Warning to all GT and GXP owners!!!!!!

[Jackalope]

Turns out our FACTORY CLEAR TAIL LIGHTS ARE NOT STREET LEGAL!!! Thats right, the tail lights that our cars came with from the factory are NOT LEGAL!! You read correctlty, our factory original tail lights are not legal cause they are CLEAR and not RED in color and they don't have a red reflector facing the rear of the vehicle. I got pulled over today and was ticketed by a Maryland Transportation Administration officer for this exact infraction! The exact charge reads; FAILURE TO DISPLAY RED ON THE TAIL LIGHTS, FAILURE TO DISPLAY RED REFLECTIVE SURFACE ON THE REAR OF TAIL LIGHTS. Fine....$60 and no points. I can pay it or go to court and fight it. Now what do you think I'm gonna do? Hmmmm....... I tryed to tell Barney Fife that the red reflector is on the bottom of the bumper above the exhaust tips but he didn't care. and wouldn't let me out of the car to show him. He said he Googled my car and that the cars he saw had red tail lights, I tried to explain to him those are the V6 cars not GT and GXP's and he said thats not his problem that my cars lights are not legal in the state of Maryland. I asked him what am I supposed to do and he tells me that I shouldn't have removed the factory red tail lights and put in these clear ones and I wouldn't be getting the ticket. So I tell him I want his supervisor to come down and show him to which he said fine. 5 min later he hands me a paper with a phone # and says "he's busy, I'm not waiting here baby sitting you, call him if you want to but it won't do any good." And he drove off, and I called his supervisor and explained to him how our cars are and where GM put the reflectors and that my factory lights are in the car and they have DOT#'s on them and what should I do. His responce, "Sounds like he wrote you the ticket incorrectly. All you need to do is go to court with pics of your car and other Gt's and GXP's and it'll be thrown out." So I got his name and have it on the back of the ticket and am waiting for court to rub that cops face in it!

God Damn am I pissed!!! I mean never said **** about my window tint, no front tag, or painted over front amber markers, or blacked out side turn signals, noooooo...... This dumb ass writes me up for STOCK TAIL LIGHTS!!!!!!!

Sorry had to vent, still pissed as hell.

[BluYa76]

Sounds like you got a ticket "Nazi" as I like to call them. I've never written anyone a ticket for silly shit like that, unless it was attached to another major charge like DUI/DWI. Sorry that happened, but I would go to court with the above mentioned info and lot's of pics to show the judge. What a waist of everyone's time and aggravation!!! Just know there are DUMBASS people in every job.

[Fatdaddy]

Sorry for your troubles man. Just because a cop cited you doesn't mean you're guilty. A judge or a jury decides guilt or innocence. Look out for revenge. Like many people, some cops don't respond well to having their ignorance pointed out in public.

[WickedMom]

So, why exactly is this a warning if ultimately the lamps are legit?

[jrc1122]

that sucks man.... A big waste of time for you--- both by getting pulled over, and now you have to waste a day and go to court,,, which means taking a day off of work/ or school. Which if you have saved sick/ vacation days-- you are having to use those-- which in essence is costing you money ---- for doing nothing other than driving a car with factory installed DOT 50 state legal lights/ reflectors. I doubt you will be compensated, but I would ask for reimbursement for your time, and lost time at work.
The cop (a tool of the government) is costing you money by not simply misjudging a situation, or using his training to make a determination, but to just be blatently wrong and thus giving you a ticket with ZERO MERRIT..

Will you get reimbursed-- No---- Should you yes.

[Jackalope]

I work nights but I agree its BS. I will ask the judge if I can seek any compensationin any way from the officer but I SERIOUSLY doubt there'd be any way to get him to be at the defendants table rather then me. Its just a shame the cops (the dumb ones that is) can waste my and everyone time and nothing is ever done to them to teach them the correct way to police. They get away with whatever they want to and aren't held accountable in anyway unless they shoot a minority.

*DISCLAIMER* I don't hate cops, just this one moron so please don't go there. :D

[Jackalope]

So, why exactly is this a warning if ultimately the lamps are legit?

Cause I'm pissed and venting. ;)

[jrc1122]

To be clear-- I am fully supportive of cops doing their job, and for them to be afforded the ability to make judgment calls by assessing situations and determining if a ticket/ citation/ or arrest should be given/made.. But in this case--

The cop (in order to save face in the court) should probably have been more willing to listen to the citizen.. I personally think I could tell if someone was trying to pull one over on me, or if he was being truthful. He didn't seem to try to believe you, even after you pointed out the fact it was OEM and showed him where the reflectors were located... He was basically calling you a liar. And for that he deserves to be called out for his incompetence.

