Clear Taillights?
#1
12-10-2008
#3
12-10-2008
Acually I already have them on the truck, but I found a law saying as long as they are visable 500ft away, with red LED bulds for the stop and brake lights and amber for the turn signal they are visable 500ft.
#4
12-10-2008
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Santa Maria CA
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Here's the California law...
Pay particular attention to the sections in bold. It seems like section c near the end says that on a vehicle manufactured after January 1, 1974, your housing has to emit some color (ie can't be clear). And of course you are required to have at least 2 red rear reflectors, which most clear taillight housings do not have. This is for California though; may be different for you. Do you have any links or pictures of the taillights? If they're anything like this: 
Then they're definitely illegal whether or not you use red LED bulbs since they use white rear reflectors.
Color of Lamps and Reflectors
25950. This section applies to the color of lamps and to any reflector exhibiting or reflecting perceptible light of 0.05 candela or more per foot-candle of incident illumination. Unless provided otherwise, the color of lamps and reflectors upon a vehicle shall be as follows:
(a) The emitted light from all lamps and the reflected light from all reflectors, visible from in front of a vehicle, shall be white or yellow, except as follows:
(1) Rear side marker lamps required by Section 25100 may show red to the front.
(2) The color of foglamps described in Section 24403 may be in the color spectrum from white to yellow.
(3) An illuminating device, as permitted under Section 24255, shall emit radiation predominantly in the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Any incidental visible light projecting to the front of the vehicle shall be predominantly yellow to white. Any incidental visible light projecting to the rear of the vehicle shall be predominantly red. Any incidental visible light from an illuminating device, as permitted under Section 24255, shall not resemble any other required or permitted lighting device or official traffic control device.
(b) The emitted light from all lamps and the reflected light from all reflectors, visible from the rear of a vehicle, shall be red except as follows:
(1) Stoplamps on vehicles manufactured before January 1, 1979, may show yellow to the rear.
(2) Turn signal lamps may show yellow to the rear.
(3) Front side marker lamps required by Section 25100 may show yellow to the rear.
(4) Backup lamps shall show white to the rear.
(5) The rearward facing portion of a front-mounted double-faced turn signal lamp may show amber to the rear while the headlamps or parking lamps are lighted, if the intensity of the light emitted is not greater than the parking lamps and the turn signal function is not impaired.
(6) A reflector meeting the requirements of and installed in accordance with Section 24611 shall be red or white, or both.
(c) All lamps and reflectors visible from the front, sides, or rear of a vehicle, except headlamps, may have any unlighted color, provided the emitted light from all lamps or reflected light from all reflectors complies with the required color. Except for backup lamps, the entire effective projected luminous area of lamps visible from the rear or mounted on the sides near the rear of a vehicle shall be covered by an inner lens of the required color when the unlighted color differs from the required emitted light color. Taillamps, stoplamps, and turn signal lamps that are visible to the rear may be white when unlighted on vehicles manufactured before January 1, 1974.
Amended Sec. 38, Ch. 766, Stats. 1995. Effective January 1, 1996.
Amended Sec. 4, Ch. 198, Stats. 2004. Effective January 1, 2005.
25950. This section applies to the color of lamps and to any reflector exhibiting or reflecting perceptible light of 0.05 candela or more per foot-candle of incident illumination. Unless provided otherwise, the color of lamps and reflectors upon a vehicle shall be as follows:
(a) The emitted light from all lamps and the reflected light from all reflectors, visible from in front of a vehicle, shall be white or yellow, except as follows:
(1) Rear side marker lamps required by Section 25100 may show red to the front.
(2) The color of foglamps described in Section 24403 may be in the color spectrum from white to yellow.
(3) An illuminating device, as permitted under Section 24255, shall emit radiation predominantly in the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Any incidental visible light projecting to the front of the vehicle shall be predominantly yellow to white. Any incidental visible light projecting to the rear of the vehicle shall be predominantly red. Any incidental visible light from an illuminating device, as permitted under Section 24255, shall not resemble any other required or permitted lighting device or official traffic control device.
