Ticket worth fighting????
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 218
Likes: 11
From: Portland Maine
ok. I've had a night to think about this one. I'm very happy so many people weighed in on this. But here's the thing.... IN MY OPINION.... (which i have every right to have) I feel the law... or at least the "law" that I was given a ticket for....is so open for interpretation that I do have half a leg to stand on. especially if I do my homework, take pics etc... when it comes to window tinting for example? isnt there a specific tool the police use to measure how dark or to what % the tint is....? thats an exact science... just like a radar gun for example. you cant fight a radar. or a red light camera... Since there is no field test for this law? And i can prove with video or photos that my tail lights are visable at 100'? at the same time of night the ticket was written at? Im leaning towards rolling the dice and see what happens.
By the way? if the officer doesnt show up? it doesnt get thrown out. they call the officer and you wait...in court.... until he shows up.... been there, done that.
plus? if i lose? no big deal... just gives me a reason to talk the wife into some LED tail lights!!!!
By the way? if the officer doesnt show up? it doesnt get thrown out. they call the officer and you wait...in court.... until he shows up.... been there, done that.
plus? if i lose? no big deal... just gives me a reason to talk the wife into some LED tail lights!!!!
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 227
Likes: 2
From: Arkansas
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 13,760
Likes: 75
From: Haymarket VA
FWIW: You can get a medical exemption for window tint. I had a little squamous cell skin cancer on the tip of my ear (removed no problem) and the doc gave me a form that I took to the DMV. 35% on the sides and no one can say a thing about it. 
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 227
Likes: 2
From: Arkansas
Our judge dismisses the ticket if you correct the problem, window tint or tinted lights either one. But you will have to appear in court, with the vehicle, to get that done.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 526
Likes: 1
From: Maine
Gorham Cop didn't show ticket was tossed, ditto with York County Deputy, Saco Cop wasn't in the building but was on duty so he would come in if needed. Meatloaf sang it 2 out of 3 ain't bad. You need to get more tickets then you too can be an expert.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 218
Likes: 11
From: Portland Maine
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 866
Likes: 4
From: Iowa
The magic word in this whole thing is "RED", nothing here mentions [I]tint[I] , just because they sell .. doesn't mean it's legal. My insurance company will not pay a claim if I were to have tinted rear taillights and involved in a wreck. Check the Federal Vehicle Safety Requirements on lighting. Take Care
Last night on my way home from a softball game I got pulled over in Portland Maine and given a ticket for "inadequate tail light". Now I had those lense tinting films over the lights some years ago but hated when they would fall off everytime I washed my C5 so I took all 4 assemblys out and used lense tinting spray paint. Now I will not lie. They look very dark at night when I'm not applying the brake. But I've never been harrassed or pulled over for it in the 2 years that its been done.
Before I even tinted them I researched the maine state law. And sure enough it was the same title and section the ticket was written for.
Title 29-A: MOTOR VEHICLES HEADING: PL 1993, C. 683, PT. A, §2 (NEW); PT. B, §5 (AFF)
ChB, §5 (AFF)
§1905. Rear lights
1. Requirement. Except as provided in subsection 3, a motor vehicle with 3 or more wheels or a trailer or semitrailer must have on the rear 2 lights, one on each side of the axis, each capable of displaying a red light visible for a distance of at least 100 feet behind the vehicle.
[ 2005, c. 314, §10 (AMD) .]
100 feet.... thats how I read it. There was no field test done to prove by the officer that they WEREN'T visable at 100 feet. (Especially not with both 2 million candle watt spotlights on my rear end.)
Is this worth fighting?... I mean most laws in other states are 500 or even 1000 feet (texas). Its a pretty grey area. PLUS? I just got the car inspected by a state certified garage not 2 months ago... Any thoughts? Or should I just shut up and pay the $140???
Before I even tinted them I researched the maine state law. And sure enough it was the same title and section the ticket was written for.
Title 29-A: MOTOR VEHICLES HEADING: PL 1993, C. 683, PT. A, §2 (NEW); PT. B, §5 (AFF)
ChB, §5 (AFF)
§1905. Rear lights
1. Requirement. Except as provided in subsection 3, a motor vehicle with 3 or more wheels or a trailer or semitrailer must have on the rear 2 lights, one on each side of the axis, each capable of displaying a red light visible for a distance of at least 100 feet behind the vehicle.