[Jackalope]

To be clear-- I am fully supportive of cops doing their job, and for them to be afforded the ability to make judgment calls by assessing situations and determining if a ticket/ citation/ or arrest should be given/made.. But in this case--

The cop (in order to save face in the court) should probably have been more willing to listen to the citizen.. I personally think I could tell if someone was trying to pull one over on me, or if he was being truthful. He didn't seem to try to believe you, even after you pointed out the fact it was OEM and showed him where the reflectors were located... He was basically calling you a liar. And for that he deserves to be called out for his incompetence.

I know. I even told him where to look to find the DOT# and he never bothered. He just went to his cruiser, made a phone call, and wrote me the ticket. Not sure who he called but it wasn't his supervisor. He tried to tell me the stock tail lights were all red (V6 car) and they had the whole bottom edge as a reflector (turn signal and back up lights...duhhhhh...) He didn't have a CLUE as to what he was talking about!

[BluYa76]

I work nights but I agree its BS. I will ask the judge if I can seek any compensationin any way from the officer but I SERIOUSLY doubt there'd be any way to get him to be at the defendants table rather then me. Its just a shame the cops (the dumb ones that is) can waste my and everyone time and nothing is ever done to them to teach them the correct way to police. They get away with whatever they want to and aren't held accountable in anyway unless they shoot a minority.

*DISCLAIMER* I don't hate cops, just this one moron so please don't go there. :D

Never mind...

[Darkside]

I'm sorry but I was laughing my ass off about this. It reminds me of some of the morons I work with that don't know a thing about cars.

[616 of 933]

I feel bad about you getting a ticket but after reading this I did have a little laugh about him not checking the DOT #. But atleast he did not give you a ticket for everything else on your car.

[Panzer Leader]

Good thing you did not debadge the car. He obviously was a prick. Challenge it in court and make the asshole explain to the judge. As far as a warning to GT and GXP, Only if you live or pass through Maryland. I wonder if there are any other states with such laws. As far as compensation, sue GM for humilation, social stress. and being forced to deal with a jackass.

[jimmytt6]

Sorry to hear about your run in with another moron Cop..By the way what the hell kind of cop pulled you over? I live in Maryland have never seen a MTA officer?
I would go to court make him look like a jackass in front of judge! He could have least let you explain and show DOT..
Just another reason to hate cops here in Maryland..there either beating up Maryland Univ kids or
doing stupid shit like this...lol

[MGM GT]

MTA cops are stupid.... the OEM tail lights are perfectly legal and DOT approved.

[Gordon Freeman]

so what about a Nissan Altima? ever look at the tail lights on it? are the cops going to just pull over G8 owners??

7482

[kje141]

Wonder if I will get caught because my reflectors above the exhaust are tinted?? Better stay on the Virginia side of the border.

[GeoffA]

If I were you I'd plea not guilty, go to court and bring a factory brochure with you. If you don't own one nows time to find a friend with one or buy one on Ebay. And the GT and GXP DO have reflectors on them. Go look at your rear lights...

http://z.about.com/d/cars/1/0/N/G/1/ag_08g8gt_leftrear.jpg

[DRCUSTOMPARTS]

That cop is an idiot, all he had to do was shine his flashlight at your tail lights and he would see that round brake light inside reflects red. You can see it in the picture below that it's clearly red. Not only that, we have red reflectors above the tailpipes too. Snap a picture of the back of your car at night using a flash and bring the picture to court, the judge will look at it and throw out the ticket.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a375/DonRome/P1030229.jpg

[BigRed585Lbs]

Now might be a good time to revive that "difuser reflector light mod". Looks like more is going to be better.
http://forum.grrrr8.net/showthread.php?t=7706

[Panzer Leader]

This is just another case of automotive profiling. Why can't they leave G8 owners alone? From now on, you will be required to have your car's factory brochure in the car to prove that its legal. Where will this maddness stop?

[Modhauler]

If I were you I'd plea not guilty, go to court and bring a factory brochure with you. If you don't own one nows time to find a friend with one or buy one on Ebay. And the GT and GXP DO have reflectors on them. Go look at your rear lights...

http://z.about.com/d/cars/1/0/N/G/1/ag_08g8gt_leftrear.jpg

I was going to say the same thing. Take a brochure and a picture of the back of your car with you to court. Don't drive your car (it may be illegal) or show the other tinted/blacked out parts as to not bring on any unwanted attention. The ticket was for the taillights, let the Judge stay focused on them and don't give them any reason to look further. Good luck.

