Hi guys,
I really want to "blackout" the taillight on my Titan (Galaxy). I know it is illegal but have any of you have it done? Do the cops ignore it most of the time or they are very strict with it and give you "fixer" ticket. I live in So. Cal - Orange County.

I go to another Nissan site about the wifes Altima, and there has been many options discussed about blacking out and even tinting tail lights over there. Do a search and you will find all the info you need.
http://www.nissanclub.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=4

I dont know about cali, but here in fla it is a no no. tails or headlights are not to be tampered with. I dont have my fla traffic statute book handy, so I cant tell you the number, but it is refered to as a "improper equiptment violation" (aka the "fixer" ticket you mentioned).In my teenage years before I was what I am now, I got a ticket for tinted covers on the front at night(to lazy to take them off) and the blackout spray paint stuff on the rear :oops: And as far as enforcing it by other law officers..well, it is a deal where its officer discretion. they might or might not ticket, depends on the mood or personality of the cop :roll:

Here's the written law:

CA Vehicle Code Div. 12,Chap. 2, article 3,24600(e)
Taillamps shall be red in color and shall be plainly visible from all distances within 500 feet to the rear except that taillamps on vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1969, shall be plainly visible from all distances within 1,000 feet to the rear.

Source: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vc/vctoc.htm

I just installed the "blackout" tail light cover on my truck. They look great. Now, I try to stay away from the cop. I hope they don't give me fixer ticket. It is very easy to take on and off.

Unfortunately, I live almost next to the Highway Patrol office.

I will post the pictures tommorrow with my new nerf bar. I have the Westin nerf bar install later today.

Just be aware that some insurance companies do charge you for fix it tickets and improper equip tickets. Thats going to be more expensive then the ticket

Thank you, MsTitan.

I will call my insurance tomorrow and ask them about that. Of course, I won't give them my name and policy #

ive also been thinking about some smoke colored tail light covers, but would like to see what it looks like first. lets see some pics

I will take the pics tomorrow after I wash it. It's been raining here the last couple days.

Its snowing here in michigan, I can give you some white out pics tomorrow. lol

DeesT... is it true that you cant do that in FL? my friend suggested i do it to my titan and says that he nos ppl that have it done to their cars, but if what u say is true it i might reconsider. also do u have to have them tinted and spray painted or is there a way that u can "smoke" them with a cover or somethin so that u can easily take them off if u do get warned?

http://www.titantalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13356&highlight=Tinted+Tail+lights

Here's a link to a thread on Titan Talk on the tinted tail lights if any one wants more info.

DeesT... is it true that you cant do that in FL? my friend suggested i do it to my titan and says that he nos ppl that have it done to their cars, but if what u say is true it i might reconsider. also do u have to have them tinted and spray painted or is there a way that u can "smoke" them with a cover or somethin so that u can easily take them off if u do get warned?
Florida Statute 316.241(1) No person shall have for sale,sell or offer for sale for use upon or as a part of the equipment of a motor vehicle,trailer, semi trailer, or pole trailer or use upon any such vehicle any headlamp,auxiliary or fog lamp,rear lamp,signal lamp,or reflector,which reflector is required hereunder,or parts of any of the foregoing,which tend to change the original design or performance,unless of a type which has been submitted to the department(Florida Department of Highway Safety Motor Vehicles) and approved.
(3)No person shall use upon any motor vehicle,trailer,semi trailer,or pole trailer any lamps mentioned in this section.

That is what they will give you the ticket on. Some cops may not mess with ya, but some will. FHP are notorious for enforcing this.I know because I talk to officers day in day out. Years ago I bought some stuff in a spray can that permanantly tinted the rears....called "the shade" or something like that(my memory is fading in my old age :lol: ). It said on the can "not legal for highway use", but I did it anyways.Took a little while, but I was stopped told to ditch them or I would get a ticket. The tinted covers look good, but all in all its not worth the hassle in my opinion. You might forget to take them off, or do like me and be lazy and leave them on and get a ticket. Also when mine were tinted, alot of people couldnt see my brake lights to good....had some close calls being hit in the back 8O

Hi guys,
I really want to "blackout" the taillight on my Titan (Galaxy). I know it is illegal but have any of you have it done? Do the cops ignore it most of the time or they are very strict with it and give you "fixer" ticket. I live in So. Cal - Orange County.

Picture of my taillight.
In California, police "only" stop and give you fixer ticket for your tail light if you violated one of the traffic infraction. They won't stop you and give you ticket just because you tinted your tail light. As far as I know the above information. Correct me if I am wrong.

