Blacking out taillights..
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Blacking out taillights..
Have any of you done it yourself?
A buddy of mine let me borrow his can of VHT Night Shades So I think I may get some clear coat and do it..
Is there any legality involved in FL? I see them around sometimes.
A buddy of mine let me borrow his can of VHT Night Shades So I think I may get some clear coat and do it..
Is there any legality involved in FL? I see them around sometimes.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,351
Likes: 8
IMHO "Blacking out taillights" is a giant step backwards & it should be illegal in all 50 states to intentionally reduce the brightness of critical safety lighting. NHTSA/DOT established requirements & certifies taillights. The only modifications I'd be interested in would be to increase the effectiveness of taillights by using halogen or high density LEDs.
I've heard that people have been pulled over for window tint in FL & suspect that any safety related mods are all the excuse police need to stop you. Since FL closed their inspection stations ~30 years ago police became the Thin Blue Line monitoring safety violations. Your "buddy" might not be doing you much of a favor by lending you "VHT Night Shades" if you end up ticketed & forced to replace your taillights. If you were ever rear ended my guess is that "Blacking out taillights" could be used against you.
I've heard that people have been pulled over for window tint in FL & suspect that any safety related mods are all the excuse police need to stop you. Since FL closed their inspection stations ~30 years ago police became the Thin Blue Line monitoring safety violations. Your "buddy" might not be doing you much of a favor by lending you "VHT Night Shades" if you end up ticketed & forced to replace your taillights. If you were ever rear ended my guess is that "Blacking out taillights" could be used against you.
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
IMHO "Blacking out taillights" is a giant step backwards & it should be illegal in all 50 states to intentionally reduce the brightness of critical safety lighting. NHTSA/DOT established requirements & certifies taillights. The only modifications I'd be interested in would be to increase the effectiveness of taillights by using halogen or high density LEDs.
I've heard that people have been pulled over for window tint in FL & suspect that any safety related mods are all the excuse police need to stop you. Since FL closed their inspection stations ~30 years ago police became the Thin Blue Line monitoring safety violations. Your "buddy" might not be doing you much of a favor by lending you "VHT Night Shades" if you end up ticketed & forced to replace your taillights. If you were ever rear ended my guess is that "Blacking out taillights" could be used against you.
I've heard that people have been pulled over for window tint in FL & suspect that any safety related mods are all the excuse police need to stop you. Since FL closed their inspection stations ~30 years ago police became the Thin Blue Line monitoring safety violations. Your "buddy" might not be doing you much of a favor by lending you "VHT Night Shades" if you end up ticketed & forced to replace your taillights. If you were ever rear ended my guess is that "Blacking out taillights" could be used against you.
AMEN I agree totally.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 768
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
I have my headlights and tail lights with smoked shades on them, when the head lights are on they aren't even bright enough to get up to low beams with high beams on, end up using fog lights all the time while driving. the taillights when the brakes are applied light up to the equivalent of the running lights.
In terms of legality I didn't know if they were legal here in Michigan or not but after I bought them and did a little research. I remember reading that the tail lights have to be visible at least a 100 feet away or something along those lines. same thing goes for the head lights. they can be shaded just as long as they meet the standards set.
Personally I wish I never bought them, yes it does match my trucks look and enhanced it a bit but the money I spent on them could have went into the lightning head lights and tail lights that look a shload better.
In terms of legality I didn't know if they were legal here in Michigan or not but after I bought them and did a little research. I remember reading that the tail lights have to be visible at least a 100 feet away or something along those lines. same thing goes for the head lights. they can be shaded just as long as they meet the standards set.
Personally I wish I never bought them, yes it does match my trucks look and enhanced it a bit but the money I spent on them could have went into the lightning head lights and tail lights that look a shload better.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,351
Likes: 8
To bad driving safety isn't just about you & you really should consider the other guys.
If somebody plows into the rear of your truck, b/c they don't realize your "brakes are applied" as a result of "smoked shades" dimming your brake lights "to the equivalent of running lights" they will also "Personally...wish (you) never bought them".
When I think "in terms of legality" worst case scenarios come to mind. IMO you'd be lucky to just get pulled over by police or fail a vehicle safety inspection. In the event of being rearended you might find yourself being sued. I wonder how insurer, judge & jury would resolve large medical bills when brake lights, that were intentionally compromised, contribute to an accident? This goes for those cheesy taillight covers as well as "Blacking out". Any lawyer worth their salt could certainly make a very strong argument laying blame on what you consider "enhanced" taillights.
When I think "in terms of legality" worst case scenarios come to mind. IMO you'd be lucky to just get pulled over by police or fail a vehicle safety inspection. In the event of being rearended you might find yourself being sued. I wonder how insurer, judge & jury would resolve large medical bills when brake lights, that were intentionally compromised, contribute to an accident? This goes for those cheesy taillight covers as well as "Blacking out". Any lawyer worth their salt could certainly make a very strong argument laying blame on what you consider "enhanced" taillights.
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: owensboro,KY
i smoked the taillights on my mustang, I did it myself with a little black mixed in with some clear. I just barely smoked mine, they match way better than stock. They are still as bright as some factory lights. They are still way brighter than my old '68 t-bird. And I havent seen any smoked lenses that you couldnt see from 100 ft away. And as long as you follow the law, those douchebag injury lawyers can suck one.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 452
Likes: 0
i bought some blacked out tail lights on ebay, they were clear blacked out so i ordered some read colored tail light bulbs. they are just as bright as the oem"s
Trending Topics
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
my dad works in a body shop and the thing you have to remember is that if you are in an accident. your fault or not with the darkened lights it will automatically become your fault. personally unless your making a show truck that gets trailered don't do it. its not really worth the risk you take by doing them. in addition to this some insurance companies won't cover your vehicle if it is in a wreck with them. so thats where I would check first if your dead set on getting them
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Former ******
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,901
Likes: 2
From: Salt Lake City, Utah
Here in SLC, the inspections stations don't check the brightness. The rules state that is the lights have any kind of film or paint applied to them that it is an instant fail. If you really want a good tail light, look for one that has a red reflector, and LEDs, but that the area between the LEDs is blacked out. I've seen some and I'm sure they aren't available for everything, but its worth a look if you really want a blacked out look, this is the best thing. You do need a red reflector to technically be legal. But the red reflector does not need to light up, as illustrated by the new WRX, the Prius, or the LR3. Just so long as all the lights come on in the right color, and there is nothing to reduce the brightness of the bulbs, and it is obvious where the taillight is, you will be good, but no blacked out lenses.
Heres an example of what I'm talking about, these would probably look sweet on your ride.
Ford EXPEDITION 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 - LED TAIL LIGHTS - JDM Black LED Tail Lights
Heres an example of what I'm talking about, these would probably look sweet on your ride.
Ford EXPEDITION 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 - LED TAIL LIGHTS - JDM Black LED Tail Lights
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Dunnrightmobile
Ford Inline Six, 200, 250, 4.9L / 300
35
Mar 3, 2012 07:46 AM
Brad Deicke
FE & FT Big Block V8 (332, 352, 360, 390, 406, 410, 427, 428)
10
Aug 21, 2002 05:08 PM
Motor_Freak
1967 - 1972 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
4
Jul 30, 2002 06:46 AM