Changed out my tail lights

[71chevellejohn]

Here's the gallery page from the AM site:

http://customerpics.americanmuscle.com/view/sku/49145.php

the blue one has smoked lenses(like the OP) and they seem plenty bright.

Also wouldn't the 3rd brake light count as a reflector?

[Osiris]

I bet the squares that light up reflect. Anybody with a '13 want to confirm? DOT won't allow a vehicle not meeting their standards to be released.

[Osiris]

I agree of course. They might be a safety hazard on older cars, I could see that. But have you seen how bright these new LED taillights are on these new GT's? Even with the tint on there, the bulbs are still very, very bright and easy to see.

Don't they have reflectors on the bumpers somewhere?

Edit:
Hmm. I don't see any. That said those lights aren't painted over, and the light isn't effectively reduced like the painted over tail lights.

[Buick355]

Tinting tail lights reduces the reflection capability, and the amount of light that passes through them (thus reducing the visibility at distances). If you can't understand that, I don't know what to tell you. It's illegal, they write tickets for them. Use at your own risk. Then take your argument up with the judge when you get cited for it.

I do understand that, but do you understand that a slight amount of tinting may not make the tail light incapable of emitting light that's visible up to 1000 feet? It also only has to reflect light from a distance of 100 to 600 feet:

Sec. 547.325. Reflectors REQUIRED. (a) Except as provided by Subchapter F, a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer shall be equipped with at least two red reflectors on the rear of the vehicle. A red reflector may be included as a part of a taillamp.
(b) A reflector shall be:
(1) mounted at a height from 15 to 60 inches; and
(2) visible at night at all distances:
(A) from 100 to 600 feet when directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlamps; or
(B) from 100 to 350 feet when directly in front of lawful upper beams of headlamps if the vehicle was manufactured or assembled before January 1, 1972.

[bcoop]

Just did, and still don't see anything that would make those illegal.

Tinting tail lights reduces the reflection capability, and the amount of light that passes through them (thus reducing the visibility at distances). If you can't understand that, I don't know what to tell you. It's illegal, they write tickets for them. Use at your own risk. Then take your argument up with the judge when you get cited for it.

[Buick355]

Quit bein lazy, and do a search. Luis stated in this very thread that he has posted it on the board multiple times.

Just did, and still don't see anything that would make those illegal.

I write this ticket all the time.

Sec. 547.303. COLOR REQUIREMENTS. (a) Unless expressly provided otherwise, a lighting device or reflector mounted on the rear of a vehicle must be or reflect red.

Sec. 547.322. TAILLAMPS REQUIRED. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or vehicle that is towed at the end of a combination of vehicles shall be equipped with at least two taillamps.
(b) A passenger car or truck that was manufactured or assembled before the model year 1960 shall be equipped with at least one taillamp.
(c) Taillamps shall be mounted on the rear of the vehicle:
(1) at a height from 15 to 72 inches; and
(2) at the same level and spaced as widely apart as practicable if a vehicle is equipped with more than one lamp.
(d) A taillamp shall emit a red light plainly visible at a distance of 1,000 feet from the rear of the vehicle.
(e) If vehicles are traveling in combination, only the taillamps on the rearmost vehicle are required to emit a light for the distance specified in Subsection (d).
(f) A taillamp or a separate lamp shall be constructed and mounted to emit a white light that:
(1) illuminates the rear license plate; and
(2) makes the plate clearly legible at a distance of 50 feet from the rear.
(g) A taillamp, including a separate lamp used to illuminate a rear license plate, must emit a light when a headlamp or auxiliary driving lamp is lighted.

[Steve]

I kind of agree, but I also see that tinted tail lights are also a safety hazard. I've seen them tinted so dark I have a hard time seeing the brake lights come on at night. They either put too many coats on, or used black krylon paint. I get irritated when people don't use their blinkers, or when both brake lights are burned out. As I'm sure you do as well. This is no different, really.

I agree of course. They might be a safety hazard on older cars, I could see that. But have you seen how bright these new LED taillights are on these new GT's? Even with the tint on there, the bulbs are still very, very bright and easy to see.

[bcoop]

Wharz law that says that? They're still red, just a darker red. His tail lights aren't blacked out, or even close to it. Badass2000GT, do the tail lights have a DOT/SAE# on them?

Quit bein lazy, and do a search. Luis stated in this very thread that he has posted it on the board multiple times.

[Buick355]

They are tinted. What do you not understand?

Wharz law that says that? They're still red, just a darker red. His tail lights aren't blacked out, or even close to it. Badass2000GT, do the tail lights have a DOT/SAE# on them?

[71chevellejohn]

I still fail to see how the OP's tail lights are illegal.

They probably don't carry a DOT#. In which case, they would be for "off road use only".

[bcoop]

One of the great things about this country is you can say what you want to whom you want to. I'm talking to you, the guy who does the actual work everyday. Not some dipshit congressman sitting in his office only interested in the person who can benefit him and his pockets some more.

As an officer, you know it's a bullshit law you use to initate a stop when you're looking for something else. It's the same shit with a front plate, noise pollution or any other of the stupid shit officers abuse on a DAILY basis. You don't really give a shit about someones taillights, that wouldn't be worth the time of sitting on the side of the road to write a ticket for. They are violations used for nothing more than harrassment or revenue enhancement.

I kind of agree, but I also see that tinted tail lights are also a safety hazard. I've seen them tinted so dark I have a hard time seeing the brake lights come on at night. They either put too many coats on, or used black krylon paint. I get irritated when people don't use their blinkers, or when both brake lights are burned out. As I'm sure you do as well. This is no different, really.

[Gtracer]

I still fail to see how the OP's tail lights are illegal.

because the cops say it is...

"oh but we don’t write the laws"

yes true, but you still have the right to chose to enforce the ones you want too...and you cant say that you enforce every law that is one the books, you surely would not have time to log onto here. This is obviously of importanc to you which is why you pull people over for it...although not all police are the same way.

Not starting anything, just typing out my thoughts which I believe is still legal....for now

[bcoop]

I still fail to see how the OP's tail lights are illegal.

They are tinted. What do you not understand?

[Buick355]

I still fail to see how the OP's tail lights are illegal.

[Steve]

Why would you turn this into an FTP thread? The police didnt write and pass these laws, they just enforce the laws. Like I said, bitch to your congressman.

One of the great things about this country is you can say what you want to whom you want to. I'm talking to you, the guy who does the actual work everyday. Not some dipshit congressman sitting in his office only interested in the person who can benefit him and his pockets some more.

As an officer, you know it's a bullshit law you use to initate a stop when you're looking for something else. It's the same shit with a front plate, noise pollution or any other of the stupid shit officers abuse on a DAILY basis. You don't really give a shit about someones taillights, that wouldn't be worth the time of sitting on the side of the road to write a ticket for. They are violations used for nothing more than harrassment or revenue enhancement.