---Stupid Light Laws---

[Bull-Dozer]

Where I live it is illegal to install a windshield mounted spot light on a vehicle unless you buy a used cop car at auction that all ready has one in place or if you have legitimate commercial use for such a thing. So instead I wrap a flashlight lanyard snug around my wrist and hang a thousand lumens out the window with ease.

I despise stupid laws, possibly more than most. I imagine either bored Karens or spineless beta males come up with these stupid laws. Same with fireworks. Every year they cry how dangerous it is. Well, if we all drove our vehicles only once a year that'd be pretty dangerous too but if we normalize and practice the use of an item it becomes for more understood and far less dangerous.

I have heard they are thinking of regulating flashlight output in some areas as well. All in the name of safety, of course. Thank goodness small groups of overly opinionated and entirely disconnected busy bodies are there to authorize our lives be it local or federal. Seriously, gets me spitting mad every time I think about how asinine and arbitrary most things on the books actually are.

Any similarly idiotic rules and regulations in your area?

 

[IMA SOL MAN]

Sounds like a blue state. What state or nation is it?

 

[idleprocess]

Same with fireworks. Every year they cry how dangerous it is

They are demonstrably dangerous. We can quantify this:

An estimated 19,500 fires started by fireworks were reported to local US fire departments in 2018. These fires caused five civilian deaths, 46 civilian injuries, and $105 million in direct property damage.

Whether the reaction is proportional to the risk is up for debate. Localities hate fireworks because emergency response is an unpredictable contingency and fire damage hits tax rolls.

When I did shift work I hated them because hooligan-minded kids love shooting them off at all hours. Once a string of black cats went off in my backyard around midnight and were it not for the ~30 seconds of delay procuring a hogleg and proceeding to my backyard with haste I may well have acted in anger against some in the moment very deserving youths. More recently I used to have a dog that had legitimate panic attack level anxiety around fireworks; 8mg Alprazolam (Xanax™) reduced that to merely displeased. Neither is a factor now but I'm mildly irked when I'm still being awakened after midnight.

Well, if we all drove our vehicles only once a year that'd be pretty dangerous too but if we normalize and practice the use of an item it becomes for more understood and far less dangerous.

Most of us drive our vehicles ~daily and they're still one of the more common preventable causes of death and injury; this is accepted because they've been made economically necessary. We also drive them in designated areas with some modicum of safety built into their design.

There's a vanishingly rare niche business I've heard referred to as pay and pop (i.e. such an establishment exists in Dallas), but it seems this is less popular than setting them off yourself in your back yard. Suspect the economics are iffy even with the attached fireworks stand - property likely requires some modicum of improvements for <14 days a year of business and may not be particularly useful the other ~351 days of the year for other purposes.

Otherwise in most states there are unincorporated areas where one can engage in such shenanigans - parks, dedicated areas, private land with permission of the landowner.

 

[Bull-Dozer]

---IMA SOL MAN--- The state is red but like any other major city the suburbs and metro areas are dumbed down and the ignorant masses swallow it all hook, line and sinker. Ugh.

 

[Bull-Dozer]

---idleprocess--- That's odd. I am coming up on nearly a quarter of a century in the fire service yet every year in the two neighboring major cities I have lived in most of my life there are very few incidents per capita. To hear a friend of mine tell it, a fire chief recently back from a three year job in Europe, fireworks are quite common and frequently used there without disproportionate risk to life, limb and property.

Put together this gives me reason to be believe the combined effects of legalizing fireworks would curb the frantic and dangerous binging behavior we sometimes see on 4th of July.

Regarding sleeping and quiet hours such laws are all ready in place no matter the source be it fireworks, lawn mowers or dogs barking. The mischievous group's actions fall under current law to begin with.

As for dogs and statistics, Google reports, "According to recent dog bite statistics, in 2022 there will be nearly 100 million dog bites worldwide, with approximately 10 million occurring in the United States," creating 9,980,500 more incidents than fireworks. Did I mention the 441 reported deaths related to these attacks?

If safety is your actual concern and considering the verifiable figures, perhaps you'd advocate for banning dogs as well, eh?

Note: I am also wondering how the fireworks injuries lay out over a given area. Not for nothing but there are certain parts of every city I have been in that should not be allowed to vote, drive or own sporks. Also, I'm autistic and text doesn't convey tone very well. I rather enjoy messaging with you.

