Different Side Marker Question

I thought red was the only color that must have a reflector of the same color. From what I have just read a few days ago as long as a amber bulb is present you could use a clear reflector.

They consider all red bulbs to date to not be bright enough. If anyone ever comes out with red bulbs that give out the appropriate amount of light they then could be used under a clear reflector.


BUT, if the car has side markers in general they must be present. Most cops don't know the difference and wont hold it to you if you decide to get rid of it all together and fill it in. I cant see it as something they would just sit around and look for but they might bring it up if they get you over for something else.

FYI ( cause I know this will come up sooner or later ) the DOT does not approve anything nore do they have that right. They only set standards in which these companies must comply with.
 
Just as a point of information: The federal laws on side markers are on the MFG end of the scale. That is why you can get away with removing them in MOST states. But, every state has slightly differing laws on things like side reflectors/lights. Same on front license plates. Some states have no front plate and others specify "front plate" without specifying the mounting point. Other states are very specific, right down to minimum and maximum height above the roadway. Generally, you can "get away" with removing side markers without too much danger of a ticket. But stand by if you are ever struck in the side by someone at night, even if you are not at fault the other Insurance Company will make a big deal out of your removal of what they will claim is a piece of safety equipment that "would have prevented the accident". This is the same legal argument that makes the DUI driver at fault when a driver plows into the rear of his car while he is stopped at a stop sign. The argument goes, [If the DUI driver had not been breaking the law by driving his car, he and the car would not have been stopped at the stop sign and therefore would never have been hit]
 
Thanks GWL for chiming in on some of these legal issues and sharing your expertise, it is good to know.
 
Wow, thanks for all the comments. I didnt think this many people would have opinions on this issue. I did go down to the local city hall/police station and asked them the question about removing the reflectors and not having any color on the front end. They said it would be just fine, said the laws (in MN anyway) only say you must have 2 headlights, turn signals, amber running lights, and a license plate. So he was very confident that if I removed them I wouldn't have any problems.

jk52781 told me he has his old stock reflectors from when he put in the clear corners, and that I could have them. So I'm going to take him up on that, and use them as the project pieces. So thanks John. I'll let you guys know how they come out when I do it.
 
man I just took some VHT niteshade and tinted them along with my taillights so they are still functional and not just paint...it took me all of 15 minutes to pull the lights off and tint them with the spray. I am about to do my headlights next

linky.jpg
 
Good luck with visibility once you tint your headlights...
 
if it only took 15 minutes it is not going to last and I cant imagine it looking very good. theres alot more to making VHT nightshade look decent besides just spraying it on things.
 
fbird18 said:
Wow, thanks for all the comments. I didnt think this many people would have opinions on this issue. I did go down to the local city hall/police station and asked them the question about removing the reflectors and not having any color on the front end. They said it would be just fine, said the laws (in MN anyway) only say you must have 2 headlights, turn signals, amber running lights, and a license plate. So he was very confident that if I removed them I wouldn't have any problems.

jk52781 told me he has his old stock reflectors from when he put in the clear corners, and that I could have them. So I'm going to take him up on that, and use them as the project pieces. So thanks John. I'll let you guys know how they come out when I do it.
Click to expand...

But John has a Sport package LS and the side markers from that one won't work on yours. They are cheap on ebay, you can get a set from there.
 
pektel said:
Good luck with visibility once you tint your headlights...
Click to expand...

I have a dual HID setup on my car so it is very bright anyways. We did my roommates mustang headlights with a HID conversion and it was still brighter than his factory setup with the high beams on and he didn't even have HID foglights like I do so I know visibility is going to be better than factory and look 10 times better than the factory lenses
 
babbster said:
if it only took 15 minutes it is not going to last and I cant imagine it looking very good. theres alot more to making VHT nightshade look decent besides just spraying it on things.
Click to expand...

Sorry to burst your bubble but it looks better or just as good as them done by jonstintedtails. I am a painter so I can lay paint evenly whether its out of a gun or a can. It took me 15 minutes just to do the front corners not the tails too. VHT niteshade is an easy product to use and serves it purpose. Alot of people just put the niteshade on there lense and they don't realize that you have to clear coat them also. It took me about 2 hour from start to finish on my taillights. Not hard to do if you know what you are doing.
 
True...Same done with mine with very light coats workin it's way in and make
sure there's no runs because amatures tends to rush trying to get it done as
soon as possible and give it runs plus my side markers somehow soaks in the
VHT good because I didn't use clear coat and they don't even chip or fade...
Been 6 months with constant car wash and they still looks the same as when
they were first tinted
 
I don't understand how everyone can do as good of a job as the guy from Johns tinted tails but yet he is making money off of it and no one else is. I also don't understand how everyone thinks that you can get a lighter shade out of the stuff in the can when you cant. What is one purpose ( out of a few ) in layering paint? To make sure the coats are even. It takes at least 2-3 coats of VHT to get a good even look and it tells you that everywhere they explain on how to use it.

EDIT:Even with just 2 or 3 of those LIGHT RECOMENDED COATS it still turns out dark.


VHT is only meant for one shade and that is dark! Johns tinted tails not only does dark but he does a crap load of other stages. He obviously does something different.


They are not smoked lens's, they are to dark to be a smoked lens, they are BLACK!.


If you wan black and are good enough with painting to use VHT then go for it but if you want a lighter smoked look then don't use VHT.

I have used about 4 other brands of clear plastic spray tint and they all are dark except for one brand and that was testors and it still was very thin. They have a few shades, I think about 3 shades from what I remember.


Since everyone is tossing out opinions I don't see why I am not entitled to mine so here it is.


The VHT blacked out look is terrible with the LS especially on lighter color cars. It might look OK on black and other dark colors like that dark blue but on lighter cars, especially with the bumper lens it looks like you have something missing. It looks like something fell out of the bumper while driving. That is not appealing to my eyes. The smoked look still creates that effect as if something is there and helps build some mild contrast as to not be over doing it by going so dark.

But that is just my opinion.
 
An example of someone using the proper terminology and making it look nice.
 
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