jstrdn90rs

I was wondering if anybody has been pulled over for those blackout covers on their camaro here in Tucson?.I have a set and I am questioning about installing them.I was told by an officer that they needed to see the red/yellow lenses ,but just seen a set on a camaro today and some on other types of cars?.They look awesome..just dont want hassles from the law.What gives?

drknow90rs_ss@y

iTrader: (3)

They are illegal for two reasons; First you cant see your reflectors and second they dim your taillights to a level less than that of factory specs. It's a shame too. They do look cool. I got caught a few years back by a nasty Scottsdale cop with no sense of humor.

TheScaryOne

iTrader: (3)

What the officer told you is bunk. They don't need to see the red and yellow of your lenses. If they did, then the GTA's that came with the blacked out lenses stock must be illegal. Just goes to show, some officers know jack.

As for the light output, that's where they'll get you. As a non-stock part that does nothing functional other than *dim* your lenses, you'll have a hard time fighting that in court. I'd never thought about the reflectors, how does that work in the GTA lights I wonder?

I'd say just stick 'em on, and if the cops give you crap (it'll be a fixit ticket) take 'em off. But if you don't permanently attach them, some little punk will steal them from you. If you've got a spare set of say, RS lenses, do it to them. Sure, you won't have the grid pattern of the IROC lenses, but who'll see it other than when you have your lights on?

drknow90rs_ss@y

iTrader: (3)

I wish it had just been a fixit ticket!! It was 50 bucks for each lens!! 100 bucks for a really cool set of lenses that cost me fifty to begin with!! That sucked hard!! LOL

TheScaryOne

iTrader: (3)

It *wasn't* a fixit ticket?! :O I would have so b****ed and moaned about that.

"How was I to know it was illegal officer? I just thought they looked cool, and I figured you couldn't sell it if it wasn't legal...."

drknow90rs_ss@y

iTrader: (3)

LOL!! The cop I ran into didnt buy that at all!! I think he had too many wedgies and swirlies in high school!!

jstrdn90rs

Okay what about installing LED's in the rear to brighten them up?.has anyone done that?I seen a new Dodge Daytona with blackouts and they were clearly factory units.

drknow90rs_ss@y

iTrader: (3)

It can be done. I've done it, but it can get really expensive. The 12 volt led's with two elements are kind of pricy. it would take a few hundred to do a set of camaro taillights and the best price i've seen yet was i think, about $1.65 each for the two element ultra-bright. the single elements for the corners/back-up/turn signals are about $.90 to buy in bulk.. Looks cool though...

sgt0704

maybe each state is different..

i got pulled over in my 91 with blackouts near tucson.. and was told the same thing.

the difference betweent he blackouts, and the T/A is when the lights hit them at night, they don't light up like they do on the T/A...

it's not that they 'need to see it'

it's that it needs to reflect.

you could try some nht night shade.. see how that plays out.

jstrdn90rs

I guess I will just leave them off for now...hate to see them just sit there and not be able to use them.I just about went through thorns with no shoes on to get these and cant really use them.

drknow90rs_ss@y

iTrader: (3)

I wish I had a better answer for you. They do look cool....

BluFBdy

iTrader: (1)

the only thing i can think of is just brighten the light output by the leds, unforunately everyone doesnt have the cash to blow on and LED setup or the patience to learn how to do it, i want blackouts so bad but the cops target me enough for being justs shy of 18 with an 89 camaro, i kinda stand out already. If the LEDs work out im goin that route and putting on some blackouts, until then...i dunno what to say

jstrdn90rs

Yeah I will probably put them on hold for now..working on a set of ported heads,fiero covers,cam and time to down the car for a few days.Plus I'm juggling my vega project as well.Hate to down it with the gas prices are the way they are.I will look into the LED's and see what I can dig up,thanks for the input.

