Back on May 4, 2009 I brought up the question that everyone is confused about. ( Is it legal to drive your car after dark if you have an antique plate on it ? ) Nobody seemed to know for sure, so I said I would find out and let you know. Well, I found out after two months, after writing to the Pennsylvania State Police Headquarters and getting no answer after waiting one month, I emailed the governors office. They transfered the letter back to the State Police and I had the answer in just a couple days in the form of a written letter which I can now carry with me in the car. The letter is fairly long and detailed but here is the important part. QUOTE " A vehicle which is an antique motor vehicle may already meet the requirements for lighting based upon it's original design, and could therefore be operated during periods of darkness or reduced visibility. However, not all antique vehicles meet the lighting standards as certain lighting technologies were not available when they were originally manufactured. Therefore, if the vehicles original design does not meet the criteria for required lighting, it's drivability is limited to daylight operation only. " END QUOTE As far as I know, Corvettes have always had sealed beam headlights, so it is legal to drive them after dark in Pennsylvania but if you live in another state, it would be wise to check how your law is written. On another question that I asked if anyone is interested . Some people have been saying that it is a $150. fine to leave your trailer ball in a Reese type hitch when you are not pulling a trailer. NOT TRUE. If anyone wants a copy of the letter , contact me and send a self addressed stamped envelope and I will be glad to send you a copy.

 

that light law sounds like it may relate more to Model T which only had head lights, or cars with oil burning head lights...

 

 

All those years driving the vette to Carlisle (from NJ) it never occurred to me that I might be illegal driving after dark, something I did plenty of. Rain was a problem, but not dark.

 

What prompted me to get a definate answer was people saying at cruises that you better be home before dark with that antique plate, and I would explain that that only applied to cars that were built before sealed beam headlights. And then a friend was pulled over at night with a classic plate by a Pa. state trooper because he thought it was an antique plate on his car. It seems that it is not even clear to some troopers, so I wanted something in writing that I could carry with me in the car.

 

I’d take a copy.

 

I'd start a new thread...

This one died over 15 years ago...

 

You are answering a post from 15 years ago.