Chicken Lights and CSA2010

[TeamCaffee]

[FONT=&quot]Many commercial drivers and some law enforcement officers maintain the mistaken belief that Federal regulations require accessory or auxiliary lights on a commercial motor vehicle be operable at all times. The FMCSA regulation contained in § 393.9(a) states: “All lamps required by this subpart shall be capable of being operated at all times. This paragraph shall not be construed to require that any auxiliary or additional lamp be capable of being lit at all times.” [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Occasionally, a police officer will issue a citation or warning and only indicate “Inoperative light on a CMV.” So, what does this have to do with CSA2010? An inoperative [required] light citation is scored at 6 points against the driver’s record for headlamp, tail lamp or turn signal. An inoperative clearance or ID lamp may warrant 2 severity weight points. An inoperative accessory light does not violate federal regulations; therefore, severity weight points are inappropriate. If not so indicated, drivers should ask a law enforcement officer to specify the inoperative light on the citation.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Inappropriate points in FMCSA’s data base may be contested using FMCSA’s DataQs system. To do this, drivers can go to the DataQs registration page at [/FONT][FONT=&quot]https://dataqs.fmcsa.dot.gov/[/FONT]


Information compiled by Terry O'Connell, Field Safety Liaison

 

[layoutshooter]

Thanks for this post. It helps a lot.