[ 2005, c. 314, §10 (AMD) .]
100 feet.... thats how I read it. There was no field test done to prove by the officer that they WEREN'T visable at 100 feet. (Especially not with both 2 million candle watt spotlights on my rear end.)
Is this worth fighting?... I mean most laws in other states are 500 or even 1000 feet (texas). Its a pretty grey area. PLUS? I just got the car inspected by a state certified garage not 2 months ago... Any thoughts? Or should I just shut up and pay the $140???
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
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 121
From: Kernersville NC
Although it may meet the 100' requirement at night I can assure you that your brake lights can hardly be seen during the day unless the guy following you is watching the lenses constantly. It endangers you and those driving behind you. Tint your windows, not your brakes.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,908
Likes: 10
From: Charleston SC
A bunch of old-schoolers here it seems.
Here's my suggestion: Get some of those sweet LED Halo lights (un-modded). That's what I did so that my lights were more visible underneath the blackout covers.
Then go to the station, tell them you fixed it by upgrading to brighter LED lights (and show them if need be). The problem is NOT that they are blacked out, the problem is that the officer didn't believe that they allowed adequate enough light through to be safe. Therefore instead of being a sheep, simply think outside the box and upgrade the light source.
Plus, they look great. Good luck!
Here's my suggestion: Get some of those sweet LED Halo lights (un-modded). That's what I did so that my lights were more visible underneath the blackout covers.
Then go to the station, tell them you fixed it by upgrading to brighter LED lights (and show them if need be). The problem is NOT that they are blacked out, the problem is that the officer didn't believe that they allowed adequate enough light through to be safe. Therefore instead of being a sheep, simply think outside the box and upgrade the light source.
Plus, they look great. Good luck!
Racer
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 261
Likes: 0
From: Appleton WI
Funny that we want the fronts lights to be brighter but the other lights darker.
Actually I don't think that you want the tail lights darker you just want the lens to look dark in the daylight. I will bet that during the day these tinted lenses are not that easy to see when the brake is applied.
Pay and take them off.
Actually I don't think that you want the tail lights darker you just want the lens to look dark in the daylight. I will bet that during the day these tinted lenses are not that easy to see when the brake is applied.
Pay and take them off.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 227
Likes: 2
From: Arkansas
A bunch of old-schoolers here it seems.
Here's my suggestion: Get some of those sweet LED Halo lights (un-modded). That's what I did so that my lights were more visible underneath the blackout covers.
Then go to the station, tell them you fixed it by upgrading to brighter LED lights (and show them if need be). The problem is NOT that they are blacked out, the problem is that the officer didn't believe that they allowed adequate enough light through to be safe. Therefore instead of being a sheep, simply think outside the box and upgrade the light source.
Plus, they look great. Good luck!
Here's my suggestion: Get some of those sweet LED Halo lights (un-modded). That's what I did so that my lights were more visible underneath the blackout covers.
Then go to the station, tell them you fixed it by upgrading to brighter LED lights (and show them if need be). The problem is NOT that they are blacked out, the problem is that the officer didn't believe that they allowed adequate enough light through to be safe. Therefore instead of being a sheep, simply think outside the box and upgrade the light source.
Plus, they look great. Good luck!
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 227
Likes: 2
From: Arkansas
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,908
Likes: 10
From: Charleston SC
Here are mine at night with the molded blackout covers:
Lastly: How often are you stopped to have your taillights checked for DOT compliance? Is that even part of an inspection (for states that have them)?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 13,760
Likes: 75
From: Haymarket VA
$140 is 2 tanks of gas. One tank of gas and an oil change, etc., etc.
This is a non-moving violation. No points.
"Pay the man Shirley"
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 227
Likes: 2
From: Arkansas
RE: after market lights - If your lights are as bright as factory lights, in bright sunshine, then you should be O.K., providing you also have the required two red reflectors (usually incorporated into the tail light lens)
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,649
Likes: 50
From: Goldsboro NC
The ones I'm referring to are a popular choice on the forum and elsewhere.
Here are mine at night with the molded blackout covers:
Lastly: How often are you stopped to have your taillights checked for DOT compliance? Is that even part of an inspection (for states that have them)?
Here are mine at night with the molded blackout covers:
Lastly: How often are you stopped to have your taillights checked for DOT compliance? Is that even part of an inspection (for states that have them)?