Emin

Since im getting my modding underway, can anyone help me with the California Laws?

What headlight output is illegal?
Are tinted foglights illegal?
Which parts of my taillights can be tinted?

Thanks in advance

paypaboi

Everything is aftermarket is pretty much illegal. Especially any thing tinted in the tailights. However they are not moving violations so you just take them off show its cleared and put them back on.

Headlights = HIDs are illegal without a special sticker that verifies them and that usually only comes from the dealer / factory HIDs aka Bi-Xenon. Tinted fog lights you should be able to get away with but pretty much its all illegal.

XsuperbeeX

underbody neon is illegal... =P

BLT

Heh I never knew HIDs were illegal. Thought one might be able to get away with something not too crazy like 5000k or 6000k. I see a whole bunch in my area and no one seems to mind. Anyone have any horror stories to share about whether or not a cop will actually pull someone over for something like that?

Cappa26

Cops really don't care in California if you have HID's. I mean they are everywhere (1 out of 5 cars I see)

paypaboi

4300 is legal but still TECHNICALLY if they don't have that little sticker approved seal then they aren't. TEACHNICALLY and pretty much u will only get harassed in cali for 8000K+ but he was just asking if it was legal and TECHNICALLY it is but you shouldn't get harassed for it.

W203E35

Also look for DOT approved.

DOT approved bulbs are not illegal. Also stay away from bulbs that say offroad = illegal

FrankW

three words for you: illegal, illegal, illegal.

advans

tints are def. illegal. if they ever pull me over again for tints, and forcing me to remove them, i'm just gonna get them darker, might as well.

shivi1345

a cop tried to give me sh*t for my tail lights not too long ago.......but b/c the red isn't covered at all he didn't write me a ticket

BLT

Guess they look for excuses sometimes to pull a merc over. Glad to know the info guys; much appreciated (:

W203E35

Especially in Burbank where the cops have a lot of time on their hands. I was pulled over once because I had a cross hanging on my rear view mirror. The cop made me remove it. Then I put it back on.

What kind of BS is that?

That's not distracting me or blocking my view.

How about GPS?? That is way worse!!!!

iblaho

Yup, anything on the rear view mirror isn't allowed. GPS is OK if it is mounted low, but I agree with you. I learned a lot in the four times I've been to traffic school. Window tinting on all sides of the car but the driver's is legal if you have two side mirrors. All sides legal if it came with the car.

shivi1345

lol ya I got pulled over once cuz I had fuzzy dice hanging from my rear view mirror.......these cops are just tooo bored

I also got pulled over once cuz I "looked young." That's a direct quote from the pig's mouth....no joke

W203E35

Do you know if there is a certain percent that we can have on drivers side and passanger? I heard in Nevada you can have the fronts dark too. I guess it's from the heat. Tints really do help to keep the car cool (inside).

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fuzzy dice

I remember those days. Were you trying to make your w203 into a pimp mobile?

---------------------------

Emin

Yeah Burbank Cops are horrible. They make Glendale cops look like Angels.

skittles

my last thread was somewhat similar to this.. yes they are bored and love to power trip..

iblaho

How about this from the DMV code?

1) The material has a minimum visible light transmittance of 88 percent.

(2) The window glazing with the material applied meets all requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 205 (49 C.F.R. 571.205), including the specified minimum light transmittance of 70 percent and the abrasion resistance of AS-14 glazing, as specified in that federal standard.

(3) The material is designed and manufactured to enhance the ability of the existing window glass to block the sun's harmful ultraviolet A rays.

(4) The driver has in his or her possession, or within the vehicle, a certificate signed by the installing company certifying that the windows with the material installed meet the requirements of this subdivision and identifies the installing company and the material's manufacturer by full name and street address, or, if the material was installed by the vehicle owner, a certificate signed by the material's manufacturer certifying that the windows with the material installed according to manufacturer's instructions meets the requirements of this subdivision and identifies the material's manufacturer by full name and street address.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc26708.htm

iblaho

Profiling.

TemjinX2

the 88% of light being allowed in, isn't really a noticeable blockage of light, that pretty much what our windows are stock. Keep in mind, mercedes come from the factory with stock tint. Thats why the windows have that blueish color to them.

TemjinX2

its basically 88% tint for the fronts unless you have a doctors note stating for health purposes that you need darker tint. Then you can go down to 35% tint for the fronts. The rears can be as dark as you want.

FRONT DOORS / CLEAR 88% VLT OR 12% TINT
( UNLESS DOCTORS SIGNED HEALTH CONDITION
NO NIGHT USE. UP TO 35% )
NO WINSHIELD STRIPS
/ANY ON BACK SIDES
/ANY ON BACK WINDOW
(AS LONG AS YOU HAVE DUAL SIDE MIRRORS)

CALIFORNIA CODES
VEHICLE CODE

26708. (a) (1) No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any
object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied
upon the windshield or side or rear windows.

