I've been driving home late from work the last few weeks and sometimes I'll have my cabin light on so I can see better. Just got pulled over and the officer mentioned something about it being distracting. Is this actually illegal or was he just being weird about it?
Don't assume it's universally illegal - the law varies wildly by state and province, so you'd need to check your specific location's traffic code to know if you're actually breaking a rule. That said, the officer's concern about distraction is legit; an interior light can mess with your night vision and make it harder to see the road, which is probably why some places restrict it while driving.
It depends entirely on where you live - some places have explicit laws against it, others don't mention it at all. The officer's concern was probably more about the distraction factor (your eyes adjust to the bright cabin light, making it harder to see the dark road ahead) than anything else. Check your local traffic code or ask your DMV to be sure, but honestly the safest move is just turning it off while driving at night. Better to use a small flashlight or your phone's light if you need to see something.
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