VIRGINIA drivers - is your tint cut-out for the rear deck brake light? - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

shirker · 06-05-2013, 10:04 AM

Looking to get my BRZ tinted, and apparently it's illegal for vehicles registered in Virginia (DC and Maryland drivers carry on) to have tint covering the third brake light, and those that do will not pass state inspection. I cannot find this specific rule in the state code, but I don't doubt that it exists. Moreover, I'm sure that most inspection shops simply don't care.

I figure some empirical evidence wouldn't hurt though. Do any of you VA drivers have tints that cover your rear deck brake light, and have you run into any trouble?

(I realize the obvious workaround is to get my tint applied after inspection, but I have zero interest in wasting money removing and reapplying tint farther down the road)

IloveBaldEagles · 06-05-2013, 10:10 AM

No trouble. Brake light shines brightly behind the tint. Also IMO cutout on the FRS around third brake light looks terribad.

VoiD · 06-05-2013, 11:37 AM

every tint shop i talked to said the tint needs to be cut out over the third brake light. I opted to have it covered. no problem passing inspection.

REVstylez · 06-05-2013, 12:50 PM

no problem so far, glad I covered it though! it looks too funny without covering it

xjohnx · 06-05-2013, 01:18 PM

State inspection checklist mentions nothing of the sort, as long as it shines red:

http://www.vsp.state.va.us/Safety.sh...pectionProgram

Quote:

6. - INSPECT OTHER LIGHTS FOR:

Approved type, proper bulbs, and condition of lenses, wiring and switch.
Aim of fog and driving lamps.
Illumination of all lamps and proper color of lenses.
(NOTE: Every vehicle must have a rear lamp showing a red light to the rear, a white light illuminating the rear license plate; vehicles over 7 feet wide or extending 4 inches or more beyond the front fender extremes must be equipped with approved clearance lamps and reflex reflectors. (Include load when measuring.)

xn7485 · 06-07-2013, 12:10 AM

Tint installer mentioned it's illegal, but I was able to opt for no cutout as well. Most inspectors don't have a problem with it as long as it's a legal % from what I've seen.

Jaylyons1 · 06-07-2013, 07:12 PM

When I lived in VA I had no issues with my tint and it covered my third brake light. Granted I drove much higher end cars at that time.

infinite012 · 06-07-2013, 07:18 PM

@OMNOM didn't cover the third brake light on the BRZ I now own.

06-05-2013, 10:04 AM	#1
shirker Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Drives: '13 Limited BRZ Location: VA Posts: 180 Thanks: 66 Thanked 96 Times in 48 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	VIRGINIA drivers - is your tint cut-out for the rear deck brake light? Looking to get my BRZ tinted, and apparently it's illegal for vehicles registered in Virginia (DC and Maryland drivers carry on) to have tint covering the third brake light, and those that do will not pass state inspection. I cannot find this specific rule in the state code, but I don't doubt that it exists. Moreover, I'm sure that most inspection shops simply don't care. I figure some empirical evidence wouldn't hurt though. Do any of you VA drivers have tints that cover your rear deck brake light, and have you run into any trouble? (I realize the obvious workaround is to get my tint applied after inspection, but I have zero interest in wasting money removing and reapplying tint farther down the road)

06-05-2013, 11:37 AM	#3
VoiD Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Drives: 13 WRB BRZ Location: VA Posts: 184 Thanks: 73 Thanked 36 Times in 28 Posts Mentioned: 12 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	every tint shop i talked to said the tint needs to be cut out over the third brake light. I opted to have it covered. no problem passing inspection. __________________

06-05-2013, 12:50 PM	#4
REVstylez Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Drives: 2013 Scion FRS Location: Woodbridge, VA Posts: 126 Thanks: 32 Thanked 49 Times in 23 Posts Mentioned: 12 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	no problem so far, glad I covered it though! it looks too funny without covering it __________________ 2013 Scion FR-S (Whiteout) Enkei RPF-1 SBCs 17x9 +35 \|\| Yokohama S Drive 235/40R17 \|\| Muteki SR48 Black Chrome Lugnuts \|\| 30% Tint \|\| PTUNING Front License Plate Relocator \|\| PTUNING DS-325 VBand Exhaust \|\| 6000k Low Beam HIDs/Tags \|\| Eibach Sportlines Lowering Springs

06-07-2013, 07:12 PM	#7
Jaylyons1 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Drives: 2022 WRB BRZ; 1993 Skyline GT-R Location: Pearl City, HI Posts: 977 Thanks: 331 Thanked 237 Times in 170 Posts Mentioned: 21 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	When I lived in VA I had no issues with my tint and it covered my third brake light. Granted I drove much higher end cars at that time. __________________ 2013 BRZ "Bria" Build Thread 2022 BRZ "Grim86" build Thread

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06-07-2013, 12:10 AM	#6
xn7485 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Drives: 1995 Acura Integra GS-R Location: VA Posts: 340 Thanks: 46 Thanked 96 Times in 66 Posts Mentioned: 16 Post(s) Tagged: 3 Thread(s)	Tint installer mentioned it's illegal, but I was able to opt for no cutout as well. Most inspectors don't have a problem with it as long as it's a legal % from what I've seen.

06-07-2013, 07:18 PM	#8
infinite012 Banned Join Date: Jan 2013 Drives: 13 DGM BRZ Ltd Location: Williamsburg, VA Posts: 974 Thanks: 294 Thanked 470 Times in 255 Posts Mentioned: 17 Post(s) Tagged: 4 Thread(s)	@OMNOM didn't cover the third brake light on the BRZ I now own.

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