95.5-2004 Tacomas & 96-2002 4Runners 4th gen pickups and 3rd gen 4Runners

Blacked out lights, legal?

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Old Jun 10, 2004 | 08:30 PM
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From: Tucson, AZ
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?
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Old Jun 10, 2004 | 08:32 PM
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I have a GT brand rear tail lamp black out kit. Bought it for $50 or so, sell for $20+S*H
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Old Jun 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.
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Old Jun 10, 2004 | 08:59 PM
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From: Nor*Cal
they are illegal
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Old Jun 10, 2004 | 09:10 PM
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From: Tucson, AZ
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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Old Jun 10, 2004 | 09:32 PM
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From: Tucson, AZ
Ok, well this is my 4runner now:

And this is a 4runner with blacked out tails:

Which do you guys think looks more stylish?
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Old Jun 10, 2004 | 09:34 PM
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From: Mill Creek, WA
BLACK!!! I'll try and post a pic of mine tomorrow.
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Old Jun 10, 2004 | 09:39 PM
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i ahve seen factory dogde trucks with black lights. so it should be legal.
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Old Jun 10, 2004 | 09:39 PM
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to me, it depends on the vehicle... white would look better wit hclears.... darker colors look better with blackouts
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Old Jun 10, 2004 | 09:49 PM
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From: Tucson, AZ
Nice, I wan't to black out my backup lights also. Does anyone have experience with blackout paint? Does it dim the lights significantly?
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Old Jun 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
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Old Jun 11, 2004 | 04:27 AM
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From: Lexington, Ky
Originally Posted by jimabena74
they are illegal
Thats cause you're in the Republic of Kalifornia.

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.
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Old Jun 11, 2004 | 04:33 AM
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I have been pulled over for the black headlight covers on my 94 Ranger. He would have given me a ticket for my rear covers, but they were slotted.
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Old Jun 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.
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Old Jun 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.
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Old Jun 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.
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Old Jun 11, 2004 | 07:43 AM
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From: new mexico
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.

Last edited by sn0w_m0nkey; Jun 11, 2004 at 07:45 AM.
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Old Jun 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?
Good point on reflectors. Here's the WA law:

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.
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