(2) No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any object or
material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied in or
upon the vehicle which obstructs or reduces the driver's clear
view through the windshield or side windows.

(3) This subdivision applies to a person driving a motor vehicle
with the driver's clear vision through the windshield, or side or
rear windows, obstructed by snow or ice.
(b) This section does not apply to any of the following:

(1) Rearview mirrors.

(2) Adjustable nontransparent sunvisors which are mounted forward
of the side windows and are not attached to the glass.

(3) Signs, stickers, or other materials which are displayed in a
7-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield farthest removed
from the driver, signs, stickers, or other materials which are
displayed in a 7-inch square in the lower corner of the rear window
farthest removed from the driver, or signs, stickers, or other materials
which are displayed in a 5-inch square in the lower corner of the
windshield nearest the driver.

(4) Side windows which are to the rear of the driver.

(5) Direction, destination, or termini signs upon a passenger common
carrier motor vehicle or a schoolbus, if those signs do not interfere
with the driver's clear view of approaching traffic.

(6) Rear window wiper motor.

(7) Rear trunk lid handle or hinges.

(8) The rear window or windows, when the motor vehicle is equipped
with outside mirrors on both the left- and right-hand sides of the
vehicle that are so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the
highway through each mirror for a distance of at least 200 feet to the
rear of the vehicle.

(9) A clear, transparent lens affixed to the side window opposite the
driver on a vehicle greater than 80 inches in width and which occupies
an area not exceeding 50 square inches of the lowest corner toward the
rear of that window and which provides the driver with a wide-angle view through the lens.

(10) Sun screening devices meeting the requirements of Section 26708.2
installed on the side windows on either side of the vehicle's front seat, if the driver or a passenger in the front seat has
in his or her
possession a letter or other document signed by a licensed physician and surgeon certifying that the person must be shaded
from the sun due to a medical condition, or has in his or her possession a letter or other document signed by a licensed optometrist
certifying that the person must be shaded from the sun due to a visual condition. The devices authorized by this paragraph
shall not be used during darkness.

(11) An electronic communication device affixed to the center uppermost portion of the interior of a windshield within an
area that is not greater than 5 inches square, if the device provides either of the following:

(A) The capability for enforcement facilities of the Department of the California Highway Patrol to communicate with a vehicle
equipped with the device.

(B) The capability for electronic toll and traffic management on public or private roads or facilities.

(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), transparent material may be installed, affixed, or applied to the topmost portion of
the windshield if the following conditions apply:

(1) The bottom edge of the material is at least 29 inches above the
undepressed driver's seat when measured from a point 5 inches in front
of the bottom of the backrest with the driver's seat in its rearmost
and lowermost position with the vehicle on a level surface.

(2) The material is not red or amber in color.

(3) There is no opaque lettering on the material and any other lettering
does not affect primary colors or distort vision through the windshield.

(4) The material does not reflect sunlight or headlight glare into the eyes of occupants of oncoming or following vehicles
to any greater extent than the windshield without the material.

<font style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffff66">(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), clear, colorless, and transparent
material may be installed, affixed, or applied to the front side windows, located to the immediate left and right of the front
seat if the following conditions are met:

(1) The material has a minimum visible light transmittance of 88 percent.

(2) The window glazing with the material applied meets all requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 205 (49
C.F.R. 571.205),including the specified minimum light transmittance of 70 percent and the abrasion resistance of AS-14 glazing,
as specified in that federal standard.

(3) The material is designed and manufactured to enhance the ability
of the existing window glass to block the sun's harmful ultraviolet A rays.

(4) The driver has in his or her possession, or within the vehicle,
a certificate signed by the installing company certifying that the
windows with the material installed meet the requirements of this
subdivision and identifies the installing company and the material's
manufacturer by full name and street address, or, if the material was
installed by the vehicle owner, a certificate signed by the material's
manufacturer certifying that the windows with the material installed
according to manufacturer's instructions meets the requirements of this
subdivision and identifies the material's manufacturer by full name
and street address.

(5) If the material described in this subdivision tears or bubbles,
or is otherwise worn to prohibit clear vision, it shall be removed
</font>or replaced.

Amended Sec. 77, Ch. 1154, Stats. 1996. Effective September 30, 1996.
Amended Sec. 1, Ch. 476, Stats. 1998. Effective January 1, 1999.

