Tinted tail lights, now complete with pics.

[DeanFL]

Originally Posted by Anthony

Hey radioprius, I just called my brother in law who is a Washington state patrol officer. He emailed me what is highlighted below. Maybe I will sue some dumbass who rear-ends me. As long as the lights still appear to be red, there is no law, no distance, no nothing. Chew on that for awhile big boy.

RCW 46.37.100
Color of clearance lamps, side marker lamps, back-up lamps, and reflectors.
(1) Front clearance lamps and those marker lamps and reflectors mounted on the front or on the side near the front of a vehicle shall display or reflect an amber color.

(2) Rear clearance lamps and those marker lamps and reflectors mounted on the rear or on the sides near the rear of a vehicle shall display or reflect a red color.

(3) All lighting devices and reflectors mounted on the rear of any vehicle shall display or reflect a red color, except the stop lamp or other signal device, which may be red, amber, or yellow, and except that on any vehicle forty or more years old, or on any motorcycle regardless of age, the taillight may also contain a blue or purple insert of not more than one inch in diameter, and except that the light illuminating the license plate shall be white and the light emitted by a back-up lamp shall be white or amber.


So from my understanding of that the smoked tail lights are legal as long as the light displayed is still of proper color...


WRONG UNDERSTANDING!


Take care bro, don't let the keyboard rambos get you down, do your own thing and life will take care of them.

A simple google search of Washington State DMV requirements brought this up. Hmmm - not just the color bro'. Recommend you consider what these good folks here are offering to you....




RCW 46.37.200: Stop lamps and electric turn signals displayed.

RCW 46.37.200
Stop lamps and electric turn signals displayed.

(1) Any vehicle may be equipped and when required under this chapter shall be equipped with a stop lamp or lamps on the rear of the vehicle which shall display a red or amber light, or any shade of color between red and amber, visible from a distance of not less than one hundred feet and on any vehicle manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1964, three hundred feet to the rear in normal sunlight, and which shall be actuated upon application of a service brake, and which may but need not be incorporated with one or more other rear lamps.

(2) Any vehicle may be equipped and when required under RCW 46.37.070(2) shall be equipped with electric turn signals which shall indicate an intention to turn by flashing lights showing to the front and rear of a vehicle or on a combination of vehicles on the side of the vehicle or combination toward which the turn is to be made. The lamps showing to the front shall be mounted on the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable and, when signaling, shall emit amber light: PROVIDED, That on any vehicle manufactured prior to January 1, 1969, the lamps showing to the front may emit white or amber light, or any shade of light between white and amber. The lamp showing to the rear shall be mounted on the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable, and, when signaling, shall emit a red or amber light, or any shade of color between red and amber. Turn signal lamps shall be visible from a distance of not less than five hundred feet to the front and rear in normal sunlight. Turn signal lamps may, but need not be, incorporated in other lamps on the vehicle.

(3) Any vehicle may be equipped and when required under this chapter shall be equipped with a center high-mounted stop lamp mounted on the center line of the rear of the vehicle. These stop lamps shall display a red light visible from a distance of not less than three hundred feet to the rear in normal sunlight, and shall be actuated upon application of a service brake, and may not be incorporated with any other rear lamps.


[2006 c 306 § 3; 1977 ex.s. c 355 § 17; 1963 c 154 § 15; 1961 c 12 § 46.37.200. Prior: 1955 c 269 § 20; prior: 1953 c 248 § 2, part; 1947 c 267 § 4, part; 1937 c 189 § 23, part; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 6360-23, part; RCW 46.40.090, part; 1929 c 178 § 1, part; 1927 c 309 § 15, part; RRS § 6362-15.]

[rrolff]

Originally Posted by SlowTurd

he lives in the pacific northwest
who's going to rear-end him? a moose?

This is a very observant post - one which many (including myself), don't always look at (the location of the poster).

But please don't sell the marmut short. They aren't often heralded as a vicious beast - but they are rumored to be colorblind, and have a nasty taste for radiator fluid (

Marmot - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Marmot

). Many a car radiator tubes have been dissected by these creatures in national parks nationwide. They are low to the ground, so likely more immune to the tinted Prius lights.