 

[Bull-Dozer]

---idleprocess--- Just as a point of interest I recently hounded a local fire prevention officer to define a "firework" so far as it applies to the city I am in and the work I do. He could not. Not a list, not a definition, not a single scrap of description other than to say "when marketed as a firework" which means almost nothing when examined. Interesting that something can be illegal and undefined. Sort of points back to my original assertion of so very many laws being stupid and arbitrary.

 

[IMA SOL MAN]

---idleprocess--- Just as a point of interest I recently hounded a local fire prevention officer to define a "firework" so far as it applies to the city I am in and the work I do. He could not. Not a list, not a definition, not a single scrap of description other than to say "when marketed as a firework" which means almost nothing when examined. Interesting that something can be illegal and undefined. Sort of points back to my original assertion of so very many laws being stupid and arbitrary.

...Getting back to the original subject of light regulation, this thread is the first I have heard about regulating flashlights--can you give more info or provide a link to some? I need to know how much time I have to stock up!

 

[Bull-Dozer]

---IMA SOL MAN--- I heard something a while back on the YouTube channel Canadian Prepper. I heard similar rumors off and on on a few other flashlight channels. I think laser pointers sparked quite a bit of controversy in some areas for obvious reasons which spilled over into flashlight strength.

I'm surprised there isn't all ready a lumen tax or battery fee. It wouldn't be any more of a naked money grab than half of what we get squeezed for these days.

I think we are relatively safe for now since flashlights aren't on most peoples' radar. I mean, have you tried talking flashlights with "normal" people? Their eyes glaze over. If they can't eat it or hump it they're just not interested (I think the majority of Facebook posts prove that).

 

[letschat7]

I can talk flashlights with people so long as it is centered around MagLite or sometimes Surefire if they are a hunter or NRA member.

Just go to a gun show and sell a tactical light some time. You can chat for hours about lights if you price it high enough no one buys it.

 

[M@elstrom]

Where I live it is illegal to install a windshield mounted spot light on a vehicle unless you buy a used cop car at auction that all ready has one in place or if you have legitimate commercial use for such a thing.

I imagine that might be an attempt to curtail those that would accessorize their vehicles to appear like Police cruisers.

Any similarly idiotic rules and regulations in your area?

Plenty... where would you like me to start... I live in a Socialist Nanny State 🤣

 

[Bull-Dozer]

---M@elstrom--- I could buy that it's an effort to prevent impersonating a cop except they auction actual cop cars to the public, at least in my area. They look exactly like a legitimate cruiser from the right angle, even with the logos removed. Nanny states are the worst.

 

[M@elstrom]

Nanny states are the worst.

Nah, totalitarian States are worse, Socialist Nanny States are a close second 😉


We had a spate of fake cops pulling over motorists and taking on the spot fines (for alleged infractions) in cash, probably happens in many Countries 😝

 

[bykfixer]

There should be a law for stupid laws.
With that said I'm personally not against not being allowed to mount a spotlight on your vehicle or flashlight for that matter unless you have a valid reason. Overhead power worker trucks for example.

 

[matt4350]

What's a windshield mounted spotlight? Is it something stuck on the inside of the glass to face forwards or something external that is controlled from the interior? Hunters here often use a roof-mounted spotlight controlled with a handle from inside, maybe that would suit your purpose. LED light bars are increasingly popular here, I get miffed when ignorant drivers don't dip them on my approach.

As for the question in your OP (and answered correctly by M@elstrom), the firearms laws here make me wonder. I can have a whole bunch of pistols, for instance, but only 2 each of the same calibre and action. As many mags as I want but all limited to 10 rounds. 9mm or .357 no problem for pretty much any club member, but .40 or .45 is out of reach to most. I can have a lever action shotgun but not a pump. All this is apparently making things much safer for the public.

 

[idleprocess]

That's odd. I am coming up on nearly a quarter of a century in the fire service yet every year in the two neighboring major cities I have lived in most of my life there are very few incidents per capita. To hear a friend of mine tell it, a fire chief recently back from a three year job in Europe, fireworks are quite common and frequently used there without disproportionate risk to life, limb and property.

NFPA has some dog in this fight, but it's a otherwise a respectable organization. Suspect that most of the fire calls are grass fires in unincorporated areas. Because for all the pearls clutched about roofs catching fire, the composition roofs that utterly dominate the local housing stock pretty much ... don't.

Political economy isn't always a rational thing. Fireworks are banned using a wide variety of rationales but ultimate reason seems to be because there's a constituency that demands it. The Karen demo is for sure lobbying City Councils and County equivalents, likely proving to be the squeaky wheel.