In California, police "only" stop and give you fixer ticket for your tail light if you violated one of the traffic infraction. They won't stop you and give you ticket just because you tinted your tail light. As far as I know the above information. Correct me if I am wrong.
FLORIDA=fixer ticket,and a moving violation to stop you.Yes, you are correct,but let me put it this way, if you have them on your vehicle they(cops)look at you a little harder than the norm. Remember only 1 mile over the speed limit is speeding,know what I mean? I am a cop myself and I work with those guys day in day out like I said before, so I know what they look for here. Also here in Florida we have traffic safety check points on a "suprise" basis(you never know where they will set up),they do not need a "reason" for that.Just some food for thought man, i'm not saying what the folks should do with their rides, just trying to help by letting shift know the legalaties here in Florida not California. 8) :) Oh by the way, those do look nice on your truck Ty. :wink:

Wow, Thanks shift. I din't know you are a cop. It is nice to have a cop on board. We might need your help/traffic legal informaion in the future.

I couldn't resit to have those lights tinted. I leave them on for now. If I get stop, then I'll take them off.

Wow, Thanks shift. I din't know you are a cop. It is nice to have a cop on board. We might need your help/traffic legal informaion in the future.

I couldn't resit to have those lights tinted. I leave them on for now. If I get stop, then I'll take them off.

I am sorry. The message was meant to Dees not shift

8) Thanks for the kind words Ty. I dont mind at all with the law questions, good to know my 15 years experience is worth something :roll: :lol:

Hey guys,
I live in socal and had a black 2002 camry before I got my Titan and I had smoked tail lights on my camry and got pulled over for just that. I ahd to clean off the spray. From what the Sheriff told me, it wouldn't be considered a fix-it ticket, but more of a moving voilation/expensive ticket if he caught me again with the smoked tailights.

I would never put smoked covers on the tail lights. There is
fog often here & I do not want the tail lights dimmed by covers.

I am glad someone keep this tread alive. I got a ticket last month for not completely stop at stop sign. The cop pulled me over and gave me a non-completed stop ticket and told me that I couldn't "blackout" my tail light. In addition, he said that it look good on my truck so he wouldn't give me the ticket. I think he let go of the lights because I was very nice and polite to him. I even thanks him after he gave me the ticket.

Tyltan are you planning on going into the acting, politics or becoming an attorney?
They think that laws apply to everyone else.
So, are the covers on or off? lol

Hey guys. It's illegal here in NC as well. I would give you the statute out of my blue book, but it's not worth the time b/c you don't live in NC. Basically, it is illegal, but it's kind of usually just used as a stopping tool. We can stop for any violation, but the percentage of us that are going to write for that are slim. Stopping you for blacked out lens, or cracked windshield, or burned out tag light, are all violations...but are usually easily dismissed in court. We use these violations to stop vehicles in order to further "dig" into the situation. Drivers license current, warrants, CSA, alcohol violations, wanted persons.....you never know. I have gotten a lot of "good" stuff off of traffic stops that were initiated just b/c the tag light was out. So...no, probably won't get a ticket here...but you will probably be pulled. The "traffic safety" officers however, will probably cite you. These are the ones that JUST write tickets, no other duties. So, to them, you're a number.

All that aside, your truck looks good. Good job!

Not to mention Virginia, anything here is illegal, even cussing in public.
I think if you illegaly fart here you get a ticket also.

I think if you illegaly fart here you get a ticket also.

I've heard thats only if it smells...LOL

I think if you illegaly fart here you get a ticket also.

I've heard thats only if it smells...LOL

Wow!

i think a "euro" taillight might look good

I really don't know if they're legal in Memphis, TN or not, but I've sported taillight (& headlight) blackouts on my last three trucks. Never had a problem.

Here's the written law:

CA Vehicle Code Div. 12,Chap. 2, article 3,24600(e)
Taillamps shall be red in color and shall be plainly visible from all distances within 500 feet to the rear except that taillamps on vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1969, shall be plainly visible from all distances within 1,000 feet to the rear.

Source: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vc/vctoc.htm

ok, I'm not arguing the law, but it makes me wonder when it says taillamps shall be red in color. Does that not apply to the rx300 or toyota prius? They have no red in their taillens as they use red leds so what gives?

Hey Danny, nice truck! I love the tint on the headlights and tail lights. Have you run accross a color matched cover for the Smoke Titan? Just curious. Don't know if it would look any better than what you already have.

No, I haven't seen any color matched ones. They have a different kind of headlight cover, http://lundinternational.com/PartDetail.aspx?partno=337203 that I imagine you could have paint-matched and would not affect the visibility of your lights, but I haven't seen anyone who has done this. It's an interesting idea, though.
These type of taillight covers, http://lundinternational.com/PartDetail.aspx?partno=36450&mmcode=1431296&catcode=AUT I have seen paint matched and it looks pretty cool.

