Legality of Modifications

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Old 08-06-2009, 04:48 AM
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Legality of Modifications

I'm planning on modifying my car's appearances both interior and exterior, but I'm debating on what mods to follow through on depending on what the legality of each one is. Of course I've heard stories from everyone about getting pulled over and getting fix-it tickets and whatnot, and it seems that even though some modifications are technically "illegal" you never get pulled over for it unless you're extremely unlucky. I'm located in California, and I know laws are different from state to state, but I would still like to hear all of your input regardless of location within the US.

The mods I'm considering are:
1. tinting my tail lights

2. adding additional blue interior lights by where you put you feet, under the steering wheel and glove compartment

3. changing the light that illuminates your rear license plate to blue (I borrowed these pictures from someone's gallery, sorry and thanks )
https://acurazine.com/forums/album.p...ictureid=11275

4. changing the blinkers to blue light.
https://acurazine.com/forums/album.p...ictureid=11276

5. (Not seriously considering this one) Blue underglow


Any input would be welcome , discuss gentlemen
Old 08-06-2009, 05:00 AM
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The mods I'm considering are:
1. tinting my tail lights
for off-road use only. lightly tinted is ok, I have 87%. also the darker you go, the more it become a safety risk.


2. adding additional blue interior lights by where you put you feet, under the steering wheel and glove compartment
should be ok as long as they are not super bright and visible from the outside of the car


3. changing the light that illuminates your rear license plate to blue (I borrowed these pictures from someone's gallery, sorry and thanks )
https://acurazine.com/forums/album.p...ictureid=11275
dont drive in front of a cop at night. slight blue maybe ok

4. changing the blinkers to blue light.
https://acurazine.com/forums/album.p...ictureid=11276
dont use the blinkers when a cop is near you.


5. (Not seriously considering this one) Blue underglow
highly illegal, you will be ticketed at first sight
Old 08-06-2009, 05:40 AM
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Originally Posted by aznboi2424
for off-road use only. lightly tinted is ok, I have 87%. also the darker you go, the more it become a safety risk.
So what's the darkest % I should go without being a cop magnet?

and thanks for the response

EDIT: and of course the real danger is not knowing when a cop is around
Old 08-06-2009, 08:40 AM
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Do yourself a favor and don't change ANY of your exterior lights to ANY shade of blue.
Old 08-06-2009, 09:08 AM
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All of these items can very greatly town to town and even cop to cop. In this area, technically everything you listed would be illegal if the cop wanted to bust your balls.
Old 08-06-2009, 09:13 AM
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Originally Posted by bgsm1th
Do yourself a favor and don't change ANY of your exterior lights to ANY shade of blue.


Light on a vehicle should never be blue and the front of the car should never have any red lights either.
Old 08-06-2009, 09:59 AM
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Originally Posted by bgsm1th
Do yourself a favor and don't change ANY of your exterior lights to ANY shade of blue.
Agree, Including HID's
Old 08-06-2009, 10:04 AM
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blue lights are tacky to me
Old 08-06-2009, 10:16 AM
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Originally Posted by fsttyms1
Agree, Including HID's
That's a misconception.

The problem with HID kits is that you have people that buy the kit, but don't take the time to retrofit projector's into their non-hid housing.

HID kits installed with a retrofitted projector are fine.

Now the 6000+K colored HID bulbs are another story.
Old 08-06-2009, 10:20 AM
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Originally Posted by bgsm1th
Do yourself a favor and don't change ANY of your exterior lights to ANY shade of blue.
+1 And don't tint your taillights...no matter what shade it is.
Old 08-06-2009, 11:53 AM
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From reading that list I can say that all of the modifications you listed with the exception of the interior mods are illegal.

I believe that DOT regulations state that front turn signals/marker lights must illuminate amber and rear must illuminate red. Altering the light output (e.g. tinting the lights) is illegal as well.

Putting colors like blue, green, etc on your car is typically illegal as those colors are reserved for emergency vehicles.

No one on this website is going to be able to give you a 100% correct answer. You can double check with your local authorities to confirm as that is the only way to be sure. But from what I know in both NY and NC... you'd get pulled over for everything you listed except the interior items...
Old 08-06-2009, 12:15 PM
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Rear blinkers can illuminate yellow
Old 08-06-2009, 12:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Josh99CL
Rear blinkers can illuminate yellow
Correct. I was referring to brake lights but should have mentioned that as well since I didn't clarify and put it in the same sentence as the front turn signal reference. Thanks
Old 08-06-2009, 03:20 PM
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Originally Posted by juniorbean
Correct. I was referring to brake lights but should have mentioned that as well since I didn't clarify and put it in the same sentence as the front turn signal reference. Thanks

Dang. I'm actually really surprised about the tinting one. It's such a common sight here in Orange County that I didn't expect it to be that illegal. So I shouldn't tint my tail lights at all?
Old 08-06-2009, 03:23 PM
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Originally Posted by DeusVictorae
Dang. I'm actually really surprised about the tinting one. It's such a common sight here in Orange County that I didn't expect it to be that illegal. So I shouldn't tint my tail lights at all?
You can do whatever you want but understand you might get a fix it if you run into a cop having a bad day.
Old 08-06-2009, 03:30 PM
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like i said, my tails are tinted, but very lightly. i wouldnt want it any darker (safety issue/cop magnet). I ordered film online and had a local installer put it on for me.
Old 08-07-2009, 09:25 AM
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Originally Posted by DeusVictorae
Dang. I'm actually really surprised about the tinting one. It's such a common sight here in Orange County that I didn't expect it to be that illegal. So I shouldn't tint my tail lights at all?
Well people doing drugs and drinking + driving is probably fairly common too... but it doesn't make it legal!
Old 08-07-2009, 09:53 AM
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If I rear end you and your tails are tinted, can I say I couldn't see them? Technically, it is illegal regardless of the % tint so I think you would end up being responsible for the rear ending to some degree even though it should be my fault

Oh, IMO blue makes your car look cheap and unclassy. Again, just my opinion
Old 08-07-2009, 12:34 PM
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Originally Posted by 1StGenCL
If I rear end you and your tails are tinted, can I say I couldn't see them? Technically, it is illegal regardless of the % tint so I think you would end up being responsible for the rear ending to some degree even though it should be my fault

Oh, IMO blue makes your car look cheap and unclassy. Again, just my opinion
You absolutely could claim that.

And I agree with the blue comments. I think the OP should put money into an intake or exhaust or something instead of cheesy exterior mods like the ones listed... but that's just me.
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