LEDs at night on Texas lakes
Anybody know if running your LEDs at night on Texas lakes illegal? Had a buddy get pulled over on Lake Texoma after dark running his in boat LEDs. We're thinking it was BS and lake patrol just used it as a reason to pull him over.
Officer told him you can have them on while stationary but not running. Would seem it would be safer at night because other folks would be able to see your boat.
LEDs at night on Texas lakes
I believe that they are illegal everywhere, since red, green, and white are used for navigation (non-navigation lights in those colors could be confusing) and red and blue are police (again, confusing).
That said, I have yet to get nailed for LEDs on a Michigan lake (knock on wood)
LEDs at night on Texas lakes
NOT illegal! Law only states you MUST have "one bright light visible all around" and navigation lights!
I pulled up at the dock one night while the Coast Guard were performing boat checks on Lake Amistad and all they said were, "Nice Lights! You guys could stay out all night light up like that..."
I run Blue LEDs but nothing higher than the side of the boat...
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publicat...l2000_0001.pdf
Full version
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publicat...l2000_0014.pdf
LEDs at night on Texas lakes
Wait.... Check the last sentence
This could be their "grey area" that allows them to stop you, but it isn't exact enough to be written up as a violation of law...
§ 31.064. Lights
A vessel or motorboat when not at dock must have and exhibit at least one bright light, lantern, or flashlight from sunset to sunrise in all weather. A vessel or motorboat when underway between sunset and sunrise in all weather must have and exhibit the lights prescribed by the commandant of the Coast Guard for boats of its class. No other lights that may be mistaken for those prescribed may be exhibited.
LEDs at night on Texas lakes
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Clamcakes
Yeah you might be right...the last sentence "No other lights that may be mistaken for those prescribed may be exhibited. "
Problem we had with it, was his lights are speaker ring LEDs. They're not outside of the boat or tower speakers. So that's why we were calling 'bulsh' on it. Reason to pull him over and jack with him.
In Texas they do not need a reason. They can pull you over because they just feel like it.
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