Are Tinted tail lights illegal?

 

http://forums.*******.com/zerothread?id=3709073

Just did a quick google search for texas, that link was a good source of info. ( put vwvortex in place of the ****)

 

it doesnt matter what color your taillights are. the law states

taillights when LIT must appear red in color visible to other motorist in day or night hours..

in the state of texas if your lights are any other color when they light up than red its a $65 fine.

im a cop

 

so i can have my tail lights tinted?

 

yes.

 

I couldnt open the link but I just got a ticket last month...Im in Cali

 

Know anything about Louisiana ^^?

 

Just depends on what kind of **** come you come across.

 

what does that have to do with your taillights?

 

In FL as long as the red reflects its legal. That is why I did smoked:

 

yes. if you have to ask then it most likely is illegal

 

some people dont understand the meaning of the word Reflect.

 

Cop told me if you can take a flashlight and shine it at your taillights and if you see red reflect back then its legal but that in FL.

 

MP or Civilian?

 

it doesnt matter MP or Civilian, the law is the law

MP's also enforce the Laws of the state they live/work in AS WELL AS the law of UCMJ

remember. you can add to you cant take away.

 

I know how it works. It was a simple question. I was a MP

 

oh, well im a MP also

specifically MPI

 

Nice im about to be a civilian cop

Anyways since you can obviously answer the op's question pertaining to the laws in Texas, to the rest of you the state laws will vary.

 

so there is a person on the site not a ******* or nothing but for some reason his interpretation of the law is considerably different from mine and i guess he's been to court in his county for his lights and his court experience and someone showing him where to find TC's (transportation codes for the state of Texas) he's not getting but he went to far when he said im telling people miss information so here is his PM's and my replies since he seems to think he is saving my credibility by pm'ing me instead of posting here:

Originally Posted by joecoolfreak
Just so that you know, you are giving out incorrect information. It would not be legal in texas to tint your tailights in a cobalt, because they are also the source of the required red reflector. This can be found at: Sec. 325, chapter 547 of title 47 for Texas Transportation code.
transportation code 545.303:

Lighting Device or Reflector on Rear Displaying Color Other Than Red or Reflect Red Signaling Device mounted on rear of vehicle displaying color other than Red, Amber, Yellow, or color in between.

the is no TC that says i can not tint my tails as long as when i hit the brakes motorists behind know i am stopping my vehicle.
First of all, thats 547.303., not 545.303 which is about parking. I specifically referenced the correct code: 547.325:
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.

If you tint your taillights, you are removing it's reflective properties, therefor you don't have a legal reflector.

I know this for a fact and have been in a texas courtroom for this very issue. I have factory tinted taillights (beretta) and the only reason I got out of the ticket, was because I have a dot stamp and pictures to prove that mine still reflect through the tint. Yours won't and therefore, you can't modify them. It is also a federal transportation violation to modify any dot stamped product on your car and headlamps and taillamps both fall under that (49 C.F.R Section 571.108)
ummm so tell me you think that my lights HAVE to be red at all times?....they do not the law CLEARLY states: REFLECTORS

reˇflecˇtor (rĭ-flěk'tər) Pronunciation Key
n.

1. Something, such as a surface, that reflects.

when have you ever had a car and had your lights or anyones lights shined on your brake lights and they reflected light without the pedal being depressed?.....brake lights do not reflect light untill the brake pedal is depressed

now that being said if my lights shine anything OTHER THAN RED when i PRESS the brake pedal to signal the fact I AM STOPPING MY VEHICLE...then it is illegal. to understand this code your first have to understand the word REFLECT.
I do. You also have to understand that your tail lights are more than just a light source. Go look at the back of your car. By law, Chevrolet must put something that is red and reflective on the back of your car. Show me what qualifies besides your tail lamps. If you look at the code I referenced, you will even see this: "A red reflector may be included as a part of a taillamp." That is what most car makers do so that they don't have to provide separate parts. If you tint your tail lights, you aren't just tinting your brake lights, but also keeping them from being a red reflector when they aren't on. That is what makes it illegal. I am not trying to be a dick here. I could have just posted all of this in the forum. I pm'd you instead so that I could politely correct you since you genuinely didn't know. If you want to continue to disagree, that is your choice, but as an officer of the law, you owe it to the public you serve to better know and understand the law that you are supposed to be upholding.

 

HAHA! Many people just try did manipulate what the law actually says. He is clearly in the wrong.

 

like i told him in my last reply (i forgot to copy that also)

everyone's interpretation of the law is different which is why laws constantly change and new laws are made, sad to say but some Officers use the law to mean what they want so they can write more tickets chasing promotion or whatever other person gain they are chasing and some ******* judges allow it...reason for new laws i.e. graham v. conner

 

Anything you do to your car is ******* illegal... so you just gotta say FRUCK IT

 

only in california is that almost true...california is getten a little outrageous with their laws on modifications