What are the laws with taillights here in MN?

[kjsoccerdude]

I've been wanting to tint my tails for a while but haven't gotten around to it yet. So I figured I should find out about this before I do it. What are the laws about it here? Is it illegal to mod them at all or are we one of the states with the 1000 ft rule or something like that? I seen a decent amount of cars in town with them tinted but I wanted to make sure first.

[sk8tr5955]

Well...I'm not completely sure about the exact law on tail light tinting. I talked to the police officer at my school last year about it and they said if its not completely black or affecting the light coming though drastically then they wont bother you. If it does for that matter they still will not usually pull you over for it but they could tac it on to a speeding or driving violation of any kind. My old car and my focus now both have fairly dark tinted tails and I have never gotten trouble for them. Even when I have been pulled over....so I would say It's pretty safe.

[tgnorman]

MN statute 169.64, subd 10:

Code: Select all

Cover for lamp or reflector. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), it is prohibited for any person to:
(1) equip a motor vehicle with any equipment or material that covers a headlamp, taillamp, or reflector; or

(2) operate a motor vehicle fitted with or otherwise having equipment or material that covers a headlamp, taillamp, or reflector.

Law says no, but I haven't met a cop that cared a whole helluva lot. I'd probably make sure that the lens still looks reddish after you tint it.

[Steve@Tasca]

I know you aren't supposed to cover them but I believe that the actual law has something to do with the distance the light output and reflectivity is visible.

I saw something about being able to see light reflected off the tail lights from 1000 feet at night, I checked mine and if the car is parked by the side of the road with the lights off you can still see them reflect red from quite a distance.

I guess if you want to be safe just don't make them black, keep in mind it's not just your safety in question when you tint tail lights.

[Pappy]

I don't make em black and you won't have problems. Just make sure after you tint them they still have good light output during daytime hours.

[o2designs]

Exactly. Don't go too dark and you'll be fine.

I was behind this black jetta once with ny plates and he had them tint black. They were sooo dark I could not see his brakes lights or signals. I came really close to smoking him. It's a matter of time til someone with crappy brakes or just not paying attention is gonna rear end him.

[kjsoccerdude]

Thanks for all the answers guys.c

[hafftrak]

What do you guys use? Spray or film?

[Steve@Tasca]

Niteshade spray on mine, You can see that depending on the angle they look darker or lighter but the light comes through fairly well in most conditions.

[ZX2_racer]

Mine are about as dark as Steve's and I don't get bothered. However, over the summer when I first tinted them they were very dark and I was pulled over shortly after I put them on. The cop was cool about it, only wrote me a warning, and said get it fixed. I asked him if I just sanded them down if that would be fine and he said sure. I sanded them down to where they are now and I have yet to get bothered.

[hafftrak]

That looks really nice. I hadn't even considered tinting my tails until this thread. Do you need to sand the lens before you spray them?

[Steve@Tasca]

No sanding, just pull them and wash them really well before spraying them.

I did about three light coats of Niteshade and then let them cure for about a week and then wetsanded them and then hit them with 3M polishing compound and then washed them again and hit them with a couple coats of clear and then rubbed them out again.

They aren't perfect but I think mine have a better finish then most of the spray tinted tails you see and they have been holding up really well to the elements as well.

[Monkey-Gein]

the law says cover, not tint. as long as you can see the light good and the reflectors reflect you'll be fine. i think people just do a couple coats.

nightshade or clearcoat mixed with a bit of black

[o2designs]

I love Pat's taillights. I think he used a custom mixture of gloss clear and black. They look amazing...

Or the poor man can buy Niteshade and a really good clear coat.

[hermitmaster]

My tails are quite literally black and I've never been pulled over. I would advise taping off the reverse lights and only doing the red portion though, otherwise it's a bitch to back up at night.