But some police have bad days, and actively look for reasons to write you (someone) up.
While that's true to some extent it certainly doesn't take a bad day or a vendetta to award someone for illegal lighting especially when that lighting is restricted to police vehicles. In the biz it's referred to as traffic enforcement and I highly recommend it.
When someone is making an obviously illegal equipment modification they should man-up up to the fact that it's a problem
they've created and not that of a cop doing his J-O-B. Think of it as your taxpaying dollars at work.
There isn't anybody on this site who can't find their state's/province's vehicle codes to know if what they're doing is illegal or not. Ya pays yer money and ya takes yer chances but it's all on you and not the cop.
"The cops are cool when they let me slide but are jerks gunning from me when they don't". That's typical rider BS. I'm not saying don't color outside the lines. Just put on Big Boy pants and don't whine if stopped.
That said – as did dduelin I added a red strobe in place of the red reflector above the license plate. Mine was an older Strobes n More that also fit perfectly on the reflector's mounting pad. The reflector was moved down to the hole at the bottom of the rear fender. Not as many miles on the clock but I've been in 4 different states and haven't been stopped. I too try to limit the flashing when stopped.
CA allows for a very specific flashing mode for a strobe brake light. Mine is not in compliance but I knew that going in. It's no guarantee that I won't be struck from behind but it
is effective. And if traffic stopped – well that's on me.
There are a lot of options for
adding brake lights. I believe there's an advantage to having a dedicated brake light (that doesn't do double duty as a tail light). It's like having the CHMSL on cars and trucks.
I'm also thinking of adding dedicated tail lights. IMNSHO
the ST1300 has poor tail lights especially in the daytime. Something like
This the the Denali B6 Auxiliary License Plate Brake Light. It also has a daylight running function. I saw one on a passing "little" BMW ADV bike and it was quite bright. I liked it a lot. AT $100 it's pricey. But it's some nice kit especially when used with a Canbus adapter on a BMW or similar bike. On the ST I may run the brake light as a tail light – at least in the daytime. That BMW stood OUT in traffic.
I've also got 2 of the GSA100 flashers that Obo mentioned. I plan on using them with dedicated brake lights and not with a tail/brake light combo. There are a lot of options out there.
Extra lights on the panniers are a good idea. It's just a matter of running power with a weatherproof quick disconnect when removing them. Having additional lights spaced far apart gives a better idea of your speed and distance to drivers approaching from the rear.
Of course this also makes a rider an easier target for a pair of .50cal cannons'
harmonized point. But like getting traffic stopped it's not very likely to happen. But I don't guarantee it.
www.superbrightleds.com
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