Friday, September 20, 2013

California Headlight Tint Laws for Motorcycles

Blue & Yellow Tinted Headlights

Blue and yellow tinted headlights are one of the most popular headlight mods around but they WILL get you in trouble. Headlights must be white and no blue or red lights are allowed on bikes.
In short, Blue and Yellow lights are illegal (24011 VC). Look for the DOT symbol on the bulb and package.

Brighter Than Normal Headlights

You may be able to see better, but the lights are illegal (24011 VC).

Other Illegalities


Taillights must be red and brake lights on bikes newer than 1979 must be red as well.

* LACK OF REAR REFLECTORS: Two red reflectors are required on the rear of cars and trucks (24607 VC).

* INCORRECT COLOR OF TURN SIGNAL: It must be white or yellow to the front, red or yellow to the rear (24953 VC).

*RED LIGHTS TO THE FRONT: They are illegal except on emergency vehicles (24003 VC). This is one way to get pulled over very quick!

*Tail lights that incorporate a bulb with a red tint or coating. In general, custom tail lights that incorporate a clear outer shell and red inner lens are legal (24011 VC). If they don't incorporate reflectors, they must be added to the vehicle (24607 VC).

*TAIL LIGHTS THAT ARE TOO DIM, washed out or show yellow, white or other colors (24600 VC). Ugly anyway

*ILLEGAL COLOR OF SIDE MARKER LIGHTS: If present, must be yellow in the front and red in the rear (25106, 24003 VC).

*DRIVING WITH JUST PARKING LIGHTS ON: (24800 VC). Vehicles that have factory-installed automatic daytime running lights must meet federal requirements and are legal.

*ILLEGAL DECORATIVE LIGHTS (24003 VC). All flashing decorative lights are illegal (25250 VC).

* ILLEGAL WINDSHIELD WASHER NOZZLE LIGHTS. Only white or yellow are allowed. (25106 VC, 24003 VC). All those folks with the ugly blue ones will get cite one day soon.

*LIGHTS ATTACHED TO TIRE VALVES (24003, 25250 VC). Tire flys etc Damn it CHP got me on this one. My Bike had too much bling bing and the blue lights were cool. Getting pulled over sucked.

*LIGHTED LICENSE PLATE FRAMES (unless red) (24003 VC).

* ILLEGAL LIGHTS, whether or not they are operating. It is illegal just to have them on the vehicle (24003 VC).
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Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Headlight Tint Laws in NY

Headlight Tint Laws in New York


Anyone who is in the business will tell you that tint laws are a mess to navigate and even worse to understand. And, whereas the laws regarding window tint shades are relatively straightforward (even if they can be ridiculously detailed) there are no such laws regarding your headlights and tail lights. For years, we at Rvinyl.com have been fielding questions on a daily basis about the legality of headlight tint and there are a few things you should know and they can be boiled down to these three points:

  1. When in Doubt, Don't: If you have to ask if headlight tint is legal then you can be pretty much certain that it isn't. In our experience, even if there is no law on the books that specifically deals with tint per se, you will surely get a ticket for improper equipment. 
  2. Colored Tints Are a No-No: Red, blue and orange lights are used by police, fire and other emergency services so it makes sense that they don't want you driving around with an NSX with red-out tinted headlights.
  3. If You Can't See the Road the Cops Will Be Sure to See You: Blackouts are not only a red flag for cops but are dangerous for use on public roads. At Rvinyl, we recommend black out tint for show use only. Save your money and possibly a life, try removable static cling tint instead.

NYS Specific Laws


In NYS you are obligated to use your headlights both when windshield wipers are being used (Duh!) and when visibility is less than a thousand feet. This caveat along with the requirement that you use headlights when there is insufficient light speaks to NYS troopers' problems with headlight tint. By tinting your lights with a VLT of 5% you are decreasing the candle power so much that your lights will not be visible from 500 feet away let alone 1000. 

We hope this has been useful and we will continue to add new state laws and information as it becomes available. Take care out there!



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