Taillight Covers

[C_Murphy]

Does anyone know if you can blackout your taillights in the state of Florida? Thanks!

 

[Adrenal]

Does anyone know if you can blackout your taillights in the state of Florida? Thanks!

Don't know about Florida, but I was stopped in Calif. last June in my '94. The ticket (not fixable) was $121.00 and the officer told me if I got caught again, that would be FTC and the fine would be $800.00. They have been off ever since.

 

[4511.21]

Does anyone know if you can blackout your taillights in the state of Florida? Thanks!

IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT, BUT IT STILL MAY BE A SUBJECTIVE CALL FOR THE OFFICER/TROOPER ON HOW MUCH THE TINT AFFECTS IT FROM BEING SEEN AT OVER 1000 FEET. I WOULD THINK IF YOU DO THIS, IT CAN'T BE VERY TINTED OR IT WILL BE IN VIOLATION. SEE THE EXCERPT FROM THE FLORIDA STATUTES BELOW:

316.221 Taillamps.--

(1) Every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer, and any other vehicle which is being drawn at the end of a combination of vehicles, shall be equipped with at least two taillamps mounted on the rear, which, when lighted as required in s. 316.217, shall emit a red light plainly visible from a distance of 1,000 feet to the rear, except that passenger cars and pickup trucks manufactured or assembled prior to January 1, 1972, which were originally equipped with only one taillamp shall have at least one taillamp. On a combination of vehicles, only the taillamps on the rearmost vehicle need actually be seen from the distance specified. On vehicles equipped with more than one taillamp, the lamps shall be mounted on the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable. An object, material, or covering that alters the taillamp's visibility from 1,000 feet may not be placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied over a taillamp.

(2) Either a taillamp or a separate lamp shall be so constructed and placed as to illuminate with a white light the rear registration plate and render it clearly legible from a distance of 50 feet to the rear. Any taillamp or taillamps, together with any separate lamp or lamps for illuminating the rear registration plate, shall be so wired as to be lighted whenever the headlamps or auxiliary driving lamps are lighted.

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

 

[C_Murphy]

Thank you both for replying....that helps in making my decision on whether or not to put it on my car!

 

[Over's GT]

looks cool but...... put them on at shows only

this past easter, I had a good friend die in a rear end collision (in florida), she was in the back seat of a new stratus, stopped at a traffic siginal and a expedition hit them.

now, I'm not saying the car had tinted or tinted/covered tail or brake lights (I don't even know if brake lights were on, if the expedition driver was under the influince or weather/light conditions) it really dosent matter, everything you can do to make your stopped car more visible is my point.

its a challenge to tell if those are brake lights when the suns glare is in your eyes or with sun low and behind you with uncovered lenses, why make it harder for others to see you or your family?

I don't mean to preach, as I have had both headlight and taillight covers on an '86 GT in the past, looks cool but now, every time I'm stopped at a light or stoped on a road for other reasons I wonder if they (behind me) SEE ME.