I would like someone who is in law enforcement ( maybe a forum member ) to clear up the question about running after night with an antique license plate, especially in Pa. The rule always applied to antique cars before sealed beam headlights because they didn't have the required candle power for todays highways, but their is still confusion about that rule including sealed beam cars. Just a few days ago a friend was stopped after night by a Pa. state trooper because he thought he saw an antique plate on his car, but realized after stopping him that it was a classic plate and let him go. The car had sealed beams and he still stopped him. You can't seem to get the same answer from all police officers. Does anyone have the definitive answer to this question in the form of an actual code ?

 

See Inspection on page 2. That tells me you'll need "normal lighting" after sunset. You're only exempt from "normal lighting" between sunrise to sunset.

http://www.dot3.state.pa.us/pdotform...ets/fs-ant.pdf

Btw - I'm not in law enforcement however reading the law as its defined doesn't require one to hold a police badge.

 

That page is where I got my understanding years ago that it is legal to operate an antique vehicle after night as long as it has sealed beams, but some people including law enforcement don't seem to read it that way. I tried to find an email address for Pa. State Police headquarters to clear it up but there don't seem to be any way to contact them. Might have to call. Thanks for your comments.

 

I would think the DMV office would be the best source to answer your question. Possibly they have this ruling in some booklet form you can get a copy of and then carry in the car for the next time a cop might pull the car over due to a headlight issue.

Maybe this could help too, try this site for the lighting vehicle code - see Chapter 43.

http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/vehicle_code/index.shtml

 

You would have to search the motor vehicle statutes and see if there is something that prohibits unsealed headlights or if there is a minimum candlepower requirement.

Most likely, they reference the US DOT requirements and there are US laws on sealed beams required for years. This is what made many of the halogen headlights of the '60s and '70s illegal in cars but legal in motorcycles.

If you can find no such requirement in Pennsylvania law, and nothing that points to US DOT requirements, then you can simply go through the process that most have had to do - drive it, get a ticket, take it to court, and get a ruling.

 

The PA General Assembly makes the rules...state cops 'interpret' those rules. That's why no two seem to agree on gray area things like antique car lighting requirements.

PennDot Vehicle Inspection Division can be reached at: 717-787-2895.

As a PennDot certified class 7 state inspection mechanic and owner of '69 ragtop with PA antique registration since '95, I can say that there is no difference between an antique and a street rod as far as safety requirements is concerned. The big deal regarding the use of an antique plate is the stipulation that they NOT be operated on a daily basis...thus a street rod needs an annual inspection where an antique does not.
"Permitted use shall be limited to participation in club activities, exhibits, tours, parades, occasional
transportation and similar uses.” Occasional transportation and similar uses is defined as one day a week."

I won't bother typing all the regs but here are a few that apply:
lowbeam candlepower shall not be less than 7,500.
highbeam candlepower shall not be less than 10,000.
Stop lamps, parking lamps, turn signals and hazard warning lamps must be visible in nightime at no less than 500'...100' during normal sunlight.
I think even the old 6V vettes will pass these requirements.

And finally, as an analogy, were those vehicles made prior to the '68 model year with only single circuit braking systems automatically banned? No.

State cops are human, too. Sometimes they stop cool cars just cause than can, to get a closer look. Not all have a subversive agenda.

 

I think I'd still try to contact them via email, just so you have your answer in writing.

 

I found this on the PENNDOT website...

"Classic vehicles are subject to an annual vehicle safety inspection. Antique vehicles operated exclusively between sunrise and sunset are exempt from the normal lighting requirements of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code but must have their original lighting equipment. Antique vehicles are not subject to the annual vehicle safety inspection. Antique and classic vehicles are not subject to emissions inspection.

http://www.dot3.state.pa.us/pdotform...ets/fs-ant.pdf

 

No where does it say I cannot drive my Antique at night. I will drive until I get a ticket and then fight it in court with what was qouted above.

 

That is my point exactly, I hesitate to call because then it is just another mans opinion, but with an email, I can copy it and verify that it came from the right source. Your right , then it can be carried in the car.

 

I would too.......

 

Based on the quote, I am sure you are fine. I think that section of the code is for really old cars with the single filament bulb with a reflector (probably not even parabolic) behind it, think old Model Ts and such. The statute saying it is OK to drive these cars between sunrise and sunset even though they don't meet the lighting standard, so long as their original lighting equipment is installed. Since I am sure your '72 meets the lighting standard, the highlighted section is not applicable to you, and you are not restricted to sunrise to sunset. That's the way I read it.

I'm not a lawyer, but sometimes I play one on the internet.....

 

This area highlighted in black is where the controversy is. They are saying that if you have a model T Ford which does not have the lighting requirements, you can still drive it ( Exclusively ) only during the daylight hours but it still needs the original low candle power lighting to qualify as original and have an antique plate. There is no mention that it is illegal to drive an antique vehicle that is factory equipped with sealed beam headlights at night. So my interpretation is that if it is sealed beams and proper taillights and turnsignals, you are legal at night. I will keep at this until I get the right answers and will let everyone know.

 

There is a lot of gray area in that statement of rules.

I dont think NJ has rules like that, if they do, I have'nt seen it.

 

To my knowledge, they don't. IMO, we live in the worst state in the nation for driving classic cars. Cars over 25 years of age can only be registered as regular use vehicles = no restriction on usage, but subject full bi-annual inspection including emissions, or as antique vehicles = used ONLY for exhibition or educational purposes, NO pleasure use at all. You get a choice between no restrictions and ridiculous restrictions. So, mine is wearing regular plates and a regular inspection sticker. Only once has a cop looked over my car carefully as if to try to find some reason to pull me over. He was not succesful in finding fault.

Let me know if your understanding of the NJ registration rules differs from what I wrote above.

PK

 

I found this on the http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/Inspectio...clesExempt.htm

The following vehicles are exempt from inspection requirements (N.J.A.C. 13:20-7.2):

* Historic motor vehicles
* Collector motor vehicles

Historic vehicles
General inspections are not required for historic or collector vehicles. To be classified as a "historic vehicle" it must be:

* At least 25 years old
* Specially registered and display QQ plates (1945 and earlier models are required to display one plate on the rear of the vehicle. 1946 and newer models will be issued two plates and both plates must be displayed, one on the front and one on the back of the vehicle).

 

Yep, that's page 2 on the same form bj1k and I were referring to in the above posted link.

I would interpret PA statement as you can drive at night without receiving a citation a long as you have the original lighting - period. There's nothing in black and white which states driving an antique at night with its original equipment is illegal.

PA also defines when or how often you can drive an antique, classic, or collectible car if you have the special registration plates - see NOTE at the top of the form -

http://www.dot3.state.pa.us/pdotform...orms/mv-11.pdf

 

I guess I meant "historic" instead of "antique". However, I believe that the rest of what I wrote is correct. Cars that are more than 25 years old cannot be registered as Collector vehicles.

 

I have regular plates on mine now, I applied for the QQ plates last week and I was told it takes 8-10 weeks for Trenton to deliver them, I wasn't waiting that long to drive my car.