Background:

Since I travel often, sometimes through several states, my options of fighting such nonsense in court is not feasible. Therefor, I need some firepower in the event I get pulled over.

Content:

(This specifies that the tail lights are required to be visibly red and required 2 reflectors on the rear and 1 on each side)

http://fmvss108.tripod.com/fmvss108text.htm
http://fmvss108.tripod.com/taillamps.htm
http://fmvss108.tripod.com/statelaws.htm

(To obtain information SAE Standard J585d, you need to make an online purchase of $66.00)

http://standards.sae.org/j585_200802/

Conclusion:

This is bullshit. I can find everything about what not to do and that smoked tail lights are illegal. However, when you try to find legal proof, you have to pay money to do so. Does anyone have any info they they add?

Works Cited:

https://www.rx7club.com/showpost.php...7&postcount=13
https://www.rx7club.com/showpost.php...5&postcount=12
https://www.rx7club.com/west-rx-7-forum-193/anyone-get-pulled-over-99-spec-tailights-856349/
https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/smoked-tails-ticket-554859/
https://www.rx7club.com/west-rx-7-forum-193/i-need-vent-stupid-chp-544772/

 

Stock lights? Should be cut and dry
Not stock lights? Provide more info

 

They look smoked and got pulled over a few times because of them.

 

It is probably better to just carry a factory advertisment from when the car was new. To try to defend that your taillights are legal using sae standards to a cop seems like too much hassle in hoping they would be able to understand what you are talking about.


John

 

Yep, and get a printout from your local Mazda dealer with the OEM part# for the lights. Locate the SN on the piece itself ahead of time and be ready to show it. Easy.

 

Right, the paper work is going to be needed in a court of law; cops write tickets based on their percetion, our court system is designed to present your case and argue intents of the law.

 

For some reason I think this thread may blow up into a shitstorm of epic proportions

 

im not near my car right now.... but doesnt the stock taillight plastic have a DOT stamping in it? that should be proof enough.

even my aftermarket smoked corner lamps had a DOT number in them.

 

Ill have to find it again, but there is a spot in the fsm that mentions the tail light housings being tinted. Mazda's reasoning was going from tinted to bright redlights (under braking) was easier to see for other drivers. That's why there are red reflectors below the lights onyour bumper too.

 

That's the crap with standards - they all cost money and you can't know if the information within is useful until after you've paid for it. Perhaps Arghx7 or another SAE member can advise whether it's worth buying.

That said, I agree with the others. You need simple, compelling evidence for the cop to not write the ticket. They're used to everyone trying to cheat the law and their BS stories and excuses. And taillights are very important in the world of highway safety. So the confusion is somewhat understandable.

 

answered the question myself, just ignore this post

 

Anyone know where this can be located?