is it legal to tint tail lights in texas?
what about head lights?

just wondering because I want to do both but not if im gonna be pulled over every day.

 

the tail lights have to be visible from 1000 feet and emit a RED light, I am a cop and it is in the transportation code, just get some LED lights. head lights have to be visible at 500 feet. If you were to get into an accident the officer will put you have tinted tails and headlights and that does not look so good on the report.

 

he is right...i am a texas state safety/emissions inspector .... state code for inspection says head light and tail light housings are not to have ANY type of tint, or paint on them.....so all these guys you see with blacked out lights? yup, illegal....now im not saying you wont be able to get an inspection sticker, cus we all know most inspectors arnt the "brightest" of the bunch and dont even know the laws for half the things they are supposed to inspect...but id bet money the officer behind knows the laws pretty good, and even if he doesnt pull you over if theres an accident who you think theyre gonna blame?

 

This is actually quite funny to me. I have tinted tail lights, but not headlights. I asked 3 state troopers, 4 (different counties) county sheriff deputies, and 5 (different city) city officers and all said that the law only specifies the distance limits on the visibility of the light emitted and as long as you fall within that limit, it is not illegal nor can you be placed at fault in an accident simply because of it! However, I would not tint the headlights with paint, the white light through the paint will appear red. It works great on the tails though. I would recommend a smoked vinyl overlay or a snap on tinted acrylic cover for the headlights. If you go with the painted tint option, you should look at VHT nightshades for this as they offer the best solution.

I have also had my tail lights tinted for over a year now and never had a problem. I have actually received comments from police officers about the look of it with my car. Most people back off or move out from behind you when they notice your tail lights are tinted. I have been in front of just about every type of police officer and never been pulled over for it. If you go with tinted headlights though, I recommend a higher output bulb than the stock ones. However, the city officers did say that you can be pulled over for it and harassed about it, but generally not given a ticket as it will not hold up unless they are so dark that enough light does not show through. They did say that some officers will give you a ticket though expecting you will simply pay it without trying to fight it thus giving them easy money!

 

I have tinted tails and have been pulled over 3 times and all three police man did not say a thing about the tails. My tails have two light coats on, and my head lights have a very very very very very very very light coat on lol.

 

In texas, if your caught outside after dark, they shoot queers im told.

 

my taillights are tinted and the officer I asked just told me as long as you can see red within 500 ft then I was OK. As for the headlights, I just bought the black halo projectors, they really make the car!

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2582624

 

I was just wondering because I really want mine tinted but not if i'm going to be harrassed on it. Where can you buy night shades?

 

its part of the state safety inspection..cops are not gonna give you crap about it unless they just plain cant see your tail lights....in which case you ARE being a hazard

 

So how many coats of night shdade can I do with led light bulbs and still be legal?

 

I would just do two coats

 

Ok where can I buy night shades, and is there a how to on here some where that you now of?

 

you could order it at O'reilys, or autozone. There should be a how to on here.

 

heres how dark i have mine and passed inspection in texas

 

dont take this personally ok......

but you passed cus most state inspectors are idiots and dont even know half of the stuff they are supposed to be looking for..they just roll the car in and out and slap a sticker on it...whenever i fail a "used car" at work the salesman simply drives it over to the next door inspection station to get it passed...last week i failed a GTO and an sti cus it had NO cats....they showed back up on the sales lot by the end of the day with a fresh sticker and still no cats( which by the way selling a car with no cat IS a crime...passed inspection or not)
Anyway..you car has "reflectors" on the front and rear..not only are you tinting your tail lights but you covered the reflectors...the thing that lets people see your car when your lights arnt on..like when your parked....this is part of inspection...bet the guy overlooked that too huh

code 20.20 of inspection manual

1. Inspection Procedure. Check condition and mounting.

2. Inspect for and reject if:

a. Reflector is not present.

b. Reflector is not of red color.

c. Reflector is not properly and/or securely mounted to the vehicle.

d. Reflector is cracked to the extent that the reflecting ability is impaired.

e. Reflector is discolored, deteriorated, or painted.

f. Visibility distance is not as required.

