California Law Smoked Tailights Illegal!

[chiuchimu]

Just got a ticket. Argued with cop but here is final verdict:

California Law
1) Tail lamps must be red and easily visible from 500 ft behind. For cars newer than 1969, red and visible from 1000 ft behind.

2) Tail lamp units can not be modified unless modification is D.O.T. certified.

Just a heads up. Unless someone has actually fought the courts and won.

 

[Travis96GS-T]

Not surprising...

 

[toofast82]

Pretty sure that's how it goes by me as well.
Being able to see people's brake lights is a good thing though

 

[habitatguy187]

Haha, California used to be the state everyone wanted to move to, now it sucks.

Being able to see people's brake lights is a good thing though

Very true though, I've never been a fan of the blacked-out taillights

 

[PieEyedPiper]

I don't claim to know the facts but there is talk of how you can meet those requirements so long as the lamps still hold their reflective capacity for when they're turned off in the daylight. So by that logic you'd need a certain vehicle, and a DSM is not it. Mustangs, however, do have a small section built into the shape of the brake lights for the reverse light. It also serves as a reflector so, in theory - if you buy into that, she is safe. She still gets hassled for it on a weekly basis.

I often tell my coworkers with jet black tint, and even blacker tail lights that they'll soon be sorry for wasting their money on the "cool new thing that everyone is doing".

Here's the word, straight from the man:
V.C. Section 24600 - Taillamps

 

[Bud92gsx]

Headlight, tailight mods have always been illegal in any state. They do look really sweet when finished, but it does hinder the ability for others to see your lights. The only gain is that it looks cool, but most of the function is gone..
Can you really mod them and have D.O.T certify them again?

 

[Defiant]

CHP - "Street Legal"

Getting Department of Transportation certification only costs a few hundred-thousand dollars.

 

[crimsondragon]

Headlight, tailight mods have always been illegal in any state. They do look really sweet when finished, but it does hinder the ability for others to see your lights. The only gain is that it looks cool, but most of the function is gone..
Can you really mod them and have D.O.T certify them again?

Says the person who painted the reflective part of the headlights black.

 

[GsxEcutioner]

Ive been pulled over for my smoked tails two times, both let me go because I explained my car is rare.........

 

[Bud92gsx]

Says the person who painted the reflective part of the headlights black.

Lesson learned sir, lesson learned...

 

[92EclipseGS]

I sprayed my tails with a little black lacquer and a few coats of clear ontop of that. They look dark, almost black but you can easilly see the reflectors and in good sunlight they still seem a little reddish. With the taillights on you can't even tell really. I've never been pulled over for the tails. It helps leaving them on whenever you drive if you're really worried about it getting you pulled over.

 

[slickers111]

How much was the ticket?

 

[GsxEcutioner]

fix its are 25$........

 

[chiuchimu]

fix its are 25$........

Actually, here in CA it was $50

Like this:
$25 for inspection fee. I heard of free inspection but couldn't find any
$15 court processing fee
$10 some other court fee which made no sense.

Conclusion, A fix-it ticket is now just another pay ticket but worst because you have to take a day getting your car inspected.

 

[jazzfoxx123]

in california they also banned race gas for on-road purposes and if anyone is to get caught(don't know how they would know) the SURPLIER AND THE DRIVER get have to pay a hefty fine. Seems to me that California is making just to strick of laws now a days. I don't know who is making these dumb laws but they need to stop.

 

[Hideki]

I got a slammed 300E Mercedes with smoked tail lights, headlights, and side marker lights good thing it doesn't see to much street duty these days.

 

[AK Maniak]

My tail lights are completely blacked out and I've been pulled over numerous times and have only gotten warnings. Blacked out tail lights are very common in alaska though

 

[noavgjoe]

Mine are blacked out too but and I havent had any run-ins with the cops. Im not sure what the law is here in Indiana though.

 

[dsmdeliveryboy]

How could you not know that its illegal to have tinted tail lights in CA? EVERYTHING is illegal here

 

[RedTurboEclipse]

^^^ because if you remember in your driving handbook, DRIVING IS A PRIVILEGE NOT A RIGHT.

If you notice most online stores that sell aftermarket parts are advertising less and less "BLACKED OUT SMOKED" lights, now easier to get on ebay. so they wont be liable.

But there is a difference on a few, there are some that are tinted and there are the blacked out smoked ones. The latter is obviously the more risky ones.

 

[AK Maniak]

i just used a high gloss black spray paint from walmart.

 

[dsmdeliveryboy]

Well most companies usually say "for offroad use only"

 

[Haase]

I used VHT nightshade on my tails, they look very dark, almost completely black until the sun reflects on them, then you can see a good red tint, and at night you can't even tell their tinted. Surprisingly tho, even with my luck i haven't been pulled over yet... in fact, i haven't been pulled over at all since i sold my ### Mother $#@!$&% piece of $%&! Ricer Honda and bought a DSM... must mean something

 

[Codester]

I think they just punish the ricers to help them realize how ridiculous their car actually looks.

 

[AK Maniak]

I think they just punish the ricers to help them realize how ridiculous their car actually looks.

haha exactly