Brightly Lit Hollywood Blvd

[themeister]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? California

24250. During darkness, a vehicle shall be equipped with lighted lighting equipment as required for the vehicle by this chapter.

Pulled over at 2:30am Sunday morning after leaving a club at Hollywood & Highland. Hollywood Blvd is as brightly lit as Vegas Casinos at that time of night. Drove 1 block and was pulled over by a cop obviously trying to find drunk drivers. He asked, I said I hadn't been drinking, and he made no further attempts at that because I was obviously completely sober...I had just not noticed yet that my lights were off because of the bright street. As soon as I pulled out of the parking lot and drove 1 block, however, he was behind me with his lights on and I then noticed and turned mine on. But here's the question: it wasn't "dark." Yes, in the rest of the world outside of those blocks of Hollywood Blvd, based on the hour, it was dark, but based on the letter of the law, this didn't take place "during darkness."

I had a friend in the car who will testify to that, and I plan to go take pictures one Sunday morning at 2:30am to bring with me when I contest this. I don't feel I'm wasting the court's time because it was NOT dark and within a block or so it would have been and the lights would have come on.

He was obviously looking for drunk drivers and yet didn't get one, but still gave me a ticket rather than a warning. The law says what the law says. What do the experts say??

Thanks in advance for your time.

The MeisterWhat is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

 

[DRTDEVL]

Unfortunately, this will not work. Read more of the CVC, under definitions:

280. "Darkness" is any time from one-half hour after sunset to
one-half hour before sunrise and any other time when visibility is
not sufficient to render clearly discernible any person or vehicle on
the highway at a distance of 1,000 feet.


2:30am is definitely considered the hours of darkness, thus your defense holds no water.

 

[CdwJava]

Beat me to it!

 

[themeister]

Thanks but...

What if you can see 1000 feet on Hollywood Blvd at 2:30am the way it's lit up like a Christmas tree...or a casino in Vegas?

Not dismissing your input, and I appreciate that piece from the code, but what if??

 

[Zigner]

What if you can see 1000 feet on Hollywood Blvd at 2:30am the way it's lit up like a Christmas tree...or a casino in Vegas?

Not dismissing your input, and I appreciate that piece from the code, but what if??

I don't care if there is a supernova causing the night time to be lit as brightly as the day. The DEFINITION is clear and has been posted.


Even if, and or but.

 

[Isis1]

What if you can see 1000 feet on Hollywood Blvd at 2:30am the way it's lit up like a Christmas tree...or a casino in Vegas?

Not dismissing your input, and I appreciate that piece from the code, but what if??

no. TURN ON YOUR LIGHTS!! it doesn't require the streets to be lit. the law requires YOUR MOVING VEHICLE TO BE LIT!

 

[CdwJava]

Even "if" ....

24250. During darkness, a vehicle shall be equipped with lighted
lighting equipment as required for the vehicle by this chapter.
​

And,

280. "Darkness" is any time from one-half hour after sunset to
one-half hour before sunrise and any other time when visibility is
not sufficient to render clearly discernible any person or vehicle on
the highway at a distance of 1,000 feet.​

That pretty much says it all.

 

[FlyingRon]

Just in case you don't understand the statutory construction that has been posted twice. All the stuff in the definition of darkness after the word "and"
in the definition doesn't matter to you because the hours stated in the first part are in effect.

 

[themeister]

Thank you. I got it...

and it turns out I can take traffic school, so there you go.

Happy Holidays, and I appreciate the time you offered.