Ferocity02

iTrader: (60)

Question for you CA guys... I got pulled over for my tinted tail lights in my Silverado, which BTW are barely tinted. This lady was clearly bored and trying to meet her April quota. I understand it is illegal to modify the lights, I'm not arguing with that.

I LOVE the lightly tinted look on the tail lights, so I bought a pair of aftermarket LED tinted tail lights which are about as dark as the ones I got pulled over for. The seller said they are DOT/SAE legal, but they are only stamped with SAE on the lights themselves. How can I go about seeing if these are legal in CA? I emailed the manufacturer but haven't gotten a response yet. I will try calling tomorrow.

If/when I get pulled over again I want to have the evidence I need to prove they are legal.

Thanks!

Vette310

Tinted tail lights are illegal period ...nothing you can do will make it legal what happen with the ticket was it correctible?

Ferocity02

iTrader: (60)

Why would they be selling DOT/SAE approved tinted tail lights then? I think they can be tinted as long as they still meet the requirements of brightness and color. You can't modify lights though. You would have to buy them tinted. This is my interpretation.

I was cited for 24600(e): "Taillamps shall be red in color and shall be plainly visible from all distances within 500 feet to the rear except that taillamps on vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1969, shall be plainly visible from all distances within 1,000 feet to the rear."

Which is BS because they are still red and plainly visible. Here's some pics:

KILLER-LS1

iTrader: (18)

fight it saying they are red in color, and that she did not verify that they can be seen from 1000ft. I did that and won

Ferocity02

iTrader: (60)

I read your post about that. She probably could "verify" it because she came from behind so at some point she was 1000' behind me. Obviously she probably wan't checking my tail lights then, but it's her word against mine.

Do you have more details on this? Did you tint your stock lights? How did you go about showing they were legal?

0235SS

iTrader: (23)

correct me if im wrong but dont the trail blazer's have a light shade of tint on the tail lights?

Ferocity02

iTrader: (60)

Looks that way.

ConElite

iTrader: (6)

They are illegal no matter how you look at them. The trail brlazer are tint housing not the round part.

There is no DOT approved "tinted" tail lights no matter what you think.

We all know the law when it comes to it, why waste your time fighting it.

93Z28rare

iTrader: (11)

Yea, besides when it comes to your word against theirs, judge tends to side with the occifer.

BuffJoeyD

iTrader: (2)

remember there is a difference between Federal and CA DOT. Run into crap like this all the time when building custom cars and bikes. Ive gotten countless tickets for noise in CA and take the car to the ref and get it signed off. Keep your signed off ticket.

Most the time here in nevada we actually go to the station and get them to sign off on the car before we get ticketed =) . Then you just tell the cop to F.o . Its more fun that way.

Bottom line, always fight it.

Ferocity02

iTrader: (60)

I talked to the local CHP and they pretty much said they just have to be red. Now how red is red enough depends completely on the officer. I guess even though some parts may be "DOT/SAE legal" they may still not be legal in CA. They even said that some cars are coming from the factory with lights that are too tinted and they will bust you for it. Same goes for front plates.

I'm going to put the factory lights back on for now and take in the ones I got busted for and some other tinted lights I bought and see if they approve of any. It's doubtful that they will unless I get an officer who is a car enthusiast.

BuffJoeyD

iTrader: (2)

Its always up to the officer the law doesn't even matter, which is why you always have to fight it -

Unrelated item, similar situation:

I dont have the EXACT numbers - but in Cali a STOCK ls1 4th gen makes more noise DB @ cruising than is allowable by the state. I've helped people get out of fix it exhaust tickets in CA by bringing up this exact detail. The car still violates the law - but there is no way to actually fix the issue.

Welcome to CA, get used to it =)

ls1ya

iTrader: (2)

Ive got smoked tails and they are way darker, my car is all black, so am I, and I frequent the hood. No problems here, Ive been pulled over for them once and thats just the reason they gave. As long as your apologetic and your clean they'll let it go. But it does just give them a reason/excuse to "bloop" you.

ls1ya

iTrader: (2)

Here we go, sorry its from the droid