(b) The emitted light from all lamps and the reflected light from all reflectors, visible from the rear of a vehicle, shall be red except as follows:
(1) Stoplamps on vehicles manufactured before January 1, 1979, may show yellow to the rear.
(2) Turn signal lamps may show yellow to the rear.
(3) Front side marker lamps required by Section 25100 may show yellow to the rear.
(4) Backup lamps shall show white to the rear.
(5) The rearward facing portion of a front-mounted double-faced turn signal lamp may show amber to the rear while the headlamps or parking lamps are lighted, if the intensity of the light emitted is not greater than the parking lamps and the turn signal function is not impaired.
(6) A reflector meeting the requirements of and installed in accordance with Section 24611 shall be red or white, or both.
(c) All lamps and reflectors visible from the front, sides, or rear of a vehicle, except headlamps, may have any unlighted color, provided the emitted light from all lamps or reflected light from all reflectors complies with the required color. Except for backup lamps, the entire effective projected luminous area of lamps visible from the rear or mounted on the sides near the rear of a vehicle shall be covered by an inner lens of the required color when the unlighted color differs from the required emitted light color. Taillamps, stoplamps, and turn signal lamps that are visible to the rear may be white when unlighted on vehicles manufactured before January 1, 1974.
Amended Sec. 38, Ch. 766, Stats. 1995. Effective January 1, 1996.
Amended Sec. 4, Ch. 198, Stats. 2004. Effective January 1, 2005.
Then they're definitely illegal whether or not you use red LED bulbs since they use white rear reflectors.
#5
12-10-2008
#8
12-10-2008
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Here's the Indiana law requiring red rear reflectors: IC 9-19-6-5
I guess you could go out and buy some red DOT-C2 conspicuity tape (like they use on tractor trailers) and put it on your rear bumper to be in compliance with this section...but yeah not having red rear reflectors is a bad idea, especially if you ever park on the side of the road at night or if you have an inoperative taillight or your taillight fuse blows out.
New vehicles; rear reflectors
Sec. 5. (a) Except as provided in subsections (b) through (d), a new motor vehicle sold and operated upon a highway, other than a truck-tractor, must carry on the rear, either as a part of the tail lamps or separately, two (2) red reflectors.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (c), a motorcycle and motor-driven cycle must carry at least one (1) reflector meeting the requirements of this section.
(c) A motorcycle manufactured before January 1, 1956, is not required to carry a reflector under this section if the motorcycle is not operated at the times when lighted head lamps and other illuminating devices are required under IC 9-21-7-2.
(d) A vehicle of the type listed in section 7 of this chapter must be equipped with reflectors as required in those sections applicable to those vehicles.
(e) A reflector must be mounted on a vehicle at a height not less than twenty (20) inches and not more than sixty (60) inches as
measured in the manner set forth in section 2(b) of this chapter. Except as otherwise provided, a reflector must be of the size and characteristics and mounted so as to be visible at night from all distances within three hundred fifty (350) feet to one hundred (100) feet from the vehicle when directly in front of lawful upper beams of head lamps.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.7. Amended by P.L.63-1994, SEC.3.
Sec. 5. (a) Except as provided in subsections (b) through (d), a new motor vehicle sold and operated upon a highway, other than a truck-tractor, must carry on the rear, either as a part of the tail lamps or separately, two (2) red reflectors.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (c), a motorcycle and motor-driven cycle must carry at least one (1) reflector meeting the requirements of this section.
(c) A motorcycle manufactured before January 1, 1956, is not required to carry a reflector under this section if the motorcycle is not operated at the times when lighted head lamps and other illuminating devices are required under IC 9-21-7-2.
(d) A vehicle of the type listed in section 7 of this chapter must be equipped with reflectors as required in those sections applicable to those vehicles.
