Changed out my 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.

[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.

[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.

[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]

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.

Hey Steve, I've never had problems with you in the years we've known each other. With that, I say FUCK YOU. This is a law that's written in black and white. I could give a shit about writing tickets. Sure, it's a great tool to establish PC. So the fuck what? If you don't want to be stopped, don't have any equipment violations. The only people who cry harassment are the people who can't properly follow their laws, or the anti government types. FWIW - I've made around 100 stops for this, never recieved a single complaint, never seen a repeat offender, and I have NEVER written a single citation for this violation. So go fuck yourself.

71chevellejohn - the reflectors have to be on both sides of the rear of the vehicle. The third brake light doesn't actively reflect light in most cases.

[Osiris]

In my experience, the spray tint prevents the tailights from reflecting red. That link you posted, the car looks good. But based on what I see in the pics, in my opinion is borderline.

[71chevellejohn]

Hey Steve, I've never had problems with you in the years we've known each other. With that, I say FUCK YOU. This is a law that's written in black and white. I could give a shit about writing tickets. Sure, it's a great tool to establish PC. So the fuck what? If you don't want to be stopped, don't have any equipment violations. The only people who cry harassment are the people who can't properly follow their laws, or the anti government types. FWIW - I've made around 100 stops for this, never recieved a single complaint, never seen a repeat offender, and I have NEVER written a single citation for this violation. So go fuck yourself.

71chevellejohn - the reflectors have to be on both sides of the rear of the vehicle. The third brake light doesn't actively reflect light in most cases.

You know that's Steve just pulling the same tired shit he always does. He thinks he's funny(he's not). And then when nobody laughs, he tries to get offensive to get some kind of reaction. And then when somebody slaps him back to reality, he'll come back saying he was just playing around.

[Buick355]

I have NEVER written a single citation for this violation.

I write this ticket all the time.

Not tryin to start shit, just pointing this out.

[Osiris]

Not tryin to start shit, just pointing this out.

Whoops. I originally meant I make this stop all the time. Sometimes the ole head speaks faster than my fingers. Thanks for pointing it out. I can say definitely I have never written this.

[Steve]

Hey Steve, I've never had problems with you in the years we've known each other. With that, I say FUCK YOU. This is a law that's written in black and white. I could give a shit about writing tickets. Sure, it's a great tool to establish PC. So the fuck what? If you don't want to be stopped, don't have any equipment violations. The only people who cry harassment are the people who can't properly follow their laws, or the anti government types. FWIW - I've made around 100 stops for this, never recieved a single complaint, never seen a repeat offender, and I have NEVER written a single citation for this violation. So go fuck yourself.

Well, uh..ok. Slight overreaction there. I live in Wylie and to get to it I have to drive through one of two small towns, Sachse or Murphy. These small town cops have nothing better to do that constantly use chickenshit entry stops like these in order to have something to do. I'm not anti-government, in fact I'm not the political type at all for that matter. As for the anti-harrassment thing, only as of the last few years seeing how alot of these small town cops manipulate the laws in order to serve their purpose. But judging by your reaction, thats not limited to the small towns either.

It's just annoying to be stopped and question over stupid, tedious things harrassing the same citizens who pay the taxes that pay their salaries. I'm not saying that absolves citizens from abiding by the law. But fuck, just because it's late and I'm one of the few cars on the road and you're fucking bored doesn't mean you should follow me until you see some bullshit law you can split hairs on like if a taillight is bright enough from 500ft or 1000ft.

[71chevellejohn]

Not tryin to start shit, just pointing this out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=0ace5f9YtB8#t=81s

[Steve]

You know that's Steve just pulling the same tired shit he always does. He thinks he's funny(he's not). And then when nobody laughs, he tries to get offensive to get some kind of reaction. And then when somebody slaps him back to reality, he'll come back saying he was just playing around.

Shut the fuck up you cockgobbling bandwagon rider.

[71chevellejohn]

Fucking make me!

no bandwagon here - just observing you go through the same plays on a daily basis.

[Badass2000GT]

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?

I didn't even check if it did or didn't. But I just had a Lewisville cop followed me from HPP to Legacy and 121 and he didn't pull me over so I guess he didn't mind my tail lights.

[Badass2000GT]

Plus this thread is cracking me up.