I've read a lot of posts on here about flush mounted signals and I'm sure you guys are sick of talking about them but I have a different question than those other posts. My question is what is the deal with requirements that these blinkers be DOT approved. I looked at some flush mounts and they said they were not dot approved. I was not aware that signals had to be DOT approved, it kind of makes sense since headlights and fog lights have to be DOT approved. Do you guys with flush mounts run into any trouble with inspection? Or should I put on the flush mounts then put the stockers back on during inspections?

Not a dead horse at all. I sometimes look at it as repeat business from new customers! 

You raise a good point. I guess it depends on how hardcore your inspectors are. Here in South Carolina I see people tricking out their cruisers with silly ape hanger bars that cannot be comfortable to operate (try holding your arms in the air for 30 minutes) and are very likely illegal.

I think we still have a law (in the drivers handbook no less) that states handle bars grips cannot be more than 15 inches above the seat (or something like that). So, how are those guys/gals getting away with it? SC Driver's book highlighted

We don't have vehicle inspections anymore in South Carolina (unless you are Ben2go and are trying to get a VIN job registered...or something like that for a clear title).

You might get lucky and the inspector never give it a second thought. But then again he may have had a loved one scarred and maimed for life because of a "donorcycle" and has an agenda to keep them all off the road.

What else can I say?

ya they have to be Dot but they can sell you non DOT and its your problem if you drive it on the street.

Bluntly, it's illegal to run non-DOT signals on the street - and there are good reasons for that - they set standards for size, spacing, color and brightness intended to make sure that other drivers can see you and detect what the heck you intend to do. Much of the jokey crap is so "Kewl" that other drivers are going - hmm, got something wrong with his tail-light, I'll just pull around and pass him" while you thought you were signaling a left turn. That sort of thing can hurt, bad - it also provides that driver and/or his insurance company with a handy dandy valid excuse not to pay for your injuries in that instance.

However, enforcement in many areas is lax, at least up the point that you tick off a cop and manage to escalate a minor traffic stop into a tow to impound, or in the post-mortem phase of an accident investigation. Some places have no formal inspection, some have it but actual standards are not followed, etc.

↑↑↑ yup ↑↑↑

Thanks for the clarification guys, no need to get Johnny Law on me I guess.