Lance Venice turn signal legality

[ccracer]

;D YAY! I just got my first scoot four days ago and have just put the odomoeter on 100 today! She is a brand new white Lance Venice. I got her from Wilson's Motorsports of Fresno, CA (B&M).

I have a couple of questions about safety/legality:

1. My Venice has amber colored turn signals mounted in the rear attached to the license plate frame. In addition to this there are white lights mounted on either side of the tail light which also function as turn signals. The bulbs are white along with the lens. My father told me that he thought white lights in the back of any vehicle were illegal. Should I change these to amber colored bulbs? Try to get amber lenses? Should I go red and wire them up to the brake light instead?

2. When I went to the DMV to get my motorcycle learners permit, I was told that if I took a motorcycle safety course my cost of insurance would probably go down. I believe that the MSC costs a couple of hundred bucks. Can anyone tell me how much thier insurance went down after taking the course?

3. I have seen people on cycles/scooters wearing earbud headphones to listen to music. Is this illegal? On one hand, it seems like it would really limit your ability to hear horns or other warning sounds, but then I think about people with their car stereos on so loud it vibrates house windows as they pass. Hmmmmmmm................

Anyway, I am having a blast with my scoot! I have a lot more questions, but they are probably more suited to other categories on this forum.

Thanks,
Celia

["Big Guy"]

Hi Ceila, welcome to the Pound!

Lights have interpretive laws, meaning, the federal DOT does not allow anything but red in the rear half of the vehicle, however these laws are not enforced to any degree. Some Harleys come with amber in the rear along with the red and they are DOT approved... go figure.

White may be a different story though. I know that kids (mine included) get tickets for hooking up their reverse lights as running lights. If they came on the stock build, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

As for the MSF discount, check with your insurance carrier. I do know that Geico (my carrier) does offer a 10% discount, but they don't tell you about it, you have to ask.

The earbuds are not illegal, at least not in Louisiana unless you're driving a car, but in some states, they are. Again, check with your local authorities to find out more.

Good luck!


-Rich

[ccracer]

Thanks Big Guy, you are great (and fast too)!

[harrywr2]

legis.state.sd.us/statutes/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&Statute=32-17-11

"Either the rear lamps required by § 32-17-8 or a separate lamp shall be so constructed and placed as to illuminate with a white light the rear registration plate and render it clearly legible from a distance of fifty feet to the rear."

DOT doesn't care about registration plate illumination as it isn't a safety issue.(Unless it is a huge blinding white light)

[Aerostudent]

If the lights are stock, I wouldn't worry about it. My GS-R has blue LEDs in the mirrors, right undre the DOT ### writing, and I have had one officer tell me that was is illegal, but he couldn't really do much, as it is stock with a DOT stamp.

While earbuds may or may not be legal (depending on state, I think Cali they are illegal), if you are going to use them, please don't ride with both in (only one at a time), that way you will still hear some sounds around you. I don't ride with headphones, my scooter's engine purring under my seat is music to my ears!!

My ins offers a 10% discount as an extra incentive, but I HIGHLY recomend taking the course for personal safety reasons, your hide is a little more important than a few buck off the ins, so that should be more motivation than the discount.

Basically, what Rich said! ;D

Aero

[ccracer]

Thanks again guys. I am so glad I found this forum! I am searching it every day for some new question I have come up with.