Mods and CA law
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 2,274
Likes: 621
From: Los Angeles CA
Mods and CA law
So, I was getting ready to pull the trigger on some clear side marker lights and found this site :http://www.btpautoparts.com/californialaws.html
- ILLEGAL COLOR OF SIDE MARKER LIGHTS: If present, must be yellow in the front and red in the rear (25106, 24003 VC).
I guess that also means you cant use the clear reflectors out back either ?
I also see that my side window tint job is illegal, yet everyone does it.
Also tail lights :
- TAIL LIGHTS OTHER THAN RED: (24600 VC).
- Tail lights that incorporate a bulb with a red tint or coating. In general, custom tail lights that incorporate a clear outer shell and red inner lens are legal (24011 VC). If they don't incorporate reflectors, they must be added to the vehicle (24607 VC)
How does the Z06 tail liht get arround this ?
- ILLEGAL COLOR OF SIDE MARKER LIGHTS: If present, must be yellow in the front and red in the rear (25106, 24003 VC).
I guess that also means you cant use the clear reflectors out back either ?
I also see that my side window tint job is illegal, yet everyone does it.
Also tail lights :
- TAIL LIGHTS OTHER THAN RED: (24600 VC).
- Tail lights that incorporate a bulb with a red tint or coating. In general, custom tail lights that incorporate a clear outer shell and red inner lens are legal (24011 VC). If they don't incorporate reflectors, they must be added to the vehicle (24607 VC)
How does the Z06 tail liht get arround this ?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,000
Likes: 282
From: Texas
Also tail lights :
- TAIL LIGHTS OTHER THAN RED: (24600 VC).
- Tail lights that incorporate a bulb with a red tint or coating. In general, custom tail lights that incorporate a clear outer shell and red inner lens are legal (24011 VC). If they don't incorporate reflectors, they must be added to the vehicle (24607 VC)
How does the Z06 tail liht get arround this ?
Last edited by agapsdiver; Apr 19, 2017 at 05:15 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 6,223
Likes: 1,700
From: Northern California
St. Jude Donor '15
The side marker lights from oracle have red & yellow leds in them.
I've yet to be stopped for my side window tint, the cops in my town don't seem to care much about that or no front plate. I bet the cops in Torrance or Huntington Beach would. I talked to my tint guy about it, he said a lot of tint removal jobs he does are from CHP tickets.
I've yet to be stopped for my side window tint, the cops in my town don't seem to care much about that or no front plate. I bet the cops in Torrance or Huntington Beach would. I talked to my tint guy about it, he said a lot of tint removal jobs he does are from CHP tickets.
Last edited by Rooster OG; Apr 19, 2017 at 06:00 PM.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 623
Likes: 148
From: SF Bay Area, Peoples' Republik of California
Life here in the Peoples' Republik of Kalifornia is challenging when you own a performance car like a Corvette. The authorities are very big on telling you what you *can't* do. Just look into using long tube headers, if you have any doubts! 
If it wasn't for the year-round Corvette weather and plentiful money-making opportunities, I'd be outta here in a flash!
If it wasn't for the year-round Corvette weather and plentiful money-making opportunities, I'd be outta here in a flash!
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 4,980
Likes: 3,826
From: Bainbridge Island WA
My ex brother-in-law, a cop, explained it to me this way. Your side marker lights MUST be yellow (amber). Your tail lights MUST be red. Why?
It was a dark and stormy night. The streets were wet and John Doe was actually lost. The street lights reflected off the pavement and partially blinded him. He knew he should make a turn to the left somewhere ahead, but he wasn't familiar with the streets. He couldn't see the lanes on the street. It was raining. He was confused, but suddenly he saw the red lights on a car ahead. Ah! I'll follow him, said John Doe. I'll just follow those red "tail" lights.
Oops. Crash!
