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Old 10-09-2005, 06:09 PM   #1
comradeboris
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Default Tinting lights legal in Texas?

On hot-subaru.com they sell those smoked light kits and im trying to go for the stealth black look on my 02 wrx. Is it illegal to have those on cars in Texas or have the cops harassed anyone for having a tint like that on their car?
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Old 10-09-2005, 08:34 PM   #2
austenf740
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Quote:
Originally Posted by comradeboris
On hot-subaru.com they sell those smoked light kits and im trying to go for the stealth black look on my 02 wrx. Is it illegal to have those on cars in Texas or have the cops harassed anyone for having a tint like that on their car?
I believe it is legal but i think there is a certain distance from the car that they must still be viewable. I'm not sure what that is but i remember reading it somewhere once...If you want to be safe i would check on that distance and make sure they comply.
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Old 10-09-2005, 08:56 PM   #3
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Tinted headlights of any type is illegal in TX. My dad was pulled over like every other week for the yellow headlights on his Euro-spec Benz. The laws are even stiffer now.
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Old 10-10-2005, 12:01 AM   #4
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As far as I know they are illegal during night time, fog, rain and other such conditions. I think you are allowed to have it during the day time. My friend was pulled over the other day. He had the removable plastic inserts though, not the film you apply to the headlights.
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Old 10-10-2005, 12:18 AM   #5
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What about tail lights?
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Old 10-10-2005, 01:52 AM   #6
KevinHeist
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Davenow
What about tail lights?
DPD pulled me over one day because he thought my brake light was out... but then as I came to a stop for him, they worked.

He was just pulling me over out of courtesy... I was like, "oh... i was just engine braking... no need to hit the brakes"

he mentioned, "sometimes with those darker taillights, you never know, but I could see them, have a good day"

"you too"

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Old 10-10-2005, 02:43 AM   #7
comradeboris
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how dark was the tint? i am looking at getting the smoked kit...whatever the one is called that is the darkest look.
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Old 10-10-2005, 08:04 AM   #8
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Here is chapter and verse, courtesy of your friends at the Texas DPS:
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/vi/insp...ejectsubmit=Go

We have dealt with this question many times before. The keys words, as you will see below, are "...which, when lighted, shall emit a red light plainly visible from a distance of 1,000 feet to the rear." It says "red," not "dark red" "light red" "black cherry red" "fire engine red" or any other variation on the word "red." Notice as you driving down the street today how various manufacturer's OEM tail lenses vary in shade of red. Mustangs pop into mind, for example, as their lenses are a maraschino cherry bright red. Hondas, by contrast, seem to have a dark cherry color red lens. So who is to say which one is the right red?

Bottom line: go for it. (Caveat: if your OEM lenses are a dark red to begin with and you apply the Stealth Smoke lens covers and end up with a lens that now looks almost black, even when illuminated, and a cop pulls you over, well....)
**************************************

20.27 Tail Lamp. Every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, and any other vehicle which is being drawn at the end of a combination of vehicles shall be equipped with at least two taillamps mounted on the rear which, when lighted, shall emit a red light plainly visible from a distance of 1,000 feet to the rear, except that passenger cars and trucks manufactured or assembled prior to the model year 1960 shall have at least one tail lamp. On vehicles equipped with more than one tail lamp, the taillamps shall be mounted on the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable.

Every tail lamp upon every vehicle shall be located at a height of not more than 72 inches nor less than 15 inches. Taillamps are used only to designate the rear of a vehicle.

Every tail lamp upon motorcycles, motor-driven cycles, or mopeds shall be located at a height of not more than 72 inches nor less than 20 inches. Tail lamp lens must be of a type meeting Department of Public Safety standards.

At least two taillamps are required on all motor vehicles, trailers, semitrailers, and pole trailers, except that at least one tail lamp is required on motorcycles, motor-driven cycles, and mopeds and all 1959 model year and earlier passenger cars and trucks.

1. Inspection Procedure. Check operation and condition visually.
2. Inspect for and reject if:
a. Required lamp or lamps are not present.
b. Lamp is not securely mounted to vehicle.
c. Lamp does not completely emit a red light plainly visible 1,000 feet to the rear.
d. Lamp lens is painted, missing, discolored, or does not fit properly.
e. Wiring is shoddy or electrical connections are poor.
f. Lamp is not wired so as to be lighted when head lamps or auxiliary driving lamps are lighted.
g. Lamp is obstructed by any part of the body.
h. Lamp lens is not red color.
i. Lamps are not mounted on the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable.
j. Lamps are not mounted on rear of vehicle.
k. Lens is cracked or broken to the extent that a portion of the lens is missing and/or separated, permitting light from the bulb to emit through the crack or break.
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Old 10-10-2005, 08:08 AM   #9
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the laws quoted are subjective in nature... never forget that...

