped with 2 auxiliary driving lamps, mounted on the front of the vehicle at a height of not less than 40 cm and not more than 1.06 m, that are capable of displaying only white light.
(2) An auxiliary driving lamp must be directed so that the high intensity portion of the beam is, at a distance of 8 m from the lamp, at least 12 cm below the height of the lamp and, at a distance of 25 m from the lamp, not higher than 1.06 m from the road surface.
(3) An auxiliary driving lamp must operate so that it is illuminated only when the upper beam of a multiple beam headlamp is illuminated.

The use of non-manufacturer lamps or colored lamps such as blue, green, yellow, etc., may not be used anywhere on a vehicle. The use of colored lamps under a vehicle chassis as seen in many Hollywood movies is also illegal. The lights on a vehicle must be of manufacturers specifications and meet Canadian SAE standards.

Constable R.A.(Richard) ASELTON
Central Okanagan Traffic Services - Media Liaison

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.