I'm thinking of smoking my tail lights on my 95. I don't want them night rider opaque, just a modest translucent black to cover up the amber blinkers. I live in New York and don't want an equipment violation. Does anyone know if it's illegal to have smoked tails? Also do cops frequently harass people for having them? If so, I'll just paint the blinkers red instead of smoked

You should ask your local authority.

LOL I asked one of the pi.. local police representatives, if I would get heat for my red clears. All he said was "why the hell did you do that". In the end his answer was "aslong as its not white when you singal".

as long as your turn signals are red or amber... it's all good.

Question is, if someone rams into you because your tails are tinted, would you actually have to share in the responsibility.

yea i think its fine if u have amber colored lights, correct me if im wrong, but i think volkswagen have them as stock

Nice, thanks for the info guys

I referring to the decreased visibility of the brake light because it was now tinted.

You guys remember the older production model Pontiac Grand Ams with the smoked tails? I don't think smoked tails would be a problem.

as long as your signals blink red or amber, and you have a red reflector on the side AND back of your car, you're legal. i'm pretty sure it's that way in all states, you should check though.

I wonder if the factory smoked tails still have xx amount of emitted light? ie.. factory smoked tails have more than a standard that's been smoked.

From what you guys are saying is as long as you have the correct colored turn signals etc.. you can darken the brake light portion down to nothing and still be legal?? Doesn't make sense to me.

I only plan on smoking the reverse light and blinker, so decreased brake light visibility shouldn't be a problem

Some older VW Jettas came with smoked signals stock. There were some old Jags that came with smoked brake lights too. It shouldn't be a problem as long as your brake/signal lights are bright enuff to easily be seen during the night and day

It is not illegal to have smoked tails as long as it still reflects light on from the back and from the side. (all taillights have reflectors in it) As many people here said , some cars come with tinted tails stock.

Anyone remember back in the day when tail light covers were in style? They were illegal... why? because of decreased tail light visibility. Same reason here

Finally. someone sees the light! Does anyone think to consider that factory smoked tails have higher output than normal light output to compensate?? Oh well. go ahead and smoke them if you like (if it's the brake portion).

If you tint the tails just to cover up the amber you're not thinking right. If you tint them, the blinkers will still be amber when you signal anyway. You'd have to paint the blinkers then smoke them.

not a problem in CA...for now...

not alone, but if you catch a cop on a bad night, its an extra reason to write you a ticket...

Why would someone ram into you...tinting the tails doesnt reduce light output by THAT much. Plus the 3rd center mounted brakelight also help prevent that.



Brightness looks pretty much stock to me, and those arent even brakelights. Just don't go blacking the tails completely out...now THAT might noticeably reduce output and also look tacky.

Your car looks like someone forgot to tape over the emblems and tail lights and take off the wheels before painting it.

lol ant96gle i agree..

Yeah its a bad picture

what about now?

Better, I was just messing with you

tint them. dont worry about it, the only lights cops care about around here are the ones before the altezzas you know the ones that are all clear that looks like silver

while on the topic of tails, with my red and clears do you guys tihnk i "really" should put amber blubs in? Do you think I will have cops harassing me?

I already explained this from the authority point of view... You will be pulled over for it, its just as simple as that. Your better off tinting just the amber part.

Mr Maxima, use amber bulbs in your turn signals, dont go with the hyper white ricer crap and save your self a headache

Also happyrice is right...as long as it still reflects red in the back its fine. In CA anyway..

i was assuming that's all he would be tinting... the lights wouldn't reflect red (like they're supposed to) if the whole thing were tinted.

They reflect perfectly fine...

well nevermind then.