Are blackedout tail lights illegal in florida?

 

Here's what I found in the Florida Motor Vehicle Code -

316.234 Signal lamps and signal devices.--

(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, visible from a distance of not less than 300 feet to the rear in normal sunlight, and which shall be actuated upon application of the service (foot) brake, and which may but need not be incorporated with one or more other rear lamps. An object, material, or covering that alters the stop lamp's visibility from 300 feet to the rear in normal sunlight may not be placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied over a stop lamp.

(2) Any vehicle may be equipped and, when required under s. 316.222(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 white or amber light. The lamps 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. Turn signal lamps on vehicles 80 inches or more in overall width shall be visible from a distance of not less than 500 feet to the front and rear in normal sunlight, and an object, material, or covering that alters the lamp's visibility from a distance of 500 feet to the front or rear in normal sunlight may not be placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied over a turn signal lamp. Turn signal lamps on vehicles less than 80 inches wide shall be visible at a distance of not less than 300 feet to the front and rear in normal sunlight, and an object, material, or covering that alters the lamp's visibility from a distance of 300 feet to the front or rear in normal sunlight may not be placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied over a turn signal lamp. Turn signal lamps may, but need not be, incorporated in other lamps on the vehicle.

(3) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318.

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/...316/ch0316.htm

It looks to me like it could be determined to be illegal if a police officer felt that the visibility of the light was impaired.

I think if you read this, you can draw your own conclusion, but my interpretation is that you might have problems.

 

Thanks for the good information. That's what I thought myself. I have never seen a forum member with blacked out lights in florida. If anyone in Florida does have this done, have you ever been pulled over for it??

 

Why not call the Florida State Patrol and ask them? They should be able to tell you right away if they will cause you any legal problems.

 

I have had them on my z for about a year and no problems, and I live in south florida

 

If in a wreck and given a ticket or person that hit you challenged it would insurance company fight it?

 

Is your google broken?

Look into the Black Cherry LED tails. I don't know if they will pass the legality requirement, but they light up/reflect much better than black out covers. Pricey though...

 

I'm in Daytona Beach and my neighbor is a cop and I asked him about tinting the tails and windows and he said no one should give you a problem with them on a vette. He said the only reason we even have tint laws is to give them a reason to pull over "hoodlems" or suspicious vehicles. He said as ong as the tails still light up red or amber it shouldn't be a problem.

Does anyone have pics of yellow w/ blackout kit? I'm thinking of just getting the static cling ones to try it.

 

Mine has blackouts. Ive never been pulled over in the Vette for them. I was pulled over once for them when I had my Camaro SS with blackouts. All he did was make me take them off. I put them back on after he left. Ive been pulled over several times with blackouts on all my vehicles but only once for blackouts. I have the static clings ones on now but eventually Im going to get the ones from http://corvette-enhancements.com/