Got pulled over today for tail lights too dark! Bored cop???

[MzBora]

Hey guys,
I got pulled over today and the cop told me that my tail lights are too dark! They are hella smoked ones and I put them on the car 3 years ago and only now someone thinks they're too dark??

Are they really not legal?? what do you think?

[Tim]

I think if they have CE approval marking on them they would be legal. From memory CE approval is enough for headlights so I doubt tails would be different.

[maca]

Any chance of a bigger photo? I've always wanted to see what these look like

[hooba]

The last thing you need is someone rear ending you because they were busy updating their facebook status, then claiming it was your fault because they didn't see your brake lights. The cop did you a favour.

[dylan8]

If they are genuine ones they should be ok visually, and if as Tim said the marking is approved here then why not?
I've driven behind Silver Dub before in the middle of a bright sunny day and i could see both his tail lights and brake lights clear as, pretty sure they are the same as yours

[maca]

Aren't these the lights where the actualy cluster is dark, but the lense is clear therefore not blocking the light?

[rayray086]

I've heard of incidences where the police has pulled over cars with tinted taillights from the factory, like the Mk3 Golf VR6. How can you argue against that?

Hopefully you were just let off with a warning and not fined.

[MattyT]

I've got hella smoked tail lights which came from the factory on my colour concept vr6, and I've been pulled over a bunch of times. ONLY ONCE has a cop made mention of them, and he was being a real **** about it.

[maca]

I've got hella smoked tail lights which came from the factory on my colour concept vr6, and I've been pulled over a bunch of times. ONLY ONCE has a cop made mention of them, and he was being a real **** about it.

So how do you prove to the officer that they're stock?

[rayray086]

So how do you prove to the officer that they're stock?

Carry a genuine brochure for the Mk3 VR6 Quick, to the time machine!

[schoona]

I've heard of incidences where the police has pulled over cars with tinted taillights from the factory, like the Mk3 Golf VR6. How can you argue against that?

x2. I copped this....

[Silver dub]

Touch wood I have never had any issues with mine. But when i first installed them I asked a couple of guys that did roadworthy certificates if they would pass.

They all agreed with me that they would be legal as all the reflectors and lights were easily visable been genuine hella. BUT we did also agree that some police wouldn't care about it and some would. This is why I kept my stock tailights just incase I did ever have an problems.

[Rybky]

Surely the only issue is how bright the lights are not whether the lens is smoked or not? I can understand it being a problem when someone uses dark window tint on their lights and doesn't upgrade the bulbs to compensate but a purpose built light cluster should not be a problem. Just tell the cop to walk 200m down the road and see if he can clearly see the lights when they are on!

Adam

[maca]

Surely the only issue is how bright the lights are not whether the lens is smoked or not? I can understand it being a problem when someone uses dark window tint on their lights and doesn't upgrade the bulbs to compensate but a purpose built light cluster should not be a problem. Just tell the cop to walk 200m down the road and see if he can clearly see the lights when they are on!

Adam

And speed away in a timely fashion leaving a cloud of dust? (Or diesel smoke in my case?)