BluFBdy

iTrader: (1)

if you come up with anything good just drop me a line, im tryin to set up leds but i dont have time to do the searching for it, and it could be worse, you guys are payin less than us in the valley lol complete murder as far as that goes, i put in 40 and didnt even fill up >_<

jstrdn90rs

Thats one reason I didnt want the V8 ,I know I read some said they arent far off on in town mileage, but I needed something for daily commute and sporty.Occasional highway use..and decided on the 6 cyl.Not looking for gobs of power but just something with a nice tone and a bit of bite.I am not disappointed with it at all.I seen the lowest price of gas for 3.59 today.But anyway..I came across some regular bulbs that have LEDS in them 1157 bulb but had LEDS instead of the round element?.I havent removed the taillights to see what they have but I know those third brake lights arent cheap 7-8 bucks for one..I saw those on the shelve and almost soiled myself.I was thinking yeah okay a 194 bulb a buck or two..NOPE not these!!!

drknow90rs_ss@y

iTrader: (3)

The best places to buy the leds are usually at wholesale electronics supply stores (Tritek electronic supply in phx.) when you buy a few hundred at a time the price per piece is a lot less. The problem with the covers is not really the light output. The ticket will be for "obscured reflectors". The LEDs will make the covers less noticable, but any modification to your factory taillights is technically illegal. I dont mean to be a killjoy, but I have a collection of these types of tickets. (none recent and thank god, they are not "Points" tickets!!!)

jstrdn90rs

So basically I have some covers used only for car shows or trying to get a cops notice that I have been drinking and he can pull me over for those blackouts on the rear of my car,and smell my odor of budweiser as the roll the window down and burb in his face and haul me off??.I already have a tinted license plate cover and have been okay so far on that,but those blackouts are another story..I see your point about the reflection..

drknow90rs_ss@y

iTrader: (3)

LOL, I got nailed for the plate cover once too!!! My blackouts were a three piece kit with a removeable center (Liscence plate cover) so you could flip down the plate to open the hatch. The problem with the "universal" adaptor style led (1157,194, etc) is that they usually appear even dimmer than the factory bulbs and usually only appear through the lens as a dot of light leaving the rest of the lens unlit.

jstrdn90rs

Well I am just going to put it on the back burner for now..my license plate cover has a light tint on it..its okay at night ,but during the day its a little dark but again I see others with them too.I dont drive my car around town much ..just mainly back and forth to work so you can't pull me over if its not on the road much.

Bullydawg

iTrader: (7)

I Used VHT Night shade and I have had them for 6 monthes and been followed by the police 2 times and they haven't said anything about them.

jstrdn90rs

Night shade uh?..never knew that stuff existed?.thanks for the info.

Bullydawg

iTrader: (7)

It is like $20 a can. Works great!

drknow90rs_ss@y

iTrader: (3)

IS ultra performance still open in tucson? Years ago I bought some of that VHT there. It worked really good and the lights shine through really well. Back in the late 80's to early 90's Jaguars used to have tinted taillights. They used a product similar to that to replicate the look after a collision or taillight replacement. I never got harassed by the cops for that. That stuff is black as night too... Took me two cans though....

jstrdn90rs

IS ultra performance still open in tucson? ..

I think that place was on Speedway/ West of Wilmont area ?..not sure.. but if thats the place your talking about its still there ,but I dont know if its still called that.I drive by that place just about everyday and havent takin notice.I could be wrong though..maybe someone from here knows for sure.

jstrdn90rs

Well I wanted to update this thread as I wanted to see how long it took for someone to pull me over with these on and it took about a month and got pulled over ..and it was a sheriff on top of it.I never see one going home and the other day hes right behind me like he was waiting for me to drive down the street.I bet the guy lives in the area and probably sees me all the time and decided to ride his work bike home and he sat and waited for me to come by cause I pass that way just about everytime monday through friday.So now I have to go to court regardless ...have to take a picture of them removed and show it to a judge.He walked up to the front of the car probably looking for the covers on the headlights as well but didnt have any.So I have a pair of shades collecting dust in the shed again...