There is a thread about tinted tail lights in the 4th Generation forum
[ "black light covers... wtf is the point?" http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?threadid=49869]

To summarize though, a number of us on the forum have tinted our tail lights.

Apparently this is illegal and puts us at risk of tickets
as well as possibly putting us at fault if somebody hits us from behind.

But you can buy a number of vehicles that come with tail lights that look black
(or at least very dark) that are perfectly legal.
[i.e. some GTIs, Jettas, RX-7s, and Grand Prixs]

So, my questions for you legal types are:

- How can this be?

- What is the statute - or the rule or whatever it is - that defines what is allowed?
[i.e. something like: Tail lights must emit 14 lumens when viewed from 0 degrees
at ambient light level whosis, as measured by xyz type
calibrated light meter on the second Tuesday of any month with 31 days.]

- How can we ["we" meaning you, please] find this statute?

If we knew what we were up against,
then we might be able to increase the brightness level
of these tinted rears to conform to the law - and fight the tickets.

 

I posted about this a while back in reference to clear tails. It is okay for the back lights to be black as long as 1.)there is a red reflector on the rear taillight when a light is shined on it and 2.) The white backup light is unobstruceted. You may want to search though my MANY posts to find the reference, or look at the Federal DOT's website.

 

But i play one on TV!

 

Federal DOT? That's new to me... Anyways-just perform a search for your state's statutes and you'll find the applicable regulation. The information should be found lumped in somewhere with the vehicle equipment laws. Read carefully so as to properly comprehend the voluminous materials. Each state may be different so you may need to check multiple jurisdictions if you travel inter-state. I'd look for you but my fee is $150/hour... Plus I'm just too damned tired. You could also call your local Police Department but those folk may not be reliable. They have guns but sometimes lack the mental capacity to read and interpret poorly written legislation. Good luck.

 

And I thought you were going to say
"...but I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night!"

 

LMAO that was gunna be my responce to this threat.... way to steal it from me

 

Ok well since I'm in kansas, so is Dave B, here is the law in Kansas:

8-1706. Tail lamps. (a) Every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer and pole trailer, and any other vehicle which is being drawn at the end of a combination of vehicles, shall be equipped with at least two (2) tail lamps mounted on the rear, which, when lighted as required in K.S.A. 8-1703, shall emit a red light plainly visible from a distance of one thousand (1,000) feet to the rear, except that passenger cars manufactured or assembled prior to July 1, 1959, shall have at least one (1) tail lamp. On a combination of vehicles, only the tail lamps on the rearmost vehicle need actually be seen from the distance specified. On vehicles equipped with more than one (1) tail lamp, the lamps shall be mounted on the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable.

(b) Every tail lamp upon every vehicle shall be located at a height of not more than seventy-two (72) inches nor less than fifteen (15) inches.

(c) Either a tail lamp or a separate lamp shall be so constructed and placed as to illuminate with a white light the rear registration plate and render it clearly legible from a distance of fifty (50) feet to the rear. Any tail lamp or tail lamps, together with any separate lamp or lamps for illuminating the rear registration plate, shall be so wired as to be lighted whenever the head lamps or auxiliary driving lamps are lighted.

 

Somebody owes me $150 for this info.

 

8-1707. Reflectors. (a) Every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer and pole trailer shall carry on the rear, either as a part of the tail lamps or separately, two (2) or more red reflectors meeting the requirements of this section: Provided, That vehicles of the types mentioned in K.S.A. 8-1710 shall be equipped with reflectors meeting the requirements of subsection (a) of K.S.A. 8-1712 and subsection (a) of K.S.A. 8-1713.

(b) Every such reflector shall be mounted on the vehicle at a height not less than fifteen (15) inches nor more than sixty (60) inches measured as set forth in subsection (b) of K.S.A. 8-1704, and shall be of such size and characteristics and so mounted as to be visible at night from all distances within six hundred (600) feet to one hundred (100) feet from such vehicle when directly in front of lawful lower beams of head lamps, except that reflectors on vehicles manufactured or assembled prior to January 1, 1970, shall be visible at night from all distances within three hundred fifty (350) feet to one hundred (100) feet when directly in front of lawful upper beams of head lamps.

 

8-1711. Color of clearance lamps, identification lamps, side marker lamps and reflectors. (a) Front clearance lamps, identification lamps and those marker lamps and reflectors mounted on the front or on the side near the front of a vehicle shall display or reflect an amber color.

(b) Rear clearance lamps, identification lamps and those marker lamps and reflectors mounted on the rear or on the sides near the rear of a vehicle shall display or reflect a red color.

 

And i don't feel like posting any more, so if you have read all that and still want more go here:
http://www.accesskansas.org/legislat...atutes/toc.cgi
Look for statutes 8-1701 through 8-1760


Again these are for Kansas, but I couldn't see other states being much different.


Still wating for my $150

 

what about front license plates too??? I dont see any of those new corvettes with them and also some firebirds,vipers, and others.

 

I don't think they need one, I've never seen a car with lighting provided for a front plate.

 

well, thanks for all the work HoJo
but I'm not in Kansas any more...

guess I'll have to look it up here in CT.
[but first I have to figure out how].

And I wonder if it will help:
" shall emit a red light plainly visible from a distance of one thousand
(1,000) feet to the rear" is what it sez for you there.

Fine. But how can you define "plainly visible"?

"Yes it is, I can see it plainly."
"No it's not, I can see it - but not plainly."
"Can too."
"Can not."
"Can."
"Can't."
"Can - infinity - I win!"

 

Here it is. Every state in the Union, in order to recieve highway funding must adhere to the DOT regulations on motor vehicle standards. The link to the Code of Federal Regulations is: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/w...cfr571_00.html .

 

Thank you - you must also be an Emergenceny Motorist Technician...

 

I did a search a found a thread about a guy who got a ticket in SI for basically all of his lights.

You gave him this link:
http://leginfo.lbdc.state.ny.us/cgi-...T&SECT=.VAT375

to "CHAPTER 775"

Do you know if there is something similar for CT?

And thanks.

 

Not a lawyer yet but here's what I know.
The federal government usually leaves the regulation of things like automobiles to the STate governments. The federal government will pass statutes regulating, say the minimum quality of car parts which each state must adhere to but that's usually about it.
Each state's legislature then passes their own laws according to how the legislators feel is necessary. These kind of things are very statutorily driven and each state will be different. In order to determine whether the tinting of your lights and the like it legal, you will need to search your particular state's legislative code.
For example, in California, as long as your light emits the color that it's supposed to in sufficient intensity so that it is readily observable, you should be ok. However, it depends on the cops who are around.
Who was it that posted that the cops may not be able to adequately interpret legislative code? THat is pretty true. The question is what is adequately bright? No one knows and it is usually up to the cop who pulls you over to determine. It's pretty hard to argue with a cop in front of a judge. usually the judge will believe the cop. So usually it's not worth fighting unless you've got loads of cash for a good attorney and are willing to put up with the hassle. and then you still stand a good chance of losing.
In california, it's usually just a fix it ticket. Again, it depends on what state you're in. California is usually the most stringent and has a code section for every little aspect of a vehicle. The odds are, if you're in compliance with California law, you'll be ok just about anywhere, but again, that depends on what jurisdiction you're in.

hope that helps a bit.

 

I searched, but couldn't find it, I'll keep looking.