[GeoffA]

http://i40.tinypic.com/j6jugx.jpg

This from the G8board, If this is YOUR car then YES your lights are ILLEGAL.

that is all

[BigRed585Lbs]

OH, NO!!! Here we go fightin' that "other board" battle again.

Tell 'em to kiss my BigRed *ss.
(That's it to the left!)

[rmcrom]

WARNING TO ALL G8 OWNERS:
Your car is badass.

[GeoffA]

OH, NO!!! Here we go fightin' that "other board" battle again.

Tell 'em to kiss my BigRed *ss.
(That's it to the left!)

lol No battling here, but I fixed it for you.

[DRCUSTOMPARTS]

Jackalope didn't get a ticket for tinted tail lights, he got a ticket for FAILURE TO DISPLAY RED ON THE TAIL LIGHTS, FAILURE TO DISPLAY RED REFLECTIVE SURFACE ON THE REAR OF TAIL LIGHTS. Whether they are clear or tinted doesn't matter, and if the cop would have let him show him the reflectors on the lower bumper then he wouldn't have received a ticket.

[GeoffA]

Jackalope didn't get a ticket for tinted tail lights, he got a ticket for FAILURE TO DISPLAY RED ON THE TAIL LIGHTS, FAILURE TO DISPLAY RED REFLECTIVE SURFACE ON THE REAR OF TAIL LIGHTS. Whether they are clear or tinted doesn't matter, and if the cop would have let him show him the reflectors on the lower bumper then he wouldn't have received a ticket.


But it does, because IF that is his car and his tails are tinted THEN you can't see the red reflective surface and they are then illegal regardless of the bumper reflectors.

I don't know if that is his car or not, It was posted and feel it should be on here too if it is. If it's not and his are still clear then I stand by my first post in this thread and it will get tossed.

[jrc1122]

Oh snaps- I didnt' realize he had illegal tint on his rear lights----- sounds like the cop may have been right---

[DRCUSTOMPARTS]

I have tinted tails and the red reflector inside can still be seen reflecting light at night. Mine are just as dark as his.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a375/DonRome/P1030191a.jpg

[GM_Fan]

I'd be seeing the officer in court, but that is just me. I plead not guilty to any ticket I receive.

[GRRRR8]

If you have the factory taillight they are legal. They do have a red reflector in the center that is the legal size and a rectangle one on the side of it. You met a DUMBFUCK cop that should have his badge pulled. Take pics of the car and from Pontiacs website and request the officer to be investigated for false tickets and harassment.

I am all about law enforcement, but this is not law enforcement.

[Virus]

This is definitely worth your time in court. You have lots of info available to you to present on your day in court. DOT #'s, pictures, signed statement from your dealership, etc. As Charlie states, I would ask for the officer to be investigated for false tickets and harassment.

[UGotSmkd]

Also when contesting the ticket, ask to see the back of the ticket that he gives the judge. See if he has written any sort of code to the judge, like cooperative or uncooperative with a frown or smiley face, that may influence the judges decison. It was a big thing in Broward County, Fla, but IDK if it is the same in Md.

Was this Prince George County? I have heard of nothing but abuse and Constitution violations in that county. It's amzing how so many LEOs (not all) don't know the laws they enforce. Seems like you got one of those.

Hell, if you need photos of every member's tail lights in this thread, I'm sure we could help.

[Virus]

It might be asking a lot of him, but GLOCKmagic on the board is a LEO in MD. The judge may accept a signed statement, possibly notary from him.

[Panzer Leader]

I'll switch tail lights with you at the National Meet. BTW are his tails clear or did you tint them?

[BluYa76]

If his taillights are in fact tinted then the stop is valid, but he's as of yet to state yes or no to this. "Any required lamp, lens, or reflector that is obscured by any object or shielded by a nontransparent material, or any headlamp equipped with aftermarket clear, tinted or screen type color is prohibited. For more information see Maryland law."

[GRRRR8]

I re-read all of this. He doesnt state that his tails are tinted, but if they are it IS ILLEGAL. The relective distance must be from so many feet, and if the pic Geoff posted is his car that is WAY illegal. Mant cars fail at my shop for this weekly when they come in for state inspection. I still think its a bullshit ticket, but at least it is the law.

[GeoffA]

And Yes, that IS his car. So his car is illegal and the rest who are not tinted you are all fine.

This Thread has misinformed many on here and G8board... :lock:

http://www.g8board.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32466



:lock:

[Maverick Man]

that cop was an idiot. take it to court he'll have to show up too. (well at least here in cali he would) the way i look at it waist your time waist his! idiot think they know it all cops!

[GRRRR8]

I am closing this due to the tail lights are ILLEGAL in any state.