Ticket worth fighting????
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 218
Likes: 11
From: Portland Maine
What I would do is leave the tint alone. Then at the same time of night as the ticket I would do as others said and spool off 100' and then make a short video showing the time, distance and lights. Also take some stills. If they are visible at 100' I would go to court with no lawyer. It's an easy case to win if you get the evidence and documentation. Wouldn't hurt to get a few witnesses to verify they can see the light. $140. is motivation enough for me to try and win.
I like to be seen but I won't judge others taste.
I like to be seen but I won't judge others taste.
that sounds like what I'm leaning towards doing.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,065
Likes: 24,731
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
I am not a fan of tinted taillights at all, but if you feel the law is vague and have nothing better to do than go before the judge, then go for it. Just be sure that you have done your homework concerning state vehicle laws before you go there.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,117
Likes: 671
From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
I would think about this ?
I personally have one real FEAR when in my 2003 with a TON of mods, and lots of $$$ , invested.and that is some teenager out for a spin in his or her moms Chevy Suburban and is texting and doesn't notice the light ahead has changed to RED and at the last moment hits the brakes but rear ends my corvette into a crumbled pickup load or plastic and fiberglass and associated parts, and I have to settle for what the insurance company decides what it is worth, (Yes I have agreed value, but that's not the issue here).But I have installed brighter light bulbs in the tail lights along with a pulsating third brake light and sequential turn signales just so i feel I'm putting out the brightest tail/stop lights I can, and then you seem to want to hide the fact you've stepped on the brake pedal. . . ? I don't know, but I'd pay the ticket and I'd rethink you idea of the "Stealth Look".
Just man up and pay the ticket.
Last edited by killain; Aug 22, 2012 at 07:36 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 17,755
Likes: 3,688
From: The Sunshine State
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
Finalist 2020 C7 of the Year -- Modified
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C5 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
2018 C5 of Year Finalist
Absolutely. I love a good mod as much as the next guy on this forum, however I laugh at how many times I read "my cousin has a friend who has a brother who told me that the legal limit is..."
If you can access this forum, you can access your state's DMV website and pretty much gain any information you need as to what is and what is not legal. I think many people would be surprised not only at the information provided but also how many things/mods we get away with on a regular basis.
So when you do get caught, put on your big boy pants and pay the fine.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,779
Likes: 491
From: Shits Creek NY
What I would do is leave the tint alone. Then at the same time of night as the ticket I would do as others said and spool off 100' and then make a short video showing the time, distance and lights. Also take some stills. If they are visible at 100' I would go to court with no lawyer. It's an easy case to win if you get the evidence and documentation. Wouldn't hurt to get a few witnesses to verify they can see the light. $140. is motivation enough for me to try and win.
I like to be seen but I won't judge others taste.
I like to be seen but I won't judge others taste.
If you're considering ditching the taillights, plead not guilty, ditch em, go to court, confess your guilt in a courteous polite fashon-show the cop youve ditched em and you might be surprised at the outcome..
If you dont wanna ditch em, simply pay the fine and move on...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,258
Likes: 543
From: Appleton WI
If you do your homework and still feel you are right, fight it. You don't need a lawyer to defend yourself. Take pictures and document your evidence. If you lose, expect to pay the full amount or possibly more. The other option is a fix it ticket where you show evidence of the repair and pay a smaller fine.
You could use the date of birth mistake but would have to proceed with caution. You don't want to **** the cop or judge off. The fact is the light output is based on the officer's opinion. The date of birth mistake is an error that does not require opinion. It is type written on your license and the officer had plenty of time to examine the document. You could argue the officer made a mistake in the evaluation of your lights and required their supervisor to assist. My guess is you got a rookie and the supervisor didn't want to overturn the officer's decision at the scene.
Personally, fight the ticket with the focus on the law and tail light pictures and leave out the date of birth issue.
You could use the date of birth mistake but would have to proceed with caution. You don't want to **** the cop or judge off. The fact is the light output is based on the officer's opinion. The date of birth mistake is an error that does not require opinion. It is type written on your license and the officer had plenty of time to examine the document. You could argue the officer made a mistake in the evaluation of your lights and required their supervisor to assist. My guess is you got a rookie and the supervisor didn't want to overturn the officer's decision at the scene.
Personally, fight the ticket with the focus on the law and tail light pictures and leave out the date of birth issue.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 526
Likes: 1
From: Maine
I also live in the great state of Maine. I was talking to my insurance agent a couple of months ago we were swapping war stories. He said its no big secret that insurance companies make their money by not paying. They have people whose job is to look for any reason not to pay. They will look at your driving record they will see this ticket if someone does hit you from behind someday you’ll need to prove your lens weren’t tinted.
So if it was me I would do what others have said, fix the problem and see if you can get it wiped off your record even if you need to go to traffic court. I’m not sure if its like a speeding ticket but I’ve had a few where the cop didn’t show and poof no ticket.
So if it was me I would do what others have said, fix the problem and see if you can get it wiped off your record even if you need to go to traffic court. I’m not sure if its like a speeding ticket but I’ve had a few where the cop didn’t show and poof no ticket.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,763
Likes: 0
From: Fayetteville NC
Do you want to get out of this ticket and gain favor with the law? Change the tail lights back to stock, go to court, tell the judge you recently got the car inspected and didn't know they were too dark, and you already have them changed back to stock. I'll bet the judge will waive the charge and ask you over for dinner. Good luck.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 18,681
Likes: 47
From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
Dark tail lights are unsafe, The cop did right giving you a ticket, Pay up and remove the tint..
I have a guy that has a C5 with tinted tail lights in our club and during the day you can't tell when he is hitting the brakes... Not very safe....
I have a guy that has a C5 with tinted tail lights in our club and during the day you can't tell when he is hitting the brakes... Not very safe....
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,779
Likes: 491
From: Shits Creek NY
believe it or not, there are still cops and judges out there that base a lot of their discretion/authority on morals and integrity..
Last edited by Boba Fett; Aug 22, 2012 at 04:15 AM. Reason: changed there to their
Racer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 419
Likes: 3
From: Lexington VA
St. Jude Donor '11
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 227
Likes: 2
From: Arkansas
I agree. In addition, all lights on vehicles have to be approved by the federal DOT. The minute you change them, they no longer meet their requirements and thus are illegal. I can't see how making your brake lights harder to see can be either safer or smarter.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 13,760
Likes: 75
From: Haymarket VA
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,117
Likes: 671
From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
Whoa Chief, what if your out cruising and you smack OP in the a$$ because you didn't seee the stop lights and since your the vehicle that hits the first vehicle in the rear, your insurance is going to be paying and then when your on the line for the wreaked Vette I'm willing to bet your opinion changes faster than your wifes attitude when you talk to her about buying a brand new Corvette over fixing up the house. Just my $0,02 but I think you'd agree if the outcome was as stated. Not trying to stand on you, just my opinion bud. We all gotta share the same roads !
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,507
Likes: 9
Someone asks for opinions on a public forum, he better be prepared for OPINIONS-good and bad.
I don't care if he paints his car PINK and puts a bunny tail on it. YOU NEED BRIGHT BRAKE LIGHTS so you don't get rear-ended PERIOD. He should have got a BIG ticket for it.
Last edited by 3boystoys; Aug 22, 2012 at 09:12 AM.