In NC the installer can be charged with installing the darker tint and if the vehicle is inspected, the inspector can be charged and loose their license. Oh the driver can too.

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Steve Campbell
SRC3892@aol.com Durham NC
97 F150 4X4 5.4 Lariet KN Gen II, Superchip
Borla Exhaust Hellwig Bar

 

Pony,
The law is the law...just tell them you want the legal tint..and tell him you want his name on the receipt incase you get stopped so he can get cited to..bet his sotory changes..sometimes they tell you that to get businewss.....the back can be darker than the sides...must have a rear view mirrow and side mirrors..both which came on your truck..good luck with your truck..hape to meet you and mudder someday in texas

Dave

 

I have clear lenses on my front corners because I think they are dangerous on the rear. I have never seen them look bright enough which seems strange, but I think people are painting the stock bulbs red to save a few bucks. On the front, I dont't think they are dangerous at all, the stock bulb is already amber in color. Just the reflector portion is clear on the F-150 because the stock one is already clear in front. I had to point it out to most of my friends. If they didn't notice, and they're truck enthusiasts, how will cops notice?

 

The difference is it's our job to notice things, it might not get noticed right away but I bet sooner or later someone will notice, if your state has a strict equipment code. If it's not dot approved it's not legal. I haven't seen any of those lens in my area yet, just curious they don't have any reflectors in the lens do they? That's probably one of the reasons besides being clear that it's not dot approved. If your state doesn't enforce it's equipment laws too strictly you probably wont have a problem.


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99 F150 XLT SC 4x4 4.6L
Deep Wedgewood Blue w/Dark Graphite int.

 

I see that you live in VA, wow you can't even have radar detectors in that state.
The clear front lenses on my truck do have reflectors on the sides just like the OEM part, but it is white instead of yellow. I do not think this is dangerous at all as white light is linked to the front of a vehicle in most driver's minds. I would not put them in the rear because if I am hit from behind, the other driver can say that he couldn't see the lights well enough. I still have not seen clear tail lights that shine bright enough and red enough to be safe. Yes I know they are illegal, but I use them because I like them. I also drive about 5 mph above the speed limit too, not dangererous in most cases either. I still have my stock ones, if I get pulled over, I'll put those in, get rechecked, then put the clears back in again. Officers are permitted to use their own discretion when enforcing the law aren't they? Is this really a problem on the road?

 

smaleki......
Well im also a police officer, and her in tx it is also our descretion to issue tickets or arrest..if i wrote a ticket and someone did as you suggested..switch back and forth to bypass the law i would arrest and impound your car....the reason the reflected lenses are amber and not white is if at night they are hit by light they glow amber, gee what do you think the white reflective lenses look like..maybe someone backing up...?? Look we like to have fun too, but the laws mostly are here to save lives....yes they are UNSAFE...why go to the trouble of maybe hurting someone by neglect or thinking you may know more about safety than the DOT who spend millions on research....save the 90 or so dollars and stay legal, or keep them for show only..like most of the warning labels say anyway....ok im finished venting...cant we all just get along....Dave



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1998 F-150 sc/flareside, 4.6,auto,3.55s,airaid system w/k&n,flowmater w/duals out the back side 45*, superchip, blk nerf bars, bed liner and mat, bug shield and window rain guards, cls III reciever, tinted windows, cd changer,Atlas polished rims w/265-75-16 pirelli at/scorpions,oxford white.

 

Here in Maryland the clear lenses are getting big. First I started seeing them on Honda Accords and Civics. Most of the ones I've seen on these cars shine just as bright as factory even at night and look very much red. From what I hear and have read, Japan has had these for a while now. So maybe they do them correctly for these vehicles if you order them from Honda Japan. But some companies are trying to jump on the bandwagon for the American and Foreign vehicles and are cutting corners. I talked to a guy who had them on his Accord and they had the little DOT stamp molded into them. A friend of mine put clear tailights on his white F-150 they looked great but I haven't seen it at night yet to see how the lights look (didn't look for the DOT stamp).

