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From: lrd@drusd.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: parking light law question
Message-ID: <1095@drusd.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 31-Aug-84 14:47:45 EDT
Article-I.D.: drusd.1095
Posted: Fri Aug 31 14:47:45 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 1-Sep-84 12:57:11 EDT
References: <751@opus.UUCP>
Lines: 30

...
	"Note, however, that many motorcycles run with headlights
	on all the time.  I'd have to say that this is a good
	idea given their lesser visibility."
	-- 
		Dick Dunn

DOT regulations mandate that all street motorcycles sold in the U.S.,
and manufactured since 1/1/78 must be arranged so that headlights
come on automatically with ignition.  Exceptions to this rule are
allowed for very low-volume importers.

This requirement turned out to be a problem for me; while living
and working in Spain on an 18 month assignment, I took delivery of
a new BMW motorcycle at the Munich factory delivery center.  Since
I was bringing the bike back to the U.S. at the end of the assignment,
I ordered the USA, rather than a European version, in order to avoid
any problems with customs.  On several occasions, I was stopped by
Spanish police and politely informed that it was NOT LEGAL to drive
within city limits with headlights -- running lights (parking lights)
only!  I solved the problem by buying and retrofitting the standard
European left handlebar control module, which includes a headlight
switch, to replace the USA version, which has a blanked-out position
where the headlight switch should be.  I also had to remove the wire
that activated the headlight relay whenever the ignition was turned on.

On entry to the US, customs checked the manufacturer's ID plate on the
chassis to confirm that it was a USA model, but they didn't check to
see that it conformed to requirements, so my machine is kind of unique
in this country, in that it has a headlight switch.