Legality and Insurance Implications for Smoked Taillights

[eviledward]

Hi guys!

So I've been tearing my hair out wondering of the legal implications for tinted/smoked taillights over here in Australia, particularly Victoria.

I'm looking at getting the Valenti Smoked Black taillights but have sort of backed out after hearing that if your taillights don't have reflectors you will be in trouble with the police and insurance companies.

Looking forward to all of your thoughts.

Cheers!

[JP]

depends how smart the person is that runs up the back of your car...

"I couldn't see his lights due to those aftermarket non ADR approved brake lights!"

Wont shift the blame totally away from them but it may split the blame away from 100/0

[jshadeck]

If im doing 60mph in 2nd gear and lift off the throttle and the person behind me doesnt brake they WILL rear end me and it will be entirely their fault. No brake lights to factor. U cant drive around and only brake when u see brake lights. Im not saying blacked out or non working taillights are 100% ok, but chances are good the same person who rear ends u would have either way

[jshadeck]

^ case in point i had a sport shift is300, i engine braked and down shifted w out braking from 45mph to make a left turn (turn signal on) and a cop followed me thru the turn and pulled me over for no taillights, i asked him to check again as i pressed the brake pedal, and sure enough they worked just fine so he rode away

[fuddbutter]

Rip up the handbrake when someone is tailgaiting you..

give them a good scare...

Anyway. have a read here. http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2007C00226

The lights need to produce a certain amount of light, smoked lights may not allow this light to come through.
You may be able to change this by changing the LED's to something that has a higher output.. etc..

[Captain Snooze]

*Dons internet legal opinion hat*
My understanding is if you have these lens/covers fitted you are driving a vehicle that is not ADR compliant. That is, you are driving a vehicle that is not road worthy. Best of luck if the insurance company gets wind of that if you are unlucky enough to be in an accident regardless of who is at fault.
*Removes hat*

[BlueSTaR]

Originally Posted by jshadeck

^ case in point i had a sport shift is300, i engine braked and down shifted w out braking from 45mph to make a left turn (turn signal on) and a cop followed me thru the turn and pulled me over for no taillights, i asked him to check again as i pressed the brake pedal, and sure enough they worked just fine so he rode away

I hate when cops are cocksuckers like that.

[Captain Snooze]

How was the cop being a cocksucker in that instance? Jshadeck's car was slowing down with no brake lights showing. The cop had good reason to believe that the brake lights were not working. The story does not state the attitude of the cop.

[Panman]

Originally Posted by Captain Snooze

How was the cop being a cocksucker in that instance? Jshadeck's car was slowing down with no brake lights showing. The cop had good reason to believe that the brake lights were not working. The story does not state the attitude of the cop.

Aaaaannnnd experiences and laws in the US are different to Australia (As well as legalities), nor does it explain drivers attitude or driving style.

[Panman]

Originally Posted by JP

depends how smart the person is that runs up the back of your car...

"I couldn't see his lights due to those aftermarket non ADR approved brake lights!"

Wont shift the blame totally away from them but it may split the blame away from 100/0

QFT. Those coming in from other countries with commentary, please remember:

1. We have different regulations - Australian Design Rules (ADR)
2. We have different laws and legal implications concerned with road use.
3. Although the person who hits you from the rear is in the wrong, mitigating factors (as mentioned above), MAY apportion the blame between insurance companies.
4. If your car is found to be unroadworthy (non compliant with ADR) as a result of modifications, your insurance company CAN refuse to payout altogether.

Not all of these things will happen, but they can.

[Panman]

Originally Posted by eviledward

Hi guys!

So I've been tearing my hair out wondering of the legal implications for tinted/smoked taillights over here in Australia, particularly Victoria.

I'm looking at getting the Valenti Smoked Black taillights but have sort of backed out after hearing that if your taillights don't have reflectors you will be in trouble with the police and insurance companies.

Looking forward to all of your thoughts.

Cheers!

It not that your taillights don't have reflectors, it's that you don't or won't have any red reflectors at the rear of the car. The legality is not that they have to be in the taillights, that's just where Toyota/Subaru chose to put them on the 86/BRZ. If you look at a lot of current cars (Mazda 6, Accord Euro, Lexus IS) they have reflectors built into the rear bumper which fills that legal requirement.

No rearward facing red reflectors _is_ a defect. I'm looking at other taillight options which do have reflectors.

The rest of the commentary in the thread about the amount of visible light is also a factor if you tint the standard lights (or potentially if you even use the chrome bulbs which may not be as bright as OE.)

[jshadeck]

I made no comments regarding legality. Only regarding safety. Smoked are not legal here either. Hell in my state 0 tint is allowed to be put on by the consumer, only whatever tint came from the factory, i cant legally even put 65% on any window.

PS the tails on the lexus were smoked AFTER that incident, and i got pulled over numerous times "tail light covers are not legal" to which i replied they are not covers, "so those are the stock lights?" I replied yes. (They were stock lights professionally painted with a smoke tint, so i did not lie, they just didnt ask the right questions)



I put led in to make them brighter, but in that cars case the leds were dimmer as they did not reflect off the chrome reflector surrounding the bulb ( they shined directly out the back) im sure in other cars leds would help. In daylight they were barely dimmer and at night they were more visible than alot of the newer american cars with the stock chrome "altezza" lights come from the factory with

[omgwtfbbqsauce]

Valenti tail lights do have reflectors buddy, I've got them. Its a long red strip
http://images2.snapfish.com/23232323...3%3A3336nu0mrj

[jshadeck]

Not sure about ur laws, but ours state the reflector (amber front and red rear) must be visible from the side of the vehicle. I have the colin tails, and they come with stick on reflectors to put on the side of the bumper/fender area