It was a dark and stormy night. The streets were wet and John Doe was actually lost. The street lights reflected off the pavement and partially blinded him. He knew he should make a turn to the left somewhere ahead, but he wasn't familiar with the streets. He couldn't see the lanes on the street. It was raining. He was confused, but suddenly he saw the red lights on a car ahead. Ah! I'll follow him, said John Doe. I'll just follow those red "tail" lights.
Oops. Crash!
Last edited by mschuyler; Apr 19, 2017 at 09:03 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,232
Likes: 2,365
From: SF Bay Area CA
This is one of those things that I figure you must be doing something pretty dumb to get cited for.
The nice thing about California, is we don't have inspections for stuff like this. We can complain about these laws though at least we don't have to do annual safety inspection, like some states, where they catch this stuff.
Yeah, I wish it wasn't like that, though the perks of living in California way outweigh the stuff like this.
The nice thing about California, is we don't have inspections for stuff like this. We can complain about these laws though at least we don't have to do annual safety inspection, like some states, where they catch this stuff.
Yeah, I wish it wasn't like that, though the perks of living in California way outweigh the stuff like this.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 2,274
Likes: 621
From: Los Angeles CA
Ok. So the z06 taillight doesn't have a red lense and, I assume, doesn't include a red bulb due to the vehicle code. In this scenario, red reflectors are mandatory. This means I can't use clear or tinted clear reflectors with the z06 tail lights. I can only use red, whatever the level of darkness (tint).
I was hoping to use tinted clear with the z06 tail lights but I don't want to push it that far : no front plate, tinted side windows AND clear reflectors. I would be making some LEO's day
I was hoping to use tinted clear with the z06 tail lights but I don't want to push it that far : no front plate, tinted side windows AND clear reflectors. I would be making some LEO's day
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,583
Likes: 16,940
The clear rear tail light lenses on Z06s have red LEDs underneath. The red brake and tail light requirement is Federal law as are the red and amber side marker lights.
Last edited by Foosh; Apr 19, 2017 at 11:31 PM.
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 2,274
Likes: 621
From: Los Angeles CA
Ok. I'm good on the side markers, I was focusing on if I can use clear rear reflectors or not. I'm going to go with 'I can' and do a medium tint on the complete GScreations kit.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 164
Likes: 15
From: FL
This is one of those things that I figure you must be doing something pretty dumb to get cited for.
The nice thing about California, is we don't have inspections for stuff like this. We can complain about these laws though at least we don't have to do annual safety inspection, like some states, where they catch this stuff.
Yeah, I wish it wasn't like that, though the perks of living in California way outweigh the stuff like this.
The nice thing about California, is we don't have inspections for stuff like this. We can complain about these laws though at least we don't have to do annual safety inspection, like some states, where they catch this stuff.
Yeah, I wish it wasn't like that, though the perks of living in California way outweigh the stuff like this.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 718
Likes: 353
Florida also has a much higher number of Rednecks and Morons.
Last edited by LimeRay; Apr 20, 2017 at 03:25 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
Likes: 906
From: Lake Elsinore, CA
OP, here's my setup - live in Lake Elsinore and commute to Irvine. I did get a fix-it on my Mini Cooper with no tag and tint but no issues with my C7 and I've had many close encounters with the local gendarmes in it. I think they are pro-domestic. 
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 2,274
Likes: 621
From: Los Angeles CA
Looks great. My last car was silver and I love the color. I just got my Z06 tail lights from Cutrag last week so I was researching can I also have clear rear reflectors in the diffuser. I believe the law says I can as long as there is a red element in the tail light. Foosh indicated, a coupe of posts above, that the z06 units have red LED's so I should be good.
My plan is to end up with light / medium tinted clear side markers and rear reflectors.
My plan is to end up with light / medium tinted clear side markers and rear reflectors.
Last edited by tcinla; Apr 20, 2017 at 04:50 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,232
Likes: 2,365
From: SF Bay Area CA
Growing up in California I didn't even know it could rain in June until I took a trip to the east coast.