(e) A reflector must be mounted on a vehicle at a height not less than twenty (20) inches and not more than sixty (60) inches as
measured in the manner set forth in section 2(b) of this chapter. Except as otherwise provided, a reflector must be of the size and characteristics and mounted so as to be visible at night from all distances within three hundred fifty (350) feet to one hundred (100) feet from the vehicle when directly in front of lawful upper beams of head lamps.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.7. Amended by P.L.63-1994, SEC.3.
#9
12-10-2008
#11
12-11-2008
The law all depends on where you live,but it mainly boils down to the fact that to be legal in any sort of way,they must atleast have a visible red reflector in the lens. You may have the proper coloured bulbs and they can be as bright as the sun, but if you don't have the reflectors, then they're illegal.
The reason for this is for when your lights are not on,such as when the vehicle is parked, a white reflector will not distinguish that you're actually looking at the rear of the vehicle. That's like why it is illegal in most jurisdictions to have a red light mounted on the front of your vehicle, such as turn signals,red auxilary lights (neon,LEDs etc) unless it is an emergency vehicle, because in poor visibility or from a distance, it may be mistaken as the rear of the vehicle when it is actually the front.
btw 82racin,those clear tail lights look totally sick. I would love to run clear tails on my truck,but having a Mazda sucks cuz they don't make anything for 'em unless I put a Ford bed on it.
You will see all new vehicles that have clear tail lights have a red reflector inside of them and they all have LED bulbs, not standard 1156/1157 bulbs, as these bulbs, even in proper colours, do not disperse the light through a clear lens as bright and wide as an LED does.
The reason for this is for when your lights are not on,such as when the vehicle is parked, a white reflector will not distinguish that you're actually looking at the rear of the vehicle. That's like why it is illegal in most jurisdictions to have a red light mounted on the front of your vehicle, such as turn signals,red auxilary lights (neon,LEDs etc) unless it is an emergency vehicle, because in poor visibility or from a distance, it may be mistaken as the rear of the vehicle when it is actually the front.
btw 82racin,those clear tail lights look totally sick. I would love to run clear tails on my truck,but having a Mazda sucks cuz they don't make anything for 'em unless I put a Ford bed on it.
You will see all new vehicles that have clear tail lights have a red reflector inside of them and they all have LED bulbs, not standard 1156/1157 bulbs, as these bulbs, even in proper colours, do not disperse the light through a clear lens as bright and wide as an LED does.
#12
12-11-2008
Thanks for all of the help guys, Here is a picture of it, but I think Im going to put the stock light back in.
http://s224.photobucket.com/albums/d...t=100_1809.jpg
http://s224.photobucket.com/albums/d...t=100_1809.jpg
Last edited by xRedGTx; 12-11-2008 at 04:11 PM.
#13
12-11-2008
OHHH OHHH sale opportunity!!!
if you want super duper bright LEDs that will work perfect in those tails I'll sell you a set of L1224R's
a BUNCH or ranger-forums members have bought them from me and the public will agree.. my L1224R conversion LED's rock! - just ask around, don't take my word for it...
if you want super duper bright LEDs that will work perfect in those tails I'll sell you a set of L1224R's
a BUNCH or ranger-forums members have bought them from me and the public will agree.. my L1224R conversion LED's rock! - just ask around, don't take my word for it...
#17
12-11-2008
#18
12-11-2008
I know it might look goofy and take away from the point of having clear tails,but you can paint all,or a portion of the rear reflector. Use some Duplicolor Metalcast Anodized red paint, which is completely transparent and it will make you much more legal than it is now. Or,paint the entire brake light area on the lens red,and leave the signals and reverse light clear.
Just an idea :)
kinda like this:
Before,all clear tails
After getting fix it ticket:
Just an idea :)
kinda like this:
Before,all clear tails
After getting fix it ticket:
Last edited by crazymikey; 12-11-2008 at 05:25 PM.
#19
12-11-2008
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