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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Posts
    2

    Default CVC 24400 - Headlight Too Low

    My question involves vehicle maintenance laws for the State of: CALIFORNIA

    Interestingly enuff. I got pulled over for being profiled. Here goes:

    The officer that pulled me over was on the opposite traffic of a major thoroughway in Elk Grove, CA (January 28th, clear day, about 10:30ish) heading to Salinas. I actually saw the moto-officer give me a once over on the other side traffic. He actually had to go about 1/8 mile to make a U-turn due to the fact that there is an island. I looked in my rear view a minute later and there are the red and blues..... Yes.. finally I've been waiting...

    Anyways, I was neither speeding, because I don't speed on this particular road since I know it's a good trap. And I'm not in a hurry.

    So he pulls me over because my car was too low, proceeds to measure to the 'headlight filament' (light source, according to the code). In reality, I think he gave me this ticket because of the fact that he didn't find anything wrong with me.
    Given:
    1994 honda accord, with stock rims
    lowered approx 1.5 inches (unmodified eibach lowering springs)

    Ha!!!! Can u say profiled. Given I am a Filipino, but I'm also in my mid 30s... Shame what I have to go through, just to drive 4 hours to do a job.. And a cop wastes my time with a 'headlight too low' ticket....

    I understand that Elk Grove has diminished in the past few years, what with all the Asian related crimes and all that... But for me, I have no respect for this particular police officer. And being I'm a loud mouth and all, (not when I was getting pulled over), I will make a statement to all agencies, council persons, any one that can really bring about TRUE JUSTICE.

    I guess the POLICE officer was just doing his job. And I guess part of that job is to profile for Asian people that have lowered Japanese cars that are going on or below the speed limit.

    My question is, IS THIS A FIX IT TICKET??
    He didn't mention a,b,c or anything else on the ticket....
    Nor did he check I (infraction) or M(misdeamor).
    I'm lost

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Northern California
    Posts
    832

    Default Re: CVC 24400 - Headlight Too Low

    Stock, older model Accords and Civics used to come stock with their headlamps at or just above the 22" mark, the lowest legal lamp level in CA. Lowering one of those vehicles puts the headlamp height into violation. Sounds like a legit stop and citation to me.

    You can cry about your ticket to whoever. They may tell you to pound sand, since YOU were in violation of the law. Raise your car up and get the cite signed off, its an INFRACTION after all. If its not marked "correctable" on the ticket, get it fixed and take everything to court showing you fixed the issue and ask the charge be made a correctable violation to the judge.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Posts
    2

    Default Re: CVC 24400 - Headlight Too Low

    OK, Sniper. (funny, I used to work with someone nicknamed Sniper who lives in EG). Anyways, When you say get the cite signed off because it is an INFRACTION, even though it's not checked, do u think it's going to hold up? Also, how do I get the 'correctable' on the ticket fixed? Who'll do that for me? So are u telling me that, because the officer didn't feel like it, that I would have to take more time to correct what he did or didn't do. I wish I can write him a ticket for a ticket that wasn't fairly compliant. In my career, if you do this kind of thing (miss a thing or 2) on paperwork, I would get the state agencies and federal agencies on my @$$ in a heartbeat. I think they need to do some CEs on how to write tickets.
    OK.. So get it corrected. OK. Great..... Any other advice. I need all I can get.....

    Also, do u drive a 'Vette....

    btw...Thanks for the help

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Northern California
    Posts
    832

    Default Re: CVC 24400 - Headlight Too Low

    Headlamps on Motor Vehicles
    24400. (a) A motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, shall be:

    (1) Equipped with at least two headlamps, with at least one on each side of the front of the vehicle, and, except as to vehicles registered prior to January 1, 1930, they shall be located directly above or in advance of the front axle of the vehicle. The headlamps and every light source in any headlamp unit shall be located at a height of not more than 54 inches nor less than 22 inches.

    (2) Operated during darkness, or inclement weather, or both, with at least two lighted headlamps that comply with paragraph (1).

    (b) As used in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), “inclement weather” is a weather condition that is either of the following:

    (1) A condition that prevents a driver of a motor vehicle from clearly discerning a person or another motor vehicle on the highway from a distance of 1,000 feet.

    (2) A condition requiring the windshield wipers to be in continuous use due to rain, mist, snow, fog, or other precipitation or atmospheric moisture.


    Depending on what section you were cited for would make the difference in if it is mechanical or not.

    24400(a)(1) is mechanical and should be correctable unless the officer can establish negligence in repair or can establish you knowingly violated the law. Even then, if its marked not correctable and you correct it, then take it to court, showing the violation was corrected, most traffic courts will change a non correctable to a correctable. Its always worth a shot.

    If you were driving without your lights activated then it's a moving violation. Sounds like you were cited for 24400(a)(1) thou.

    ps. no vette here, sorry.

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