Put together this gives me reason to be believe the combined effects of legalizing fireworks would curb the frantic and dangerous binging behavior we sometimes see on 4th of July.

Suspect that allowing it in reasonably accessible designated areas would help. In my 'burg there's a big reservoir with parks on the shoreline that are reasonable candidates: a general minimum of vegetation and, somewhat isolated from residential areas, and already used for a number of public events.

The present ordinances surely aren't effectively preventing much; their true purpose may well be to give the police additional cause to cite those that they apprehend ... and confiscate their munitions.

Just as a point of interest I recently hounded a local fire prevention officer to define a "firework" so far as it applies to the city I am in and the work I do. He could not. Not a list, not a definition, not a single scrap of description other than to say "when marketed as a firework" which means almost nothing when examined. Interesting that something can be illegal and undefined. Sort of points back to my original assertion of so very many laws being stupid and arbitrary.

Fireworks themselves are reasonably well-defined in my burg:

For the purposes of this article, the word "fireworks" shall mean and include any firecrackers, cannon crackers, skyrockets, torpedoes, Roman candles, sparklers or any other substance in whatever combination by any designated name intended for use in obtaining visible or audible pyrotechnic display, and such term shall include all articles or substances within the commonly accepted meaning of fireworks, whether herein specially designated and defined or not.

While hardly a technical definition it leans on common understanding of the term

The prohibition is effectively blanket:

Except as otherwise specifically provided in this article, it shall be unlawful for any person to manufacture, assemble, store, transport, receive, keep, sell, offer to have in his possession with intent to sell, use, discharge, cause to be discharged, ignite, detonate, fire or otherwise set in action any fireworks of any description.

Although enforcement of the total sales and marketing prohibition is less-than-consistent - seen the local megalomarts, grocery stores, etc selling sparklers / poppers / smoke bombs / other items that make noise, smoke, or have well-contained small-scale pyrotechnic flames.

Anyway. I've not a particularly strong opinion of the ordinance either way. It's but ~twice a year that the local youths set them off at random.



And back on topic I suspect that there will be regulation of li-ion cells - ala NYC's new rules on e-bike batteries - before anything regulates the intensity of flashlights. And for all the anger over laser pointers - especially green and blue models well outside of Class I - and their real potential for eye damage, they're still easy enough to obtain.

 

[Bull-Dozer]

---M@elstrom--- Fake cops pulling people over for cash, wow! I can believe it. Years ago I remember a guy going around dressed as a firefighter. He'd use smoke canisters to simulate a building fire. Of course this would panic people and they'd immediately open their doors to let him in. The costume's mask gave him the advantage of hiding his face. Crazy! Disclaimer: I can't remember if that was a news piece or just part of a show.

 

[Bull-Dozer]

---bykfixer--- The inherent problem with requiring fellow citizens to provide subjective justification for benign possessions, behaviors and decisions is that there is no end. Feeding one another to established authority should be taken with the utmost consideration, even in matters that seem trivial.

In most cases this seems to be unappreciated until bureaucracy aims at something close to home. For instance, going by your name, if bicycles were suddenly under scrutiny regarding licensing, full coverage insurance, restrictions and taxes, taxes, taxes. Plus a justification as to why anybody needs to ride a bike to begin with. As you probably know plenty of motorists despise seeing cyclists on the road. Do you really want a panel of "Karens" putting that to a vote?

I implore you, seek to support as much freedom for your fellow man in all righteous matters no matter how small. Long term, it's a net positive.

I almost forgot, there may not be a law for stupid laws but there is jury nullification. I spoke up about it the first time I had jury duty. Mind you I was extremely polite and respectful, denying them the ability to attack my delivery and character which of course made them take their medicine. In the end I was removed from the panel for bringing it up. Imagine that, an informed juror who understands the process was not to be tolerated. The judge then allowed the state prosecution to openly lie against our rights regarding jury nullification. Still sickens me.

 

[Bull-Dozer]

---matt4350--- By windshield light I am referring to the type that go through the window. A joystick of sorts is on the inside attached to a bar that goes through the windshield with a light attached on the outside. My local State Troopers office told me they were not authorized. But, like I mentioned, I can hang a flashlight out the window.

