Are smoke tail lights legal?

[CLi006]

Hey,

I just bought a brand new Titan crew cab LE. I love it to death and I'm ready to start putting some more money into it. I'm planning on bed cover, window tint, and a chrome mesh grille to start off.

I ran into these on Ebay and I've seen a BMW 745Li in Miami with smoke taillights and they looked amazing (in my opinion). I wanted to order them for my Titan but my only worry is that I live in Florida and I'm not completely sure if they are legal. I went through some Florida laws and they were very general. Any ideas or assistance is very welcome. I've browsed these forums for about a month prior to my purchase and its one of the main reasons I bought a Titan.

[mjw357]

I would give a call or pay a visit to your local Motor Vehicle Bureau or Police Department, they are the ones that will cite you if they aren't. Ditto for laws regarding window tint (how dark, which windows etc).

[goathead]

also, if you do get the "ok" from local law enforcement, get it in writing.....nuff said....

[MuskyHunter]

If you aren't concerned with your own safety, or the saftey of others following behind you, and potential liabilities in an accident situation, then take your chances with the covers. Personally, I don't understand why the importance to black out lights when they are key to signal the rest of traffic what your driving intentions are including stopping.

I have found myself with delayed reaction from other vehicles ahead only because of the dim lights from smoked covers, or really bad covers that block a lot of the light. In my opinion, smoked out tail light covers are a hazard to us all.

[Marc]

Ditto to what Musky said...I have to say that they look nice, especially on Black trucks. But, having been behind them (and owned them in my younger years) they are a hazard to those behind you...people have a lack of attention on the road as it is, and oyu will just give them one more reason to hit you.

[helomech]

Go see the District Attorney, and have him look it up. Once he finds the law make a copy of it and carry it in your truck. Alot of cops don't know the laws and will write a ticket, and most people will pay it even though there is no law broken. You can ask 10 cops the same question and you will probably get atleast 5 different answers. This is no offense to police, but I have seen many times when they didn't know the law. The DA told me that police are supposed to write a ticket IF they think a law is broken, the it is the DA's job to determine if the law was actually broken.

[Marc]

Originally Posted by helomech

Go see the District Attorney, and have him look it up. Once he finds the law make a copy of it and carry it in your truck. Alot of cops don't know the laws and will write a ticket, and most people will pay it even though there is no law broken. You can ask 10 cops the same question and you will probably get atleast 5 different answers. This is no offense to police, but I have seen many times when they didn't know the law. The DA told me that police are supposed to write a ticket IF they think a law is broken, the it is the DA's job to determine if the law was actually broken.

I think that part of that problem is the laws changing and cops not being notified...but also there are several laws that can be similar. I carry my Law Codes book with me, in case there are questions I can refer to it.

[Tyltan]

No. It is not legal. I have them on mine.
It's only illegal if you get caught.

[helomech]

Originally Posted by Marc

I think that part of that problem is the laws changing and cops not being notified...but also there are several laws that can be similar. I carry my Law Codes book with me, in case there are questions I can refer to it.

I had a issue with firing guns, the cop told me 300yards from a building, the DA told me there was no such law. So then I went to the sherrifs office, and asked them, they all said 300 yards from a building. I asked them to show me and they got all p---- off. Every single cop was wrong about the law, and the law hadn't changed in recent years.

[37L1]

The violation would be mechanical for the smoke tails and would be listed in the vehicle code. In California, at least, the DA does not get involved in Vehicle Code violations unless they rise to the level of a misdemeanor. Vehicle Code violations are handled in "Traffic Court", no DA is present. Smoke tailights, at worst, would be a "fix-it" ticket, unless you FTA and it's the FTA that would become a misdemeanor, not the original violation itself.

In order to issue a citation, or make an arrest, a specific legal code needs to be cited for the violation. So if it doesn't exist on the books, cops just can't make up a code section. Interpet one creatively maybe, but not "just make one up."

I'm sure "other states may vary."

"Did you just say meow?"

[helomech]

Originally Posted by 37L1

The violation would be mechanical for the smoke tails and would be listed in the vehicle code. In California, at least, the DA does not get involved in Vehicle Code violations unless they rise to the level of a misdemeanor. Vehicle Code violations are handled in "Traffic Court", no DA is present. Smoke tailights, at worst, would be a "fix-it" ticket, unless you FTA and it's the FTA that would become a misdemeanor, not the original violation itself.

In order to issue a citation, or make an arrest, a specific legal code needs to be cited for the violation. So if it doesn't exist on the books, cops just can't make up a code section. Interpet one creatively maybe, but not "just make one up."

I'm sure "other states may vary."

"Did you just say meow?"

The last speeding ticket I got they just wrote the violation in the blank lines provided on the ticket. Then the DA sent me a letter asking if I wanted to pay it and have in stay off my record, so I just payed it, me on probation for 2 years can't get another ticket.

[mjw357]

Originally Posted by Tyltan

It's only illegal if you get caught.

This is over-simplifying things a bit, but there is some truth in it. These types of laws can vary city to city.
Just because it is not legal, does not mean you will get pulled over (most cops have bigger fish to fry), but if you get pulled over for another violation or are involved in an accident, they may decide to tack that on.
If it is legal in the municipality that you live in, and decide to go cruising in the next town over, you might get hasseled by the locals, so the ' ignorance is no excuse ' rule applies here.

[MuskyHunter]

Go see the District Attorney, and have him look it up. Once he finds the law make a copy of it and carry it in your truck. Alot of cops don't know the laws and will write a ticket, and most people will pay it even though there is no law broken. You can ask 10 cops the same question and you will probably get atleast 5 different answers. This is no offense to police, but I have seen many times when they didn't know the law. The DA told me that police are supposed to write a ticket IF they think a law is broken, the it is the DA's job to determine if the law was actually broken.

Well, not to pick on Helomech, but this shared line of thinking by some illustrates part of the problem. Have we allowed ourselves to be totally governed by laws and its technicalities rather than govern ourselves by good ole common sense?

Regardless of whether there is a law on the books that clearly prohibits a specific modification that interferes with a vehicles safety, or safety to others, it is up to vehicle owners to be responsible to comply with safety "guidelines" when operating and maintaining a vehicle and not about challenging our system.

While I appreciate a good looking vehicle and tweaks to personalize your vehicle from bone stock, some mods are totally irresponsible as with dimming brake lights via smoked covers.

I realize that I am exerting a strong opinion, but we all here to learn and share. I hope that no one has to expereince that sickening feeling watching paramedics attend to the driver and passengers, with cuts and glass embedded in their faces from the car that rear ended you, and thinking that could have been me.

And as you stand there looking at the damage to the back of your vehicle wondering how the whole situation could have been avoided, take a look at those smoke covers and deny they were a contributing factor, and argue the technicality in court. If that is the karma by which one operates on, be advised that it may turn against you one day.

[Marc]

[quote=MuskyHunter]Well, not to pick on Helomech, but this shared line of thinking by some illustrates part of the problem. Have we allowed ourselves to be totally governed by laws and its technicalities rather than govern ourselves by good ole common sense?

Regardless of whether there is a law on the books that clearly prohibits a specific modification that interferes with a vehicles safety, or safety to others, it is up to vehicle owners to be responsible to comply with safety "guidelines" when operating and maintaining a vehicle and not about challenging our system.

QUOTE]

People have "common sense" now? I wish, it would make my job alot easier. Laws were created to help those who have no common sense get a little slap in the face reality check. And the cold hard fact is....no matter what law is made or enforced, people are just dumb.

[Marc]

Originally Posted by 37L1

"Did you just say meow?"

This is my 318th post...meow