Flashing Brake Lights - Violation 393.25(e)

More and more CMV's in my area are adding additional FLASHING brake activated stop lamps. These lights are red in color and are in direct violation of 393.25. These lights detract from the turn signals and can be very confusing to other drivers. We have been instructed (by TX DPS) not to cite vehicles with this violation. We were advised that FMCSA is considering an "exemption" for certain CMV's.

FMVSS No. 108 defines a stop lamp as "Lamps that give a STEADY LIGHT to the rear of a vehicle to indicate the intention of the operator of a vehicle to stop or diminish the speed of the vehicle". This is for ALL types of vehicle. These flashing red lights do not meet that need. I saw a CMV trailer last week with 2 steady and 5 flashing stop lamps. The turn signal was lost in a sea of flashing red lights. These flashing lights are illegal by Texas state law on ALL vehicles. They are NOT mounted by the manufacturer and are usually add on's by the carrier. Flashing stop lamps are not allowed on any vehicle but will become more common if they are allowed. Amber flashing lights are specifically allowed by 393.25. Why give an illegal light an exemption when its use detracts from other lights and other choices are available?

These lamps are illegal and detracting from the other required lamps on a vehicle. There should not be an exemption granted on lights for CMV's that is illegal on every other vehicle and illegal by probably many states own codes. Request that the moratorium on this violation be lifted and that we be allowed to cite carriers for this unsafe violation.