26708.2. Sun screening devices permitted by paragraph (10) of
subdivision (b) of Section 26708 shall meet the following
requirements:
(a) The devices shall be held in place by means allowing ready
removal from the window area, such as a frame, a rigid material with
temporary fasteners, or a flexible roller shade.
(b) Devices utilizing transparent material shall be green, gray,
or a neutral smoke in color and shall have a luminous transmittance
of not less than 35 percent.
(c) Devices utilizing nontransparent louvers or other alternating
patterns of opaque and open sections shall have an essentially
uniform pattern over the entire surface, except for framing and
supports. At least 35 percent of the device area shall be open and
no individual louver or opaque section shall have a projected
vertical dimension exceeding 3/16 inch.
(d) The devices shall not have a reflective quality exceeding 35
percent on either the inner or outer surface.

26708.5. (a) No person shall place, install, affix, or apply any
transparent material upon the windshield, or side or rear windows, of
any motor vehicle if the material alters the color or reduces the
light transmittance of the windshield or side or rear windows, except
as provided in subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 26708.
(b) Tinted safety glass may be installed in a vehicle if (1) the
glass complies with motor vehicle safety standards of the United
States Department of Transportation for safety glazing materials, and
(2) the glass is installed in a location permitted by those
standards for the particular type of glass used.

26710. It is unlawful to operate any motor vehicle upon a highway
when the windshield or rear window is in such a defective condition
as to impair the driver's vision either to the front or rear.
In the event any windshield or rear window fails to comply with
this code the officer making the inspection shall direct the driver
to make the windshield and rear window conform to the requirements of
this code within 48 hours. The officer may also arrest the driver
and give him notice to appear and further require the driver or the
owner of the vehicle to produce in court satisfactory evidence that
the windshield or rear window has been made to conform to the
requirements of this code.

iblaho

Since people are quoting the whole thing, here is something for tail lights. I think the 500 ft rule is the key:

Taillamps

24600. During darkness every motor vehicle which is not in combination with any other vehicle and every vehicle at the end of a combination of vehicles shall be equipped with lighted taillamps mounted on the rear as follows:
(a) Every vehicle shall be equipped with one or more taillamps.
(b) Every vehicle, other than a motorcycle, manufactured and first registered on or after January 1, 1958, shall be equipped with not less than two taillamps, except that trailers and semitrailers manufactured after July 23, 1973, which are less than 30 inches wide, may be equipped with one taillamp which shall be mounted at or near the vertical centerline of the vehicles. If a vehicle is equipped with two taillamps, they shall be mounted as specified in subdivision (d).
(c) Every vehicle or vehicle at the end of a combination of vehicles, subject to subdivision (a) of Section 22406 shall be equipped with not less than two taillamps.
(d) When two taillamps are required, at least one shall be mounted at the left and one at the right side respectively at the same level.
(e) Taillamps shall be red in color and shall be plainly visible from all distances within 500 feet to the rear except that taillamps on vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1969, shall be plainly visible from all distances within 1,000 feet to the rear.
(f) Taillamps on vehicles manufactured on or after January 1, 1969, shall be mounted not lower than 15 inches nor higher than 72 inches, except that a tow truck, in addition to being equipped with the required taillamps, may also be equipped with two taillamps which may be mounted not lower than 15 inches nor higher than the maximum allowable vehicle height and as far forward as the rearmost portion of the driver's seat in the rearmost position. The additional taillamps on a tow truck shall be lighted whenever the headlamps are lighted.

Amended Ch. 924, Stats. 1988. Effective January 1, 1989.

Fog Taillamps

24602. (a) A vehicle may be equipped with not more than two red fog taillamps mounted on the rear which may be lighted, in addition to the required taillamps, only when atmospheric conditions, such as fog, rain, snow, smoke, or dust, reduce the daytime or nighttime visibility of other vehicles to less than 500 feet.
(b) The lamps authorized under subdivision (a) shall be installed as follows:
(1) When two lamps are installed, one shall be mounted at the left side and one at the right side at the same level and as close as practical to the sides. When one lamp is installed, it shall be mounted as close as practical to the left side or on the center of the vehicle.
(2) The lamps shall be mounted not lower than 12 inches nor higher than 60 inches.
(3) The edge of the lens of the lamp shall be no closer than four inches from the edge of the lens of any stoplamp.
(4) The lamps shall be wired so they can be turned on only when the headlamps are on and shall have a switch that allows them to be turned off when the headlamps are on.
(5) A nonflashing amber pilot light that is lighted when the lamps are turned on shall be mounted in a location readily visible to the driver.

Amended Sec. 30, Ch. 615, Stats. 2004. Effective January 1, 2005.
Amended Sec. 11, Ch. 270, Stats. 2005. Effective January 1, 2006.