Tinted Tail Lights in CA
Tinted Tail Lights in CA 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!
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!
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:
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:
Do you have more details on this? Did you tint your stock lights? How did you go about showing they were legal?
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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 =)
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 =)
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.
