You know what's funny about this? Back when I was in driving school my teacher told me at night to have to have the full lighting system on. So how can this cop pull u over for fog lights being while the government is essentially telling us to keep them on?

I'm in Seattle & use them quite frequently on the I-5, it doesn't need to be foggy for poor visibility, just the heavy rain and tire spray can make a little car nearly invisible.

If you've ever been behind another Mini (esp the R50/R53's) on a dark wet night you'll know just how invisible these cars can be.

As others have said, having aux lights on your car isn't illegal (esp factory installed ones), it's when & where you use them.

I like some of the plus'es with these lights. Using them when some dumb @$$ is tailing you, or when they have their brights on. I originally just want them because they make the car look more European and ofcourse for inlow viz conditions. So these lights could also provoke some road rage... awesome.

Just today some wild British lady in an old van was sweating mad by the time she caught my R56 (in Florida) . She was cursing all over the place about my fog lamps and how annoying they were. So, yes they do provoke road rage. I don't need that kind of anger around me so I think Il just start using them when I need 'em. They seemed bright to me when I stood far back from the car. I didn't pop any blood vessels though.

Theres some really good stories in this thread

The rear fog light is great for those pesky tailgaters. Turn it on and they back off!

So true. It works like a charm.

We had a similar issue on a customers Dodge Magnum. He got pulled by a VA State Trooper was written a ticket for improper tint. Thing is the car had factory tint on the rear windows. It took Chrysler sending down a corporate attorney to sort it all out.

Not a fun time for him unfortunately. Chrysler did pay his ticket thought which was nice and worked to get his record fixed.

Back to the original situation, NYS has some old laws still on the books, but rarely enforced (unless you **** off the trooper). For example, it is illegal to have yellow lights on the front of a car; they're considered too similar to red which is for rear-only (learned that one in driver's ed).

Plus, in many states, front mounted driving lights need to follow the same rules as high-beams (must be dimmed or turned off whenever another vehicle approaches or you are following another vehicle). How many people do that? But if you don't, a cop can certainly cite you for it.

everyone who has dealer installed driving lights. They will only come on with the high beams.

The worst rear fogs are the Olds Aurora ones... REALLY rather bright. They always have the damned things on lol. Probably because the rear ones supposedly come on with a second notch of the switch. Supposedly the fog light symbol only comes on when the rears are on as well...

/rant

Gee -- I bet he would really have disapproved of the 250K candlepower Lucas pencil beam I used to have on the rear bumper of my 1275S to help illuminate the night for those who ventured too close to the little car's rear bumper. How times have changed. (but it was REALLY effective)

It's because dumb as*es think they're brake lights

Oh, mine have always been factory installed, and they work in the reverse. They only come on with the low beams.

I'd take them back as they are wired incorrectly.

Doubt their wired incorrectly.

It is that way on my MINI, and as well as all my other vehicles (current and past). The driving lights automatically turn off when I put the high-beams on, and return back to on when I return to low-beams.

YES they are wired incorrectly - or else you don't know your high beam from your low beam. They are only supposed to be able to be turned on with the high beams. I don't care what you say your other vehicles do. We are talking about your MINI.

Even if you don't trust my knowledge on this - Why would your driving lights which can blind people come on with your low beams instead of with the high beams that are on when you need maximum light and theoretically don't have any oncoming traffic?

Have a look at the description for the driving lamps and read the part about which beams they work with.

Nope, your knowledge of this subject have proven to be quite wrong, and with that, certainly should not be trust.

And yes, I am talking about my MINI. Regardless if you like the way it works, that's the way MINI designed it. The factory driving lights on my MINI are only on with the low beams. You just need to accept that as the fact it is.

Did you not look at the picture I posted? Can you not read?

Just because you have been driving around for 8 years with your drivings lights wired incorrectly doesn't make it correct.

P.S. The factory did NOT install your driving lights.

Haha wow, been unreasonable lately? Even with the official info from MINI that MotorMouth posted, sheesh.

After the little go around with him I have to wonder if he is getting the front fog lights confused with the driving lights?

I'm wondering if you two are thinking of the same light? The driving lights are installed either at the VDC or the dealership and are supposed to only come on if the high beams are on. Maybe he means the fog lights which some people have referred to as daytime driving lights I've noticed.
Back in the day, there were quite a few people messing around with the wiring on the driving(rally) lights, so maybe the previous owner did one of those mods before Walt got the car.

Annette

+1 on his confusion with fog lights.

I also think we have a semantics problem here......but it's one that confuses a lot of people, they think "driving lights" are for driving, and therefore should be on all the time..

They're wrong!

Driving lights or fog lights should not be used as DRL's.

Others have said their fog lights light up the road in front of the car so they can see if there's an animal in the ditch or something, which is total BS. Fog lights only light up the road a few feet in front of the car in normal conditions, if you're looking that close to the front of your car - you're doing it wrong. You need to get your eyes up and look out where your normal lights hit the road, as far out as possible, otherwise you'll never be able to react in time to what you see.

On top of that, on a clear night or in city conditions fog lights - front or rear - are annoying to other drivers - just like having your high beams on, so please have a little consideration. Turn them off unless it's raining, snowing, dusty, foggy or otherwise low visibility.

Some folks just drive around with their fog lights on because somehow they became convinced that it made them look cool - it doesn't!

It makes you look like a dork who can't figure out how to operate his light switch, like most of the GM SUV owners out there!

Low visibility conditions only, please.....