rottenmunky

I live in Houston, TX and I recently purchased Lamin-x brand tail light overlays. I bought the charcoal kit, which is the darkest, allowing %70 light output.
I needed to know the legality of this kit. I called the DPS here and they were not too much of help other than putting my hopes down. I also went to the Police Department and asked a police officer if it was "legal enough". The officer said yes, but when I was about to leave, I decided to ask another officer, and he said no.
So I was hoping someone here would have some experience with this. Have any of you been pulled over or anything?



NOTE: That was just a random picture I found on another site by the way. Not even sure if that's the overlay or if it has been sprayed, but the lamin-x looks similar. So you guys get the idea.

WeDriveScions

It's not legal.... anything that interferes with the DOT tested display of the lights is technically illegal....

It's all up to the cop to ticket you or not, but officially... not street legal.

rottenmunky

Damn...so all these guys that do have this stuff are basically getting lucky?

WeDriveScions

That would be me.... and yes.....lucky

RockBlocker

Does that include the strobes in your car too?? DOT certifies the light housing, but does not set the state laws.

Each state sets their own laws and while a lot of it is very grey in terms of decisiveness. It is up to the consumer to make sure they are aware of the laws in his/her state. Some states require yearly inspections which tend to be the toughest.

The 35% dark smoked in AZ would be illegal, but the 20% Smoked (lighter version) would not be.

Best to check with a State Inspection facility if you are worried about it. They seem to know best.

WeDriveScions

What they can't see.... I would say that you're not too likely to get hassled with the lesser tints.... the dark ones like mine are where you're pushing the limit for sure....

rottenmunky

The guys on another thread talked about this. They also said that it was illegal. However, one of the guys with smoked tail lights said that a cop drove behind him but didn't do anything. Also another guy said that while he was pulled over for allegedley running a light, the cop didn't bother about the tail lights. I just wanna know if both of these scenarios where during day time or night time.

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...=asc&&start=25


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rottenmunky

So what about when the car is parked? Should it then also be out of cops view?

Blue_Batmobile

Sorry to hear that. Mine are a tad lighter than the Laminex brand.

Bat™

captainlaziness

Sadly I've been pulled over a few times. But the taillights were never mentioned. An officer took a few pics of them which kinda worried me, but nothing came of it. They've been seen night and day with no problems....yet. It all depends on how stritly the laws are enforced, the mood of the officer, and what you were doing.

rottenmunky

LOL, Blue Bat, you are always there when it comes to this. Crazy business tactics...but it works! I want your overlays!

rufio

I dont think that cops really care as long as they can see the break light through it even though it is against the law.

rottenmunky

^I hope you're right because I just installed it.

KINGxOFxSKA

Like WeDriveScions said... anything that interferes with the DOT legal light output of the lights is illegal. But we just have the ***** to do it. :-P Haha it all really depends on yer area and if the cops care or not.

magyver

20% is darker than 35%....

phiquach

^ yep
i hate people doing these tints to their lights, when i drive at night, their light is so dim i can barely see them. especially hard when its black car w/ black tint

Blue_Batmobile

I've been sporting mine on all my cars for years now. Had numerous cops behind me, never been pulled over, and I live in San Diego, where cops are pretty damn strict! Reflectors are stil quite visible with my 6/10 tint. I also offer a lighter 3/10 as well

Bat™

WeDriveScions

Mine are actually very visible at night as well, but for negotiation sake, if ever needed, I left my third light untinted, to allow that BRIGHT LED to show to the grandma behind me...

I'd hate to have to fight an insurance claim cause the person claimed my tinted tails interfered with their ability to see my brake lights...

But, hell.... it looks sweet.... cough.... jonstintedtails.com..... cough....

rottenmunky

Grandmas! Same reason I'm keeping the third light untinted as well.

RockBlocker

Who said it is window tint??? Dont try to compare the percentages of smoked tails to window tint please. Otherwise you will cause confusion.


20% is lighter than 35%