[Paradox]

1. Let's keep this thread on track. You've both made your arguments, now let's end it with that and stop the back and forth name calling / personal attacks. Discussion is good and disagreement is always inevitable on the internet but sometimes it has to be either dealt with in an adult manner or just ignored. Let's agree to disagree and end it at that or board rules will have to be followed. Don't take any of this as a threat, I just want this thread to continue w/o anymore needless attacks from either side. Your points have been noted radioprius and Anthony has heard you...

2. I personally like the way it looks. Would I do it to my car, no, because here in NYC they'd pull you over to not only give you a ticket for them but for something else on the car... Many of the 'kids' do them around here on their Infiniti's, Lexus' etc and while not as bright as factory people aren't running into each other because of the tinted taillights either...

Tinted taillights is just one of those things that if a cop needs a reason to pull you over, he;ll use it to his advantage. Will every cop pull you over for them, no, but it gives them a reason. Is it legal? No covering which obstructs the normal intensity of the bulbs is legal, not even heavy dirt or mud... They can pull you over for that the same as tint over the lenses.

[Econ]

Is that the same as window tint material?

[Paradox]

Originally Posted by Econ

Is that the same as window tint material?

I don't think it is normal window tint, so if it in fact not did they have different levels of tint Anthony at the place you had the work done? Different colors of tint available? I wonder if a red tint could be applied over the brakelight area and bottom area to make them look like those way overly priced taillight units at sigma...

[radioprius1]

Originally Posted by Paradox

Is it legal? No covering which obstructs the normal intensity of the bulbs is legal, not even heavy dirt or mud... They can pull you over for that the same as tint over the lenses.

I agree and thank you.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by Econ

Is that the same as window tint material?

No, it is much thicker, and more resistant to scratches.

Originally Posted by Paradox

I don't think it is normal window tint, so if it in fact not did they have different levels of tint Anthony at the place you had the work done? Different colors of tint available? I wonder if a red tint could be applied over the brakelight area and bottom area to make them look like those way overly priced taillight units at sigma...

I would of loved a red tint, I think the deep red on a dark vehicles looks the best, however they did not offer it. They offer a clear, my grey, a dark charcoal which does inhibit much less light to be seen, green, blue, and yellow. They also offer the film for headlights. I have seen the yellow tint on some headlights, I do not care for it.

As someone posted earlier, if a officer needs a reason to pull you over, they will use it to their advantages. I have a very illegal, very dark tint on my truck windows. In 7 years, I have never been stopped for it. I have been stopped, but I roll both windows down and turn my interior light on. If you respect the officer, they will not give you any grief, one even commented on the tint, and he also told me he appreciated me doing what I did to make him more comfortable.

Also, our LED lights are already brighter than a regular bulb, so even by tinting the lights, we may still have a brighter output than standard lights. If I really wanted to take a pic from 500 feet, I could, but I really do not care to answer to anyone on an internet board. If I get stopped by a police officer, we can pull out the tape measure.

the other thing is, this is not a discussion on if they are legal or not, I simply wanted to show what they looked like tinted. People got way off track.

[Tlynch]

Looks great - I've been thinking about doing the same thing on mine. I'll make sure not to post pics on this forum if I do.

[shawnb2]

Wow Anthony, I'd say you opened up a can of worms. Me personally, I like it and have every intention on doing the same. Was waiting for Lamin-X to have precut kits available. You can get them in a few different shades of tint as well as they have a couple other colors. Will most likely be the lighter of the bunch just to tone down the chrome and even considering maybe the red film to look like the ones available on Sigma's site JDM style. Either way, thanks for sharing the pics. Car looks great. Sorry about the wheels being gone already. There's a ton of aftermarket stuff out there for the kind of money you're looking to spend. Good luck!

[patsparks]

The tint used by the OP is rather light, I don't see it being a problem.
Another poster had very dark tint
This was way too dark which the poster acknowledged himself.
My "Murdered Out Prius" Project
I think what you have done with your tail lights is very nice. The stickers on the window are not to my liking but who gives a flying fig, it isn't my car, it's yours.