g. Requirements shown on lighting diagram are not met.



and this is 20.27 on tail light bulbs



1. Inspection Procedure. Check operation and condition visually.

2. Inspect for and reject if:

a. Required lamp or lamps are not present.

b. Lamp is not securely mounted to vehicle.

c. Lamp does not completely emit a red light plainly visible 1,000 feet to the rear.

d. Lamp lens is painted, missing, discolored, or does not fit properly.

e. Wiring is shoddy or electrical connections are poor.

f. Lamp is not wired so as to be lighted when head lamps or auxiliary driving lamps are lighted.

g. Lamp is obstructed by any part of the body.

h. Lamp does not emit a red color. (See note, pg. 4-26)

i. Lamps are not mounted on the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable.

j. Lamps are not mounted on rear of vehicle.

k. Lens is cracked or broken to the extent that a portion of the lens is missing and/or separated, permitting light from the bulb to emit through the crack or break.

NOTE: Lamp lenses cannot be repaired with repair tape or repair kit.

NOTE: Vehicles that are equipped from the manufacturer with approved lenses which are clear and lighted by L.E.D. lights will pass state inspection.

NOTE: Vehicles that are equipped with after market lenses which are clear and lighted by a red bulb will be rejected. (There are no red bulbs currently approved for use on vehicles.)


...that last one im sure most of you already knew...just made it bold as a reminder to some who still didnt know...thats the rules as stated......

 

no offence take bro^

 

haha in dallas, i have already been to a shop and they told me they would fail me for my tinted rears that look just like yours. I think im going to have to swap stock lights on to pass then put back my painted lenses after i get the sticker or i drive way out to BFE and i would pass.

 

thanks...sometimes people take offense to things i post when i dont mean it...i guess i sound mean on the INTERNET hahaha


and on that subject of inspectors...i know a COUPLE guys in our club that got turned down on front window tint..told them the window tint legal limit was 35%.............yup you read right.....legal limit on the front is 20%...a bit of a difference there..

 

most shops won't carry VHT Niteshades anymore over its legality issues (what we're discussing right now). However, you could order some on modernperformance.com (2 cans for $20!). Not sure if this is the same case for other cities, but for the Houston area you won't be able to find it anywhere but the internet.

Anyways, I have my tails tinted as well, and have not had any problems with Johnny law (so far). Section8 has a very valid point, and if every state inspector followed the law to the tea, no one would pass with blacked out lights. Same thang for cops: if they all followed the law to the T, we'd all probably be getting tickets and clogging the butthole that is our traffic courthouses. Bottom line, though, it all is really going to depend on your location, and whether or not you're gonna get pulled over by a real buttwipe of a cop, or get inspected by someone as **** retentive as Section8 (no offense buddy ).

Just ask yourself this: do you really care about getting pulled over that much to not do it? Will you be happy with the way it looks after you don't get that almighty inspection sticker? Because I would say HELL YEAH without a second thought in my mind, lmao!

 

Ya...Hang'em High!!

 

All laws and regulations are exact per the wording. The primary thing it says about the lenses is that they must be visible at the required distance as specified by the law. If you ask any inspection shop, or dealership, they will not fail you for tinted lenses if they are visible at the required distance.

 

none taken....im **** about it cus its my job..and unlike most other jobs when i do something wrong i dont just get fired, i get FINED...thousands and thousands of DOLLARS...it kinda sucks...so i try to know all ican about the inspection code..."TO THE T"..i know it sucks , but it you dont like it, theres always the inspection station around the corner

hell...most of them wont fail you for anything else either...ever notice how many people around dont even HAVE working tail lights?? or brake lights?? or BRAKES EVEN....its cus the inspectors never bother to check them

 

that **** pisses me off!!!

 

ok here is a question since there alot of cops/inspectors here. im trying to import a right hand drive rx7 are those legal in the state of texas? if so what would i have to change other than the basic window, speedo, emissions

 

ill have to check on this..i dont think it would fail inspection that i know of just cus the driver is on the other side..but ill check ..this isnt something i come accross...BUT if the car CAME from the factory that way its my experience that it will pass