Quote:
plainly visible from a distance of 1,000 feet to the rear
Plainly makes it up to the cop to determine if your lights are good or not... most of the time, it is a fix-it ticket, but it does make you give up part of a day and everything to take care of it.
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Old 10-10-2005, 08:00 PM   #10
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COPS CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT WHEN THEY WANT FOR WHATEVER REASON. Yeah, u might be able to get it dismissed in the long run, but its not worth the hassle. Living in houston u should know that by now. If you see it on the road all the time it might be ok....but honestly how man cars do u see with tinted headlights and or taillights....not really any
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Old 10-10-2005, 08:25 PM   #11
ATX25RS
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i used to have the black out headlights on my GrandAm .... i got hassled once for them. ....they were not legal at night..only during the day. so i was constantly removing them.....i think tinted headlights at night are dumb....they are not only dangerous to you, but to others also...i almost ran into a chevy s10 because it was dark and his lights were barely visable at 100ft....much less 1000.
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Old 10-10-2005, 11:19 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fastseven
Tinted headlights of any type is illegal in TX. My dad was pulled over like every other week for the yellow headlights on his Euro-spec Benz. The laws are even stiffer now.
Yellow headlights or bulbs have always been illegal in TX

I also have the tinted tail lights on my truck which i bought from SOD and i have gotten pulled for speeding by a STATE TROOPER didnt say 1 thing about them.

Last edited by spanish; 10-10-2005 at 11:24 PM.
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Old 10-11-2005, 02:02 AM   #13
ATX25RS
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i have never been hassled for my lights. my gf got pulled over by a state trooper this past weekend and he made no mention about them. iirc lights must be white or yellow however much so is not mentioned.
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Old 10-11-2005, 02:33 AM   #14
ATX25RS
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ATX25RS
i have never been hassled for my lights. my gf got pulled over by a state trooper this past weekend and he made no mention about them. iirc lights must be white or yellow however much so is not mentioned.
forgot to mention i have hella yellow stars in my heads and my optilux 1100 fogs.
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Old 10-11-2005, 02:51 AM   #15
ATX25RS
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here is the statute from dps about tail lamps i am still trying to find out about headlamps but i dont see any mention of color

§ 547.322. TAILLAMPS REQUIRED. (a) Except as provided
by Subsection (b), a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole
trailer, or vehicle that is towed at the end of a combination of
vehicles shall be equipped with at least two taillamps.
(b) A passenger car or truck that was manufactured or
assembled before the model year 1960 shall be equipped with at least
one taillamp.
(c) Taillamps shall be mounted on the rear of the vehicle:
(1) at a height from 15 to 72 inches; and
(2) at the same level and spaced as widely apart as
practicable if a vehicle is equipped with more than one lamp.
(d) A taillamp shall emit a red light plainly visible at a
distance of 1,000 feet from the rear of the vehicle.
(e) If vehicles are traveling in combination, only the
taillamps on the rearmost vehicle are required to emit a light for
the distance specified in Subsection (d).
(f) A taillamp or a separate lamp shall be constructed and
mounted to emit a white light that:
(1) illuminates the rear license plate; and
(2) makes the plate clearly legible at a distance of 50
feet from the rear.
(g) A taillamp, including a separate lamp used to illuminate
a rear license plate, must emit a light when a headlamp or auxiliary
driving lamp is lighted.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.


§ 547.323. STOPLAMPS REQUIRED. (a) Except as provided
by Subsection (b), a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole
trailer shall be equipped with at least two stoplamps.
(b) A passenger car manufactured or assembled before the
model year 1960 shall be equipped with at least one stoplamp.
(c) A stoplamp shall be mounted on the rear of the vehicle.
(d) A stoplamp shall emit a red or amber light, or a color
between red and amber, that is:
(1) visible in normal sunlight at a distance of at
least 300 feet from the rear of the vehicle; and
(2) displayed when the vehicle service brake is
applied.
(e) If vehicles are traveling in combination, only the
stoplamps on the rearmost vehicle are required to emit a light for
the distance specified in Subsection (d).
(f) A stoplamp may be included as a part of another rear
lamp.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
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Old 10-11-2005, 03:03 AM   #16
ATX25RS
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this is where i am getting the info.....
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/statu...htm#547.321.00

here is the headlamp section

§ 547.321. HEADLAMPS REQUIRED. (a) A motor vehicle
shall be equipped with at least two headlamps.
(b) At least one headlamp shall be mounted on each side of
the front of the vehicle.
(c) Each headlamp shall be mounted at a height from 24 to 54
inches.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.


§ 547.3215. USE OF FEDERAL STANDARD. Unless
specifically prohibited by this chapter, lighting, reflective
devices, and associated equipment on a vehicle or motor vehicle
must comply with:
(1) the current federal standards in 49 C.F.R. Section
571.108; or
(2) the federal standards in that section in effect,
if any, at the time the vehicle or motor vehicle was manufactured.

Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 324, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
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Old 10-11-2005, 04:03 AM   #17
janikphoto
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(c) Each headlamp shall be mounted at a height from 24 to 54
inches.


wow, how to the huge 4x4 trucks get away with it?!?
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Old 10-11-2005, 12:05 PM   #18
ATX25RS
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i looked at this also (1) the current federal standards in 49 C.F.R. Section
571.108; and it only refered to some SAE Standard on headlight color, but i could find the text online.
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Old 04-30-2021, 02:08 PM   #19
Oterojmic90
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So they pulled you over just to tell you your lights worked ??? SMH
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Old 05-01-2021, 09:12 AM   #20
aggie113
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Oterojmic90 View Post
So they pulled you over just to tell you your lights worked ??? SMH
Not bad, this thread is old enough for a driving learner's permit.


Last edited by aggie113; 05-01-2021 at 05:42 PM.
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Old 05-03-2021, 09:26 PM   #21
AliBenn
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Ha Ha

At least member is searching!!!!!
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