Blacked out taillights
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Northern Virginia
Blacked out taillights I blacked out my taillights the other day, and because it's technically illegal almost everywhere, I was wondering if you guys have had any problems with it? The light still shines through pretty well, I'd imagine the only trouble I'd have is if a cop saw them and thought to himself "hmm those look cool better write him up" lol. Also, is there anything to do to make it not illegal? i.e. adding small reflectors somewhere?
pretty sure the illegal part of it is based on the amount of light coming through, they have to be clearly visible from at least a certain, specific distance i believe (during the day is most important). So you could probably get through that with some good LED's... but i'm not too in-the-know with led stuff, so hopefully someone else will chime in there.
it's illegal for a reason, that's one of those things that can fairly easy cause an accident if the people driving behind you can't see your lights well enough to have any clue as to what you plan to do ahead, whether that be turning, breaking, or reversing. Just keep in mind tinted lights is more of a problem during the day than at night when they're easier to see. its the daytime when they really become a problem if you don't have the proper lighting needs.
The problem at night, is the less visible reflectors.. which really would only be a problem when the car is parked, with no lights on.
it's illegal for a reason, that's one of those things that can fairly easy cause an accident if the people driving behind you can't see your lights well enough to have any clue as to what you plan to do ahead, whether that be turning, breaking, or reversing. Just keep in mind tinted lights is more of a problem during the day than at night when they're easier to see. its the daytime when they really become a problem if you don't have the proper lighting needs.
The problem at night, is the less visible reflectors.. which really would only be a problem when the car is parked, with no lights on.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Northern Virginia
pretty sure the illegal part of it is based on the amount of light coming through, they have to be clearly visible from at least a certain, specific distance i believe (during the day is most important). So you could probably get through that with some good LED's... but i'm not too in-the-know with led stuff, so hopefully someone else will chime in there.
it's illegal for a reason, that's one of those things that can fairly easy cause an accident if the people driving behind you can't see your lights well enough to have any clue as to what you plan to do ahead, whether that be turning, breaking, or reversing. Just keep in mind tinted lights is more of a problem during the day than at night when they're easier to see. its the daytime when they really become a problem if you don't have the proper lighting needs.
The problem at night, is the less visible reflectors.. which really would only be a problem when the car is parked, with no lights on.
it's illegal for a reason, that's one of those things that can fairly easy cause an accident if the people driving behind you can't see your lights well enough to have any clue as to what you plan to do ahead, whether that be turning, breaking, or reversing. Just keep in mind tinted lights is more of a problem during the day than at night when they're easier to see. its the daytime when they really become a problem if you don't have the proper lighting needs.
The problem at night, is the less visible reflectors.. which really would only be a problem when the car is parked, with no lights on.
It's going to depend on your local laws and how the police enforces them. I've had blackouts on my car's tails for 14 years, and have been pulled over and ticketed more times than I'll admit to......but never one word about my tail lights.
Same here I have blacked out tails but never had a cop say anything about them, actually was walking out of Walmart and there was a cop parked a few spaces from me getting out of his car, I asked him to take a look at them just to see what his opinion on them was, the light is visible through them day and night, well this was about 3 in the afternoon and he said he didn't see any problem with the ligght output on them, but I'm sure all it would take is getting pulled over by that one douchebag cop with something to prove and I'd get a ticket
I'll add this. When I had my car inspected this past year, they would not pass it due to the VHT Nightshade being on my tail lights. I went home, rubbed the **** off with some gassoline, took it back in, they passed it and re-applied the VHT that same night. The guy was cool and suggested I head down to the Highway Patrol headquarters (right down the road) and see if they were ok with it and if they were, to have them write something on my ticket, but I didn't bother with it.
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And I'll add a big hell yea for living in a non inspection state lol, but at least the guy was cool about it, I've lived in sc most of my life but I used to work at a dealership in nc as an inspector and not gonna lie a lot of those guys are ********
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On The Tree
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
I actually just had to pay a ticket for an equipment violation(taillights tinted). That was the first ticket I recieved and iv been pulled over a few times and they never said anything about them. My tag is even tinted and they haven't said a word. I think it all depends on the cop
The reason I've never tinted my tails is I know as soon as I do some moron is going to rear end me and end up claiming it's my fault because he couldn't see my lights. looks cool, but not worth the hassle IMO.
12 Second Club
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 993
Likes: 3
From: Waukesha,WI
crappy pics but parking lights
brake lights
And off
Ive never been stopped for the lights. But i have had people tell me they can't see my brake lights before. But i can clearly see them reflect off things behind me??? Mine is also VHT
brake lights
And off
Ive never been stopped for the lights. But i have had people tell me they can't see my brake lights before. But i can clearly see them reflect off things behind me??? Mine is also VHT
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Northern Virginia
I guess my only question is what are the brightest LED bulbs I can get to put in? I'd much rather just take this precaution, even if it shouldn't be a problem. So anyone know what are the best LED bulbs I can get to replace the whole back set up?
This is why I don't black mine out. I just tinted them a bit to make them darker. It also makes no perceptible difference in brightness.
LILWS6 post a pic of yours in daylight with the brakes on. That's the deciding factor. At night you can almost always see the lights. As it is in the middle shot with the brakes on that 3rd light looks as bright as the main brakes, which means to me that the brakes are definitely not near as bright as they were.
LILWS6 post a pic of yours in daylight with the brakes on. That's the deciding factor. At night you can almost always see the lights. As it is in the middle shot with the brakes on that 3rd light looks as bright as the main brakes, which means to me that the brakes are definitely not near as bright as they were.
I assume these times you've seen your lights reflect off things behind you, this was at night/ in the dark? like I said before, visibility is more of a problem during the day. the pics you posted showing the lights, were taken at night. do the same during the day and see how those pics turn out... now walk 50 feet away your car and take the pics from there, and see how well you can see your brake lights and turn signals..
My brother has been pulled over a couple times because of his blacked out taillights. It's not really a matter of how much light shines through, it's if the cop wants to be a dick about it.
I had covers on mine for a while until I almost got rear ended. I wasn't sure if he was just an idiot or because of the covers, but I took them off that day.
I had covers on mine for a while until I almost got rear ended. I wasn't sure if he was just an idiot or because of the covers, but I took them off that day.
I have actually been wanting to do led bulbs for all lights in my taillights,(turn signals, brakes, and reverse lights) how hard is that to accomplish? Anyone know of a good write up on replacing all those bulbs with leds? Night light output is fine but like everyone said its the daytime that could cause the problem so I'd like to fix the problem before it actually becomes a problem lol
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Northern Virginia
I have actually been wanting to do led bulbs for all lights in my taillights,(turn signals, brakes, and reverse lights) how hard is that to accomplish? Anyone know of a good write up on replacing all those bulbs with leds? Night light output is fine but like everyone said its the daytime that could cause the problem so I'd like to fix the problem before it actually becomes a problem lol
Vleds.com has the brightest bulbs available. You'll want to get a 7+ Watt 3157 bulb. PM for more information. I did a complete LED swap on my old Camaro and I know that one MUST get the proper LEDs for the brake lights. If they are not high wattage then you are wasting your time and endangering others.
12 Second Club
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 993
Likes: 3
From: Waukesha,WI
Once i get the car out of storage i'll have to get some pics. But both times ive had people tell me my brake lights were out were at night. Not once was it day light. I'm sure they are probably harder to see and ive since tinted the third brake light as well. But yes you can clearly see the third brake lights much brighter than the tinted ones. I like the look alot on my car so until i get talked to about it i'll leave it on.