I really don't know if they're legal in Memphis, TN or not, but I've sported taillight (& headlight) blackouts on my last three trucks. Never had a problem.

I have to have those. Where did you get them man?

I got them on the net more than a year ago. I forgot the link. You can search for them. They are everywhere on the net. Just search for taillight cover.

Hmm I punched that number into my accessory company page and came back with these,
I like the slot style, and this is the LUND part number, I wonder if they just posted the wrong pics...

I just looked it up manually, yea it is a bad pic, these are for the slotted taillgith covers

anyway 34.99 plus shipping...

Well I can tell you that in Massachusetts much like NKTITAN that I would stop for these, but writing a ticket rare. Use it for further investigation. Unless you cop an attitude as many of the "Fast and Furious" kids do with thier modified cars. I have nicked named the kids in our area as the "Slow and Delirious." Many a ticket handed out with a giggle as I tell them there new nick name. Also been in numerous pursuits with these kids and watch them wreck all of the mods they did as it goes end over end down the highway!

Hmm I punched that number into my accessory company page and came back with these,
I like the slot style, and this is the LUND part number, I wonder if they just posted the wrong pics...

I just looked it up manually, yea it is a bad pic, these are for the slotted taillgith covers

anyway 34.99 plus shipping...

That was approximately what I paid for mine.

Just remember, these things are held on by double stick plastic velcro. They are extremely easy to take off and put back on when necessary.

Just remember, these things are held on by double stick plastic velcro. They are extremely easy to take off and put back on when necessary.
That was the main reason I got the cover instead of paint it. It is illegal in Cal. if you blackout your taillight. You can take off the cover if you get fixer ticket.

Wow, Thanks shift. I din't know you are a cop. It is nice to have a cop on board. We might need your help/traffic legal informaion in the future.

I couldn't resit to have those lights tinted. I leave them on for now. If I get stop, then I'll take them off.

??? You've had one on board since May 1, 2005. 8)

Wow, Thanks shift. I din't know you are a cop. It is nice to have a cop on board. We might need your help/traffic legal informaion in the future.

I couldn't resit to have those lights tinted. I leave them on for now. If I get stop, then I'll take them off.

??? You've had one on board since May 1, 2005. 8)

I had them since Dec 7th, 2004. I posted on the 5th tread down of this post.

Thanks for paying attention :)

Wow, Thanks shift. I din't know you are a cop. It is nice to have a cop on board. We might need your help/traffic legal informaion in the future.

I couldn't resit to have those lights tinted. I leave them on for now. If I get stop, then I'll take them off.

??? You've had one on board since May 1, 2005. 8)

I had them since Dec 7th, 2004. I posted on the 5th tread down of this post.

Thanks for paying attention :)

I'm not talking about tail lights. Thanks for paying attention. :roll:

I put tailight covers on last week and they look good on the black. I've had taillight covers on my last three trucks. I had headlight covers on my suburban and let me tell you it was dim at night so you'd have to take them off luckily I almost never drove that truck at night but I'll skip them on the Titan. And with the tailight covers light shining through is pretty strong with the lights on so you can see the brake lights and turn signals no problem and at night with your lights on you can't even tell the covers are there.

I haven't ever had a problem with them and the authorities but check your local laws.

I like your exhaust tips. They look awesome. Your truck looks like the "Terminator" vehicle.

Thanks
Thats the Borla catback system
I'll Be Back!! LOL

Looks great DUSM. 8)

Those really look sleek on a black truck. Stealthy. Personally, I wouldn't use them. Why ask to be pulled over? This just draws unecessary attention from law enforcement. I've seen all the tail light and headlight aftermarkets and I just don't really like any of them. Stock Rocks!

Looks great DUSM. 8)
Thanks Bro
I was in Marion Illinois about a year ago or so and made my way down to Paducah a couple times nice place. I also used to be at Ft Knox and louisville and E-town Kentucky is a nice state!!

Those really look sleek on a black truck. Stealthy. Personally, I wouldn't use them. Why ask to be pulled over? This just draws unecessary attention from law enforcement. I've seen all the tail light and headlight aftermarkets and I just don't really like any of them. Stock Rocks!
You know they say if you can't take the heat don't play with fire. I've actually had quite a few Cops asking me about my truck and they really like it I guess if you get the attention of the wrong guy it might be trouble but I've always found that if your honest and couteous to them you usually get some slack unless you're doing something to endanger someone