California Law

[dragon1761]

Hey all i have a few questions about Laws in Cali:

1. Is it illegal to take off the front plate?

2. What is the tint law about cars? What percent is allowed if any?

3. Is it illegal to smoke out the taillights?

im thinking of doing all that but i dunno if it is illegal and i dont want to get pulled over. Please help by sending links to the q's Thanks a lot. If its all legal you will be seeing my smoked out SGM in the streets soon!!!! Thanks all

[arok]

1. yes
2. it's something like 70% front and the rears you can go as dark as you want
3. probably, i'm not sure, but I am sure you will get plenty of attention from cops

[backtoreality15]

Yes and yes for the first 2, but I havent gotten anything from the cops. Thinking about doing the third option too on my SGM

[1013mm]

easy ticket.

[dragon1761]

Originally Posted by backtoreality15

Yes and yes for the first 2, but I havent gotten anything from the cops. Thinking about doing the third option too on my SGM

im surprise that the cops having given you any problems yet. I went to UCI for undergrad and they gave every person with fixed up rides problems. My friend got pulled over so many times in his dropped Del sol to a point the cops knows him.

[backtoreality15]

Originally Posted by dragon1761

im surprise that the cops having given you any problems yet. I went to UCI for undergrad and they gave every person with fixed up rides problems. My friend got pulled over so many times in his dropped Del sol to a point the cops knows him.

To be honest, I'm surprised too. Cops here have nothing better to do than harass drivers.

Contemplating a muffler delete & blackout tail lights...

[deamon32]

I may be wrong here but in California ANY modification on your vehicle is illegal.
This could be something as stupid as new wheels to exhausts, etc. Obviously I have never heard of anyone getting pulled over for after market wheels but the law is the law...

[one-35]

Originally Posted by backtoreality15

Yes and yes for the first 2, but I havent gotten anything from the cops. Thinking about doing the third option too on my SGM

The tint law is pretty weak in SoCal. Especially with dark interior BMWs, adding a tint >=40% is not too noticeable and usually ignored by cops. Anything darker (say <=30%) puts you at more risk of being pulled over. Depending where you drive, the missing front license plate usually doesn't pose a problem unless you already have a cop's attention (for something else).

Hey... that makes 3 SGM 1addicts here is SoCal. Can I expect to see both of you at the 1-series meet on 5/17/09 in Torrance (K1 Speed Go Karting)? See other thread.

[dragon1761]

sorry bro im graduating Optometry school on 5/16/09 ill be coming back the same day the torrance thing is going down. Then i got 2 weddings to go to on June. But im sure youll see me rolling in my SGM soon.

[SV Concepts II]

All 3 are definitely illegal.

1. If the LEO feels like it, he'll ticket you.
2. Chances are you'll get ticketed for illegal tint. (Limit is 100% windshield, 70% front, 0% rear)
3. I've had smoked tail lights on previous cars and several buddies have them now. Basically, if the LEO can see your brake lights, he usually won't ticket you.

[singular]

Originally Posted by Ali@Jlevi SW

All 3 are definitely illegal.

1. If the LEO feels like it, he'll ticket you.
2. Chances are you'll get ticketed for illegal tint. (Limit is 100% windshield, 70% front, 0% rear)
3. I've had smoked tail lights on previous cars and several buddies have them now. Basically, if the LEO can see your brake lights, he usually won't ticket you.

I max tinted my previous car when I lived in AZ. Not sure what the levels were, but they were darker than most tints I've seen in CA and I've had others tell me they were beyond the legal limit.

After living in CA for 9 years, I was never ticketed for my tint, even though I was pulled for other violations. So (2) may not be that big a concern.