Just my 2 cents for the sake of conversation.


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----------
dseibert,
'97 XLT S/C, 4.6L, 3-4 Bell Tech Drop, K&N, Leer Cap, 17" American Racing wheels
Dark Toreador Red...you know Maroon!
(see page 5 of the Owner's Gallery bottom picture)

 

I have clear corners and tails and they do have a DOT mark on them. The tails do look red, but I have saw some that look pink. It seems that the pink ones are brighter than they should be, but my red bulbs are the same wattage as stock. Some friends of mine and I talked to a city cop the other day and he asked about the taillights. I showed him mine and asked about legality. He said that they were not pulling people over for clears and asked us if the lights were DOT approved.

 

lowdown, after i wrote the above message i looked it all up again in my trusty traffic code book...very thick...well the color of the bulbs with clear lensesn would work but in tx the rear tail light must be red (bulb or lense) so that part is ok..the problem lies with the requirement of two red reflectors...that are built into the lenses....they are removed when the clear lenses are installed...ive talked with several officers (NJ and CA)..same thing in those states..better have your buddies check again, have them check the reflector portion of their traffic codes...
Here is a saying my instructor told us about 20 yrs ago in the academy...writing tickets is like fishing, you only catch one at a time....so chances are you wont get caught....for awhile..these clear lenses are pretty new so alot of people arent aware of them yet...
I saw a pair on a Honda today..you couldnt even notice the lights come on..the law also state visible within 300 ft...common guys thats a football field......all i can say is good luck guys and i hope you have good luck with the products you put on your vehicles....Im not gonna talk about illegal products anymore....some people here take it personal, like im out to get them...im not.....good luck...Dave

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1998 F-150 sc/flareside, 4.6,auto,3.55s,airaid system w/k&n,flowmater w/duals out the back side 45*, superchip, blk nerf bars, bed liner and mat, bug shield and window rain guards, cls III reciever, tinted windows, cd changer,Atlas polished rims w/265-75-16 pirelli at/scorpions,oxford white.

 

Hey everyone,
Just a thought, we had a problem with some motorcycle helmet manufacturers and some aftermarket suppliers stamping a fake DOT number and logo on parts to make them seem as if they have been approved when they actually weren't. I'll see if I can find that memo I got that shows how to tell the difference.

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99 F150 XLT SC 4x4 4.6L
Deep Wedgewood Blue w/Dark Graphite int.

 

Thanks Dave,
I didn't know about the reflectors.
Sorry if I sounded offensive.

 

Lowdownford,
Wasnt you, i respect your messages............Dave

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1998 F-150 sc/flareside, 4.6,auto,3.55s,airaid system w/k&n,flowmater w/duals out the back side 45*, superchip, blk nerf bars, bed liner and mat, bug shield and window rain guards, cls III reciever, tinted windows, cd changer,Atlas polished rims w/265-75-16 pirelli at/scorpions,oxford white.

 

DAVENSA & LOWDOWNNFORD~
I'm not looking to get any tickets so I am going to stick with Dave's advice(especially since I live in TX), but if the front corner lenses have the DOT stamp are they legal? LOWDOWNFORD, I was just curious what brand of lenses you have for curiousity sakes? Thanks guys . . .

Jason

 

The ones I ordered are from AIM (www.trukn.com). They have DOT marks as well.

 

Rock, i looked it up..and the only requirement i found is that the trurn signals have to emit a amber light and visible for 300 ft...hope that helps//........so as far as i can tell they are legal here...but make sure about the 300 ft...Dave
ps..thats including during daylight hours

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1998 F-150 sc/flareside, 4.6,auto,3.55s,airaid system w/k&n,flowmater w/duals out the back side 45*, superchip, blk nerf bars, bed liner and mat, bug shield and window rain guards, cls III reciever, tinted windows, cd changer,Atlas polished rims w/265-75-16 pirelli at/scorpions,oxford white.