Tail light help

so today someone backed into my truck and smashed the left taillight. they didnt leave a note or anything so looks like i have to pay out of pocket. i Already have tail light tinting film that i was going to put on to black them out to match the rest of my truck but now Im just debating on buying aftermarket black tail lights because it wouldnt be that much more money and it would be legal. any thoughts?

 

I happen to like oem lights better than any aftermarket ive seen. But either way, buying pre-tinted lights does not make it legal just because they came that way. Just a heads up

 

Anything that dimishes the light output, headlight or taillight it is illegal in most places.

 

the aftermarket lights are just painted black on the inside and also has red and clear sections in it for the brake light and blinker. but the tint i have would just black out the whole tail light.

 

Here in California, the vehicle code prohibits the use or installation of any lighting equipment that is altered from it's OEM condition:

26101. (a) A person shall not sell or offer for sale for use upon or as part of the equipment of a vehicle any device that is intended to modify the original design or performance of any lighting equipment, safety glazing material, or other device, unless the modifying device meets the provisions of Section 26104. (b) A person shall not use upon a vehicle, and a person shall not drive a vehicle upon a highway that has installed a device that is intended to modify the original design or performance of a lighting, safety glazing material, or other device, unless the modifying device complies with Section 26104.

26104 refers to laboratory testing in order to qualify for highway use.

Most if not all States have similar statues in place and if not, the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Statues are in effect. This is just a FYI in case anyone is planning on using or modifying any of the OEM lights.

Ray

 

+1 not bashing OP. Just just giving you an honest warning. Its not legal in any state. Trust me

 

i busted one of my lights too. i also wanted the black look so i bought these aftermarket lights. i think these are the ones the op is talking about.

 

Those are fine. The lens has to be clear