Sort of reminds me of the laws in my area stating that window tint can only be so dark yet I can hang blackout curtains in my vehicle. Or I can drive a panel van without any windows in the rear or on the sides. I am told it has to do with officer safety but I do not buy it. In fact, I wrote quite the paper on just this subject when I studied Criminal Justice. Window tint has basically no demonstrable impact. I suspect the same for windshield lights.

I am sorry to hear you fall under such bizarre gun laws. It reminds me of places that limit blade lengths and locking mechanisms. As if the criminally insane could not pick up a long, pointy, robust screwdriver for a dollar at just about any thrift store. Better handle, better steel and far more capable of damage in my opinion. But don't you dare carry an automatic Buck 110 (in my area) or it'd be chaos in the streets, lol!

 

[Bull-Dozer]

---idleprocess--- You are right, politics goes to those who show up. Not that I'm lazy and uninvolved, I just hate that simple freedoms are so often up for grabs. I especially hate that voting is a casino where the government can only break even or win but never really lose. What I mean is if they keep asking the same question (by way of ballot) eventually a low-information voting block comes along that acts in favor.

I agree NFPA does good work but their recommendations are largely just that for reasons of cost. I find a lot of their standards reasonable but finding the funds is impossible for a lot of jurisdictions and so a lot of exceptions and exemptions are made.

You mentioned giving police cause. Bingo! You didn't hear it from me but a lot of police, fire and medical departments look to boost their numbers because it justifies budgets. The 4th of July is fantastic for the bean counters and their spread sheets. The way a dentist relies on cavities. Ultimately, a safe world puts a lot of people out of work.

As for fireworks, wow! Now that's a definition. I guess I'm more comfortable with the vagueness of the laws I fall under. I have a new found appreciation for the wiggle room in my area.

I had a friend who accidentally plugged the wrong charging cable into an e-bike battery. According to him the explosion was more like a fountain than an M-80, melting an impressive amount of synthetic materials and surfaces in short order. The family's most common injuries were burnt toes and heels due to the rapidly melting flooring in front of the exit.

I almost bought the Olight Arkfeld but I heard the laser is too weak. Maybe Olight designed it underpowered to get it into as many markets as possible without too much trouble. Either way, that killed it for me.

Just for fun, what's your take on Home Owner's Associations? I have never lived under one but I have heard some interesting horror stories. I like that they're optional, I mean nobody has to live in a neighborhood with an HOA so that's good. The only people I have personally known that like HOAs were elderly and didn't want to be bothered in any way but were too uncomfortable living in a rural area.

 

[idleprocess]

Not that I'm lazy and uninvolved, I just hate that simple freedoms are so often up for grabs.

The quantity of codes and ordinances that the average city has on the books is simply staggering.

I designed and built a shed several years ago and spent quite some time ensuring it was within the various thresholds so as not to require a permit which would have markedly increased the planning time.

So many DIY projects that require permits and must adhere to almost arbitrary requirements. The conspiracy minded might speculate that this is less about safety/suitability/other reasonable concerns and more about protecting city-licensed contractors and providing a revenue stream for building departments.

I had a friend who accidentally plugged the wrong charging cable into an e-bike battery. According to him the explosion was more like a fountain than an M-80, melting an impressive amount of synthetic materials and surfaces in short order. The family's most common injuries were burnt toes and heels due to the rapidly melting flooring in front of the exit.

NYC's case is that of the nation's densest city that's apt to have the greatest uptake of e-bikes. I'm not entirely unsympathetic to the desire to reduce difficult-to-extinguish lithium-ion fires but suspect it will price - or regulate - DIY'ers and small-scale local builders out of the market.

You mentioned giving police cause. Bingo! You didn't hear it from me but a lot of police, fire and medical departments look to boost their numbers because it justifies budgets.

Perhaps. But much like how federal prosecutors throw mail fraud or wire fraud at almost any case that crosses interstate lines that could plausibly have involved either it's about having something to throw at a suspect in the moment.

Just for fun, what's your take on Home Owner's Associations?

One of my neighbors is the most powerful arguments against ever suffering a HOA. Expressed 'concerns' about my shed and absolutely lost their sh_t when I demolished my failing brick mailbox and replaced it with a steel security mailbox. Has code enforcement on speed dial and has filed reports for things that simply harshed their mellow.

I'm generally opposed. They're all too often the domain of busybodies obsessed with uniformity to the degree of mental illness and represent an oppressive fourth layer of government that often has the power to foreclose on your home effectively Because Reasons.

Municipalities love 'em because they're quite successful at increasing property valuations and bumping that sweet tax revenue.