Blacked out lights, legal?
06-10-2004, 08:30 PM
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Blacked out lights, legal?
I was wanting to black out my tailights and backup lights and I was just wondering if it is legal. Has anyone been pulled over for this? Where do I get that special paint to do it?
06-10-2004, 08:55 PM
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Mine are blacked out. Never had a problem with the police. I even asked one about it, he said as long as you can see the brakes you're good. He also said some cops might give you crap about it.
06-10-2004, 09:10 PM
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Originally Posted by WSU4runner
Mine are blacked out. Never had a problem with the police. I even asked one about it, he said as long as you can see the brakes you're good. He also said some cops might give you crap about it.
Yea, I have clears right now and it sounds like they are the same deal as blacked out. They are basically leagal but not 100% bacause of the whole reflector issue. With clears, the reflectors are white instead of red/amber. Do the reflectors still work when they are blacked out?
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06-10-2004, 09:57 PM
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the actual rule on tailight blackouts is that the lights still need to meet distance glow requirements..... in CA its something like visible from 500 feet away or something like that
06-11-2004, 04:27 AM
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Originally Posted by jimabena74
they are illegal
My buddy had some of that paint stuff on his sidemarkers and it didn't look to good. It could chip of pretty easy if you don't do it just right. I would just get some GTO's or AutoVentShade's for $40-50. I've never had any trouble with the Fuzz about mine, but Kentucky is pretty leniant.
06-11-2004, 05:38 AM
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Here in Virginia they're illegal. I read a trip report from a local group and one of the Jeeps got pulled over and ticketed for those black-out covers over his tail lights.
06-11-2004, 07:35 AM
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Blackout lights? *Bling Bling* from like 10 years ago;not bad looking but it has been played out.
I personally look at going back to red but looking at newer 3rd gen lights with some led or some type of high intensity bulbs.
I personally look at going back to red but looking at newer 3rd gen lights with some led or some type of high intensity bulbs.
06-11-2004, 07:43 AM
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depends on the state. In cali, black tails are okay as long as your lights are visible from a distance of I think 100 meters.. Might be more. And you *must* have a red reflector. That's why the clears are illigal.
06-11-2004, 07:43 AM
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illegal in new mexico and utah as well. my brother is a cop and i asked him, he told me cops will make a judgement call on those. depends on the ticket quota, mood and all those great factors when it comes to getting a ticket 
i should clarify, he said the smoke (or darks) are the ones that are not legal.
i have wade brand clears on mine, definately worth protecting against pitting of the glass over the years.
i should clarify, he said the smoke (or darks) are the ones that are not legal.
i have wade brand clears on mine, definately worth protecting against pitting of the glass over the years.
Last edited by sn0w_m0nkey; 06-11-2004 at 07:45 AM.
06-11-2004, 10:09 AM
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Originally Posted by bike4miles
Yea, I have clears right now and it sounds like they are the same deal as blacked out. They are basically leagal but not 100% bacause of the whole reflector issue. With clears, the reflectors are white instead of red/amber. Do the reflectors still work when they are blacked out?
RCW 46.37.060
Reflectors.
(1) Every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer shall carry on the rear, either as a part of the tail lamps or separately, two or more RED reflectors meeting the requirements of this section: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That vehicles of the types mentioned in RCW 46.37.090 shall be equipped with reflectors meeting the requirements of RCW 46.37.110 and 46.37.120.
(2) Every such reflector shall be mounted on the vehicle at a height not less than fifteen inches nor more than seventy-two inches measured as set forth in RCW 46.37.030(2), and shall be of such size and characteristics and so mounted as to be visible at night from all distances within SIX HUNDRED FEET to one hundred feet from such vehicle when directly in front of lawful upper beams of head lamps, except that reflectors on vehicles manufactured or assembled prior to January 1, 1970, shall be visible at night from all distances within three hundred and fifty feet to one hundred feet when directly in front of lawful upper beams of head lamps.
[1977 ex.s. c 355 § 6; 1963 c 154 § 4; 1961 c 12 § 46.37.060. Prior: 1955 c 269 § 6; prior: 1947 c 267 § 2, part; 1937 c 189 § 16, part; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 6360-16, part; RCW 46.40.030, part.]
NOTES:
Severability -- 1977 ex.s. c 355: See note following RCW 46.37.010.
Effective date -- 1963 c 154: See note following RCW 46.37.010.
Reflectors.
(1) Every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer shall carry on the rear, either as a part of the tail lamps or separately, two or more RED reflectors meeting the requirements of this section: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That vehicles of the types mentioned in RCW 46.37.090 shall be equipped with reflectors meeting the requirements of RCW 46.37.110 and 46.37.120.
(2) Every such reflector shall be mounted on the vehicle at a height not less than fifteen inches nor more than seventy-two inches measured as set forth in RCW 46.37.030(2), and shall be of such size and characteristics and so mounted as to be visible at night from all distances within SIX HUNDRED FEET to one hundred feet from such vehicle when directly in front of lawful upper beams of head lamps, except that reflectors on vehicles manufactured or assembled prior to January 1, 1970, shall be visible at night from all distances within three hundred and fifty feet to one hundred feet when directly in front of lawful upper beams of head lamps.
[1977 ex.s. c 355 § 6; 1963 c 154 § 4; 1961 c 12 § 46.37.060. Prior: 1955 c 269 § 6; prior: 1947 c 267 § 2, part; 1937 c 189 § 16, part; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 6360-16, part; RCW 46.40.030, part.]
NOTES:
Severability -- 1977 ex.s. c 355: See note following RCW 46.37.010.
Effective date -- 1963 c 154: